GBCA Discussion Forum

I strongly support the later starting time.  In fact, having the starts commence later than 1630 works for me  (1700?).  Will do best to understand and use the Race App.

JL

The Port of Houston Port Commissioners have scheduled a Commissioners' workshop, where they will discuss a variety of matters, and the permit application for the dredge shoal will be included on that agenda. 

The workshop is open to the public (although there may not be any opportunity for public comment), and will take place on August 15, 2012 from 1:30 pm until  4:30 pm at the Main Port of Houston Offices located at 111 East Loop North, in Houston.  If you can attend, please do, as it would reinforce the factr that opposition to the dredge spoils area is widespread.

In addition to the Port Of Houston Commissioners, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the State agency with jurisdiction over Texas inland waters, and its officials are charged with protecting the quality of our state?s waters.  The TCEQ is the environmental agency for the state, and strives to protect its natural resources, consistent with sustainable economic development.

Placing dredge spoils into semi-submerged portions of the Upper Bay raises issues of sedimentation;  namely, will dredge spoils and silt 'stay put,' or will they migrate outside the dumping area and adversely affect fish, oysters, and marine life, and change the ecology of the Upper Bay?

TCEQ needs to hear from concerned citizens.   Further info about TCEQ is available at their website, and their mailing address is

TCEQ
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087

Please note that the cut-off date for the written comments to the Corps of Engineers hs been extended from 6/4 until JULY 5.

In addition to the Army Corps of Engineers, the 6 Port Commissioners for the Port of Houston Authority are the public officials who are the ones who most need to hear from citizens about the Port's proposal to create a spoils bank.


The Port Commissioners may be contacted through the Port of Houston Authority, either aia email:  PortCommission@poha.com

or via letter:

c/o Port of Houston Authority
P.O. Box 2562
Houston, Texas 77252-2562

The US Army Corps of Engineers is taking public comment on the Dredge Island project until July 5, 2012, after being asked for an extension requested by Houston Yacht Club and others.

As you are now probably aware, the Port of Houston is seeking a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to use the clay, sand, and silt dredged from the Bayport channel to create a 475-acre marsh alongside the Bayport Ship Channel in Upper Galveston Bay. I encourage all sailors and users of Galveston Bay to use the public comment procedure to let their feelings be known and express any concerns about this proposed use of the Upper Bay. Citizens are able to submit their comments, by regular old-fashioned mail, through the US Army Corps of Engineers

Ms. Denise Sloan
Regulatory Branch, CESWG-PE-RB
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 1229
Galveston, Texas 77553-1229

Naturally, given the location of the Houston Yacht Club (HYC) and its racing area, HYC is quite concerned about any plans to create a marsh, or spoils island, in this area of the open Bay. But it would be a mistake to believe this is simply a matter of one yacht club being upset because ?its? backyard is being encroached on, or that HYC sailors will have to play elsewhere. The proposed project is monumental and has grave consequences for not only for sailors and those who use the Bay, but for the Bay itself. Many people are not necessarily against the Channel being widened and deepened. They just feel that the dredging byproducts should disposed of properly and in a location where they don?t ruin the Bay.

The notion that the proposed Marsh which would sit alongside the busy Bayport channel in the upper Bay will support a wetland-type habitat or anything environmentally beneficial appears contrary to experience with other spoils areas. The fact that ships? wakes and wash would flow alongside (over) the Marsh further erodes the idea of an ecosystem. Let?s be frank: first and last, this is a matter of finding an expedient place to dump spoils. Right now, there are other already designated areas for dumping spoils that don?t involve filling-in the Bay. This project has been on the public radar for about a month or so now and will have an incalculable effect on the entire Bay, and yet the ecological ramifications are unexplored. For starters, the issue of how a large marsh would affect the ability of Bay water to move back and forth in the event of a hurricane has not been explored. And yet the comment periods end in a month. Perhaps the first comment of any interested citizen should simply be, ?SLOW DOWN! Further study is necessary.?

From a recreational sailor?s and boater's point of view, the idea of converting large portions of the open Bay into area shallow, semi-submerged areas of ?marsh? or spoils bank is offensive, especially if there are few ecological benefits.  Worse, the precedent this project would set for further development of the Bay is staggering. Dumping dredge spoils alongside the channels will soon reduce the Bay to little more than a shallow swamp crossed by a deepwater channel. Recreational activities, such as racing, on the Bay will be impeded, and recreational boats will be forced into the ship channels to travel to different parts of the Bay.  It?s not just about HYC?it?s about all forms of boating, sailing and fishing on Galveston Bay.

I encourage you to join in echoing concern in making sure that dredge spoils are placed where they belong, and not change recreational boating areas forever. The Corps is taking written public comment on the project until July 5, 2012.

All are welcome on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at Houston Yacht Club for the kickoff to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2012 Leukemia Cup Regatta featuring Gary Jobson , world-renowned sailor and ESPN commentator.

Learn how you can raise funds to help fight leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The kickoff will be a fun event, where you can meet past participants and get an early start on your fundraising for The Leukemia Cup Regatta, which will take place on June 22-24, 2012 at the Houston Yacht Club (www.houstonyachtclub.com).

    Buffet available at 6 p.m. ($18).
    Special Guest and Speaker: Gary Jobson
    Get Gary Jobson's latest book signed
    Leukemia Cup wares available for sale
    Set up your fundraising website
    Prize drawing for those who begin fundraising at the kickoff!

Join us at HYC the kickoff!

A simple oversight, that's all. 

The entry form has been changed to include J/105's, and as always, J/105's, all types of J-Boats, and other craft, are most welcome at the HYC Mid-Winter Regatta.     

Houston Yacht Club (HYC)'s Race and Regatta Committee will host an Introduction to Race Committee Seminar Sunday, Jan. 22 at HYC.  There will be a classroom session between 10 am and noon, then a brief break for lunch, followed by an on-the-water orientation in an HYC Committee Boat (weather permitting).   There is no charge for the class, and all are welcome.

Our presenter will be HYC senior member Paul Francis, who is is a P/C of Texas Corinthian YC, master of the sailing yacht "Bay Girl," and brings to bear considerable race management experience. Guest presenters will be Race Committee luminaries Cherie Lecompte, Annemarie and Rainer Majewski, Ruth Keenan and select others who will share their experiences on the water. This class is an entry-level class and is intended for a broad audience.  Examples include the non-racing (perhaps new) member of a club or other sailing organization who wants a better understanding of club activities (and may be evaluating the Race Committee as an option for becoming more deeply involved), the racing crewman/woman who wants to understand the mechanics of how sailboat races work, existing members of the Race Committee team who would like a review, and generally, any sailor or boater who wants to get involved in race committee work.

Houston YC will host an entry-level introduction to the Racing Rules of Sailing this Sunday, January 8th, 2012, from 9 a.m. until noon in the HYC ballroom.  The class is open to all interested sailors and their crew and the class is primarily for beginners and persons new to racing. The presenter is Jim Tyson, a US SAILING Judge. This introductuory course is designed to help newcomers understand racing and take some of the stress out of starting racing. Some of the topics we will cover will be the fundamental rules covering safety, sportsmanship and fairness.  Specific topics will include right of way guidelines, general limitations, and how rules apply at marks and obstructions. If you are a veteran racer who is very familiar with the rules, this introductory-level class might not be for you. However, you are still welcome to join us! You never know when some tidbit that saves a race for you at some point in the future might be imparted...