GBCA Discussion Forum

Skippers!  Just to let you know there is a Buc-ee's (#7 The Beach Store) at 4231 E. Hwy 332 in Freeport where you can pick up bags of ice and other snacks for your boat.  I spoke with the general manager and he said no worries about running out of ice, they have plenty!  They also serve coffee round the clock, but I told him our folks need RUM around the clock!

See you at the Skipper's meeting this Friday!  Remember to bring cash or checks to sign up for event tickets and purchase other GBCA/TRW goodies!

   Parties are shaping up..now we have a band coming for Friday night!  Hannah's Reef!  Now we just need more racers and folks purchasing event tickets!  We have even made buying your event tickets easier by going online!  The NOR gives a registration deadline of July 13th which is this Friday, so let's see at least 10 more boats get signed up before then!  I know you are out there!

That's right folks!  Purchase your event tickets online in advance this year!  The price is $25/person which covers your meals and beverages(rum, beer and more rum) for both Friday and Saturday parties. As we have done in the past, wristbands will be used for Friday and Saturday parties, but you must show your event ticket or be on the "purchased" registration list to receive the wristband.   TRW Registrants will receive two event tickets in their Skipper Packets.

I need to give a guarantee headcount to our caterers by July 16th, so if you can buy your event tickets in advance it sure would help me a lot on headcount estimates! As always, you can also purchase the event tickets at the TRW Skipper's meeting with cash or checks.

Speaking of headcount, what about these boat registrations?  I see nine registrants so far, so I hope we see more of you step up and get registered soon.  I've already cut my fingernails down so I won't be obliged to bite them off with nervous anticipation!  Let's see 20-25 boats out there this year!  Surfside folks are excited about having sailboat races in their vicinity for viewing, so let's give them a great show on our RETURN TO FREEPORT!

  Hey folks!  Let's see some action on the registration page!  The Regatta Committee is working hard to pull together another successful TRW, but it really helps us to see in advance how many boats we are working with this year as well as helps us estimate how many mouths we are going to need to serve food and beverages too.  I look forward to seeing everyone come out and join the race as you have done in the past years, so get your registrations in now!

To be continued....

Just to let everyone know in advance!  Kelly McGuire will have his CD's on sale at TRW.  He will also have Download Cards for each CD available.  He accepts, cash, check and all major credit cards, so check out his table of CD's!

CD's on sale will be:
Redfish Island
Club Blonde
Boat in Belize
Front Row Ticket-LIVE
King of the Island

A price list will be posted at TRW as well as flyers you can pick up at the Skipper's meeting.  Download cards for each CD is $10/each.  CD prices vary depending on quantity purchased. 

Just a reminder that the Skipper's meeting is this Friday where we will be selling the TRW t-shirts (they look mighty fine too!) at $20/each and the Event Pass that will get you the free food and rum for all 3 days at $25/per person.  As we have done in the past, you will have to show your event pass as you come in the poolside area and get it stamped and receive your daily party wristband that lets the bartender and caterer know you paid!  Remember too, Michelle (barterndar) works for tips, so be sure and tip her for all her hard work and believe me she works hard to serve those rum drinks as quickly as she can.

I would like to ask that everyone try and buy your Event tickets early at the Skipper's meeting...this gives us a better headcount for catered food in advance.  Skipper's tell your crew to come by and get their event tickets or you pick them up for them!  We will be selling them at poolside, but if you can please buy in advance.

See you at the Skipper's meeting!!

And I'm still watching for those boats to register!

  OK, as someone who is planning parties you racers sure make me nervous!  Where's our boat sign ups???  Six boats so far!  Come on!!!  RC is gearing up, Skipper's meeting is next Friday where we will be selling the event passes and t-shirts AND of course the rum is bought and ready for the palapa bar!  Kelly McGuire is scheduled for Friday entertainment!  Michelle, TRW Bartendar, is back with us for another year of serving!  Jillian and Jessica, GYB Lifeguards, are waiting for us to come down for another year of poolside fun, so let's see those boats listed on Regatta Network!  I'll be checking!! 

  In response to cost of TRW t-shirts, they will also remain at usual cost of $20/each.  Cash or checks only.  Shirt sales will begin at the TRW Skipper's meeting.  See you there!

Folks,

Shirts and event tickets will be sold at TRW Skipper's meeting, so bring your cash or checks cuz you know we don't take credit cards!

Watch for the TRW special edition newsletter coming out soon that will outline TRW events in detail, but as always we plan on serving you good food, rum and beer all 3 days after the races.  Event tickets will remain at $25.00/per person.  This is your pass for all 3 days!  Can't beat that price anywhere! 

And with special thanks to our sponsor WWW.ThreeFatBrothers.com we will have the Kelly McGuire Band playing poolside on Friday evening from 6pm-9pm!

Get those boats signed up now!  Skippers receive 2 event tickets in their packets.

I just called GYB Fuel Dock (they sell ice too).  The 40 lb bags at GYB Fuel Dock are $6.50 plus tax.  They take credit cards or cash.  The bait store also sells ice, but they are closed for the day and I couldn't get a hold of anyone.  I know I use the fuel dock location for the parties because I need those BIG bags of ice!!  Just thought you might want to know.  It is a long trek from E dock, but not longer than going to a grocery store! 

  TRW Housekeeping Notes!

Kevin and I took a cruise down to Galveston yesterday to turn in the sandwich orders some of you submitted at the Skippers meeting (while sampling some pizza and other delicious menu items for lunch).  REMINDER to the Skippers, if you are planning to order sandwich?s please have them FAXED TO NY PIZZERIA no later than Tuesday.  We just want to make sure all the orders are ready for Thursday morning.  I will be picking up the sandwiches and will have them down at the marina around 8:30 a.m. each morning.  I do not deliver to the boats, so you need to find my white Honda Accord Crosstour which will be parked at E Dock near the sailboats each morning.

Also, for those of you not familiar with the GYC pool area.  The only entry to the pool is the back gate that faces the marina.  This will be the only gate open for entry to the pool.  The front of the building has been completely locked down since IKE.  There is parking along the back gate area, so save a walk around the building.

NO GLASS CONTAINERS ALLOWED IN THE POOL AREA (except the rum bottles GBCA supplies at the palapa bar).  Pool Rules will be posted, but please do not bring any glass containers in the pool area (no beer bottles please).  Also, another important pool rule to remember, no swimming in the pool after 9pm due to no lighting in the pool.  Believe me, the water gets dark at night and people are drinking, so please respect the Life Guard, Jillian if she tells you, ?out of the pool please.?  We want everyone to have a fun time, but we also want everyone to be safe.

We?ll have t-shirts ($20), tervis tumblers (16oz=$20, 24oz=$25) and EVENT tickets ($25) for sale on Thursday.  You MUST have an event ticket to get the wristband which will allow you to receive food, rum and beer for all three nights.  One ticket=3 Nights!  PLEASE BRING CASH OR CHECK?NO CREDIT CARDS!!!

Let?s have a GREAT time sailing and partying!!!  See you in Galveston!

You betcha!  BUT, we are ordering limited amounts of t-shirts this year, so buy early.  I'm hoping to have the t-shirts for the Skipper's meeting, but if not, they will be on sale down in Galveston.  T-shirts will be $20/each.  The back of the shirts will have this year's artwork that you see on the poster.

Speaking of sale merchandise! We will also have the GBCA Tervis Tumblers available for sale down in Galveston.  The 16oz for $20.00 and the 24oz for $25.00.  What better way to fill your rum drink at the bar than with the GBCA Tumbler!!  The ingredient levels of the TRW specialty drink, Mar-Kat, is based on the 24oz tumbler (for those of you remembering our great concoction)!

Remember all sales must be cash or check!!!

Just to let you know.  We will be selling the event tickets down at Poolside on Thursday, so bring your cash or checks (GBCA does not take credit cards) with you.  I'm excited to see our entries and look forward to an exciting race week down in Galveston!

  Good Morning!  Just an early reminder that EVENT TICKETS will be on sale at the Skipper's meeting being held this Friday (7/16) at the GBCA Clubhouse.  The event tickets are $25.00/person which covers 3 days of free food, rum and beer at the Poolside post parties after each race including the Saturday evening awards party.  Can't beat a deal like that!  Everyone enjoyed the Benno's Fish/shrimp dinner last year, so we have brought Benno's back to feed us on Saturday evening.

Skipper's will receive 2 event tickets in their packets, but be sure to encourage your crew to buy their tickets at the Skipper's meeting.  It helps me get a better headcount for the parties if I can get these tickets sold in advance, so whether you are racing or just coming down to party please stop by the clubhouse this Friday and buy your event ticket.  Tickets do not go down in price over the course of the 3 days, so take advantage of the great price for all 3 days of partying! 

Just as a reminder and for those of you that will be newbies this year.....You will need to present your ticket when you enter the poolside area at which time you will receive that evenings wristband (wristbands only good for one night), so don't forget to bring your ticket with you.  The bartendars and food servers are informed to not serve anyone unless they have that evenings wristband....no exceptions.  If you left it on the boat or in your car..go back and get the ticket.  The volunteers that take the time out of partying to assist with checking you in appreciate your courtesy and understanding.  With that said.......Good Luck on the Water and come back ready to cool off in the pool with cool rum drinks and cold beer!!

Hotel Information for Texas Race Week and Slip Rental at Galveston Yacht Club.

I am sorry to inform you that Comfort Inns will not be giving us Group Rates for Texas Race Week dates of July 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.  You can make individual reservations with Comfort Inn at Stewart Beach (this is the RC location and very close to Galveston Yacht Club) by calling them at 409-766-7070 or 800.4CHOICE.  TRW has always used this hotel, but the impression I got is with the influx of tourist trade due to the oil spill along the LA coastline they did not want to give us group rates.  The rates they have is $104.99 for Thursday night (7/22) and then $144.00 for Friday and Saturday night.  If you plan on reserving rooms down in Galveston I would suggest calling now to make sure you get a reservation.

For the Skipper's that plan on getting a slip at Galveston Yacht Club:The marina rate is $1.50/foot/night (regular rate: $2.00).  They will begin to take reservations two weeks before the event.
Boats will have to fill out a temporary lease agreement, which is standard for all transients now.  You can call Rita at 409-762-1253 or 800-866-2869 to make slip arrangements.  Please note again that they will not take reservations until two weeks before the event.

We've got parties planned, so don't hesitate...sign up and make your reservations to sail and party!  See you there!