BY BARBARA HENDEL
BLADE SOCIETY EDITOR

Today is flag day, in commemoration of the official U.S. flag adopted in 1777. So fly your flag, be proud to be an American, and appreciate your freedoms.

The 92nd Invitational Mills Trophy Race was last weekend in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Toledo Yacht Club. It was windy night for the more than 126 sailboats filled with skippers and crews and sadly, one sailor perished during the race. Fellow sailors mourn his loss as they are reminded of the importance of boating safety and that accidents can happen, even to seasoned salty dogs.

But the historical race story continues. The 2015 winner of the Mills Trophy Race is Flat Stanley, owned and skippered by Trey Sheehan and Terry McSweeney of Edgewater Yacht Club, Cleveland. This is not a misprint, the same boat won last year.

Honorary chairmen were Greg Thomas and John Trost, frequent Mills Trophy Race winners and members of Bayview Yacht Club, Detroit. Festivities at Toledo Yacht Club included a Masters dinner for those who have sailed in the race 25 or more years. A 2014 Winners Party presented more than 40 silver trophies and cups, many dating back to the race's beginning including the President Taft Trophy, The Governor's Cup, the Toledo Blade Trophy, Cleveland Press Cup, and memorial and yacht club trophies and cups. Photo ops over, the trophies, all polished and bright, were put back in their secured cases for safe keeping.

The Mills Trophy Race Party was one big reunion of sailors with family and friends, some of whom don't sail but love a great party. The race on Lake Erie from the Toledo Harbor Light ended at Put-in-Bay with a celebration at Put-in-Bay Yacht Club.

Behind the scenes volunteers, most of them power boaters, not sailors, make the event happen every year. General chairman and past Toledo Yacht Club commodore Ron Soka was assisted by his wife Kaye Soka. Nearly 20 other chairmen and their committees helped including Principal Race Officer Ed Theisen, On-water Race Officer Steve Harris, and Toledo Yacht Club commodore John Sokol, Michelle Glanville, Jim Balogh, Jack Bernard, Dick Anderson, Ron Gabel, Barb and Jerry Chauvin, Geri and Tom Buckley, Paul Janowiecki, and Becky and Barry Vincent. Sponsors make it happen too: BoatU. S.; Mount Gay Rum, Remy USA; West Marine; Storm Trysail Club; and Anheiser-Busch, Inc./Treu House of Munch.

A bagpipe player greeted members as they entered Highland Meadows Golf Club on une 6 for the annual membership appreciation party with a Now & Then themed party in celebration of the clubs 90th anniversary. Club President Richard Balhoff and his wife, Vicki, greeted everyone. “Now and Then” cocktails were the Tommy 1925 — the traditional Tom Collins and the HM15, a new spin on the old favorite — Absolute Curant, Razzmatazz and tonic.