A new Wawasee Yacht Club book celebrates the club’s 90th anniversary

Wawasee Yacht Club: 90th Anniversary Memories 1935-2025, a new book celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Wawasee Yacht Club, has just been published and is for sale at the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum. Club members Robin Simunek designed and Mary Hursh wrote and edited this 344-page book along with contributing writers and photographers. Books are priced at $60. Cash or check accepted.

“Thirty-seven Wawasee Yacht Club members donated enough money to make the initial printing of 100 books possible. We are so pleased that club members and the greater lake community have a book of yacht club and Lake Wawasee history,” said Hursh.

The historical timeline of the book follows the club from the clubhouse purchase in 1939 through the club remodel in 2002, the new porch addition in 2020 and the formation of the Wawasee Sailing Foundation in 2025. Over the years, the club grew to include 1.06 acres made up of four parcels.

The new book is filled with excerpts from the yacht club minutes from 1938-1952 highlighting fleet news, commodores, purchase of docks, boats, and land.

The book captures pictures of the Sunfish, Inland 20s, E Scows, and Lightnings fleets racing during the summer and at regattas. A large section focuses on memories of sailing shared by yacht club members, the popular Junior Sailing Program, social gatherings, sailors of distinction, and the clubhouse grounds.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10-2.

Pictured: Robin Simunek and Mary Hursh have written a new book celebrating the 90th anniversary of the club.