GBCA Discussion Forum

All,
An amendment to the NOR has been posted for the Heald Bank regatta, see link below.  This amendment is primarily intended to address a date error for the competitor's briefing.  The briefing will be held on Thursday June 22 at Lakewood YC and also online for anyone who cannot attend in person.  A link to the meeting will be sent out to all registered skippers no later than Wednesday evening.  We are also allowing one or two boat classes to allow competition for the Navy Cup / S. Rhoads Fisher trophies as part of the TORC series even if there is only a one or two boat class for the Heald Bank regatta.  The sailing instructions have also been posted so you can start plugging courses into your chart plotters.  Please note, due to relatively small number of entries I will likely combine the starts for all classes, to be discussed at the competitor's briefing and confirmed by VHF at 09:45 on Saturday morning.
https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/26512

Please make sure to have your crew waivers completed before the competitor's briefing on Thursday.  I note that two boats are presently only showing one crew member each.  As to fleets, please let me know if any desired changes.

Lastly, please remember to RSVP at 281-474-2511 for the special "soggy and groggy" Sunday brunch at 10:30 if you wish to attend.  This will be a fun chance to swap stories with other sailors and have some coffee to keep you awake through the day, or alternately a bloody mary to put you to bed for the day.  Assuming good wind and no protests we intend to have awards ceremony at the brunch at 11:00; however, you do not need to purchase brunch to receive awards.

Any requests for late registration can be addressed to the PRO and are likely to be granted.

This event is open to everyone.  We have a direct link in order to promote this locally first. Sign up early, and come learn.

Yes, this is an early post.  However, getting more qualified judges in our area is so important to hosting sustainable events in the future.  This course is a first step to grow our base of club judges and give back to the sport.

Direct Registration Link:
http://www1.ussailing.org/enrollment/selectregistrant.aspx?courseid=13497997

What: IN-PERSON Club Judge Seminar
When: Saturday, February 3, 2024, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm in-person.
Where: Lakewood Yacht Club
Instructors:   Chris Luppens, Al Goethe

Preparation Period: Ten days prior to the in-person session the course will open in Canvas, US Sailing

Registration is open and NOR is posted for the Heald Bank Regatta

This event is part of the TORC series for the Texas Navy Trophy and the S. Rhoads Fisher Trophy.

New this year is a sailors' brunch on Sunday morning, June 25, for the soggy and groggy.  Kind of our Galveston Bay version of SORC's Race to Buffet.  Details can be found in NOR section 4 Schedule.

https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/26512

The Rules from Start to Finish with Dave Perry
Thursday, January 19, 2023
7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Lakewood Yacht Club Ballroom
$45 per person
Join us as Dave Perry goes around the race course highlighting the most important rules and winning tactics in each situation.  This session will be useful for everyone including crews, skippers, and race committee volunteers.
Open to everyone.
Register on Regatta Network: https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registration_form.php?regatta_id=25525

If you prefer an in person option, LYC will be hosting Basic Race Management on March 25

US Sailing Basic Race Management Seminar
March 25, 2023
Lakewood Yacht Club Harbor Room
While this is an essential step for those interested in pursuing race officer certification, it also provides an overview for learning more about RC operations.  Completing the certification test is not required, and this is a great chance for anyone to learn.
Open to everyone.
Find the full course description and registration link on the US Sailing Race Officer Seminar page:
https://www.ussailing.org/competition/rules-officiating/resources/find-a-seminar/race-officer-seminar-calendar/

on ABC news: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8775328

One more email please!!

http://ourgalvestonbay.com/take-action/

The Guidry news article covering the meeting includes full audio of the discussion.  One commissioner proposed that they pass a resolution that would prevent some variation of this proposal from appearing in the future, but the full panel was reluctant to commit to that extent.  Please send, and ask your friends to send, one more email to thank them and to ask that a future resolution be considered.

The email template makes this a 2-minute task!

Thank you so much *everyone* for helping make this happen.

August 15 - 1:30 - POHA Board Room!!  Please attend!

The POHA Commission is planning a workshop, or special meeting, where the details of the dredging will be discussed.  This is open to the public. 

Port of Houston Authority Executive Office Building, 111 East Loop North

Today is the last day to send your comments to the USACE, they just have to be postmarked by the end of the day or they can be faxed.  Details are on the ourgalvestonbay.com site.

Newly posted is the full set of HYC's comments to the USACE and the TCEQ.  Exhibit 4 shows how the sailing areas could still be fit in with the dredge spoils.  However, 1.) the study area in the permit is for the whole trapazoid shape, not the little triangle in the corner that is "conceptual" and 2.) this would set the precident for similar areas to the south of the Bayport flare.

Also posted are some interesting 'track changes' we found from the FOIA requests.  The Port didn't even call it a "marsh" in their draft, it was a "submerged berm".  The term "Marsh" was provided by the Corps, our impartial governement permitting agency.

Regarding an earlier question about Galveston Bay Foundation's position, they have issued a statement:

http://galvbay.org/index.html

In order to make the July 5th deadline to send hard-copy letters to the Corps, today is really the best day to mail these out.  This is a 5-minute task if you just use the form letter here: http://ourgalvestonbay.com/  There are a few places to personalize the message, but it won't take long.

Thanks, everyone for all your help in getting the word out in the local community.  There are sure signs of progress among the Port Commissioners, but they have stated that they will see what the comments collected by Corps (our letters due on the 5th) have to say before making a call.

Updates:
Find additional information on ourgalvestonbay.com including support from Sen. Jackson, Reps. Davis, Smith, and Taylor.

There are local council meetings happening tonight and tomorrow.  Several have resolutions against this dredge disposal option on their agenda.  Tomorrow morning at 9, the Port of Houston Commissioners are meeting, and this project is item #1 on the agenda.  Attend any and all! Speak!  times and places are on ourgalvestonbay.com  To the Port, this particular "marsh" is phase one; this would set a precedent for open water disposal throughout the bay.

AND, We have added a page to the site for local organizations, businesses, community groups to add their voice to the list of those opposed. There is frighteningly limited non-sailor awareness in the communities that this option is in the works or what the real effects would be throughout the community, not just for the people who use the bay for business or pleasure.  Real estate, service industries, commercial fishing and shrimping, including oysters, recreational tourism, and all recreational boating businesses would be affected.

If you have a business or are part of any organization opposed to this, please let us add you to this list. AND share this with your neighbors and connections in the community.

sailmom@gmail.com

The Galveston Bay Foundation is also opposed to the placement of the BU Marsh.

There is now a form letter for the Port Commissioners on ourgalvestonbay.com to help.  Contacting them is the most important action at this point.  This will go down as the next cruise terminal, millions wasted and THEIR responsibility.

Thanks for those letters sent so far!!

If you have your email handy, try the same format for the other names and report back. 

The other commissioners:
Steve Phelps
Jim Fonteno
Kase L. Lawal
Jimmy A. Burke
Janiece M. Longoria
Elyse Lanier

Website for all the contact information and action items needed: http://ourgalvestonbay.com/

Please share it with your friends and the whole community.  This is not just a sailors' issue.

Contact me for an email that you can share with your neighborhoods, friends, colleagues . . . .  sailmom@gmail.com

1. This is the most expensive, wasteful option with more costs that aren't even listed.
2. This is a totally untested experiment and an environmental disaster
3. This is OUR GALVESTON BAY

We MUST let the Port Commissioners know that we don't want this, because they are being told otherwise.

An interesting tidbit buried at the bottom of an article about Hobby Airport:
 
"At her news conference following the city council meeting, Mayor Parker said that she and Harris County officials are considering the replacement of Jim Edmonds as chair of the Port of Houston Authority.
?I appreciate Mr. Edmonds' service,? Parker said.  ?I think he?s done yeoman?s work at the port.  But, I also believe that it?s a new day and a new opportunity.  There is a new director in Len Waterworth and I would certainly like to explore options in who the chairman should be.?"