Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine Sept/Oct 2013

Girls with swords! “Make You Famous”Swordfishing Trip, page 16 September/October 2013 | www.gulfcoastmariner.com

Celebrating Coastal Life

[Letter from the Publisher]

Captain (Editor) Mary Alys Cherry Commodore (Director of Art) Brandon Rowan First Mate (Graphic Designer) Victoria Ugalde Sales Commodore (Director of Sales) Patty Kane Sales Crew (Advertising Executives) Shannon Alexander Patty Bederka Debbie Salisbury Amber Sample Editorial Don Armstrong Joshua Graves Patty Kane Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit Charles Milby Laura Snow Photography Charles Milby Brandon Rowan Distribution Timothy Shinkle Company Admin. Assistant Lillian Harmon

LF

CO

A

U

I

ST

f you talk to most of the brokers in this area, they will tell you that 2013 has been a pretty good year for boat sales. We want to promote this business climate and keep the momentum going into to next year.

In this issue we look forward to some of the up and coming events in our area such as Boatoberfest on Clear Lake and the Viper North Americans in La Porte.

We look back at the first 75 years of sailing at the Texas Corinthian Yacht Club and a great little trip to Newport, RI. People do business with people, be sure to check out our interview with Yacht Broker of the Year Carolyn Lexa; she loves to get out on the water.

I just got my Boston Whaler out of the shop and I can’t wait to get out on the bay.

It’s all about the ride. Be sure to check for water in your gas tank. It just happened to me.

Joe Kent talks up the fall offshore fishing possibilities as we wait for that first cool front to roll in. Some of the best fishing in this area happens in the fall.

A good way to beat this heat is to get out on the water. It’s always ten degrees cooler out on the bay. That’s where we’re going.

Rear Admiral (President) Rick Clapp

G

Fall is Fine

Admiral (Publisher) Charles Milby

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586

Charles Milby Publisher

6

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

September/October 2013

For information on advertising: Phone: 281.474.5875 Fax: 281.474.1443 r.clapp@baygroupmedia.com www.GulfCoastMariner.com

Photo: Brandon Rowan

FEATURES

September/October 2013

10 | Newport Summer Fun

Sights, sails and celebrations at this scenic New England city of the sea.

By Charles Milby

12 | Viper 640 Tuning

Get geared up for the 2013 Viper North American Championship, Oct. 9-12 at the Houston Yacht Club.

22 | 2014 GMC Sierra

Trailer your boat in style. The newest Sierra is bigger and bolder, inside and out.

By Don Armstrong

24 | What’s in Your Bag?

Advice and ideas about what to take on the water from West Marine’s lead backup of clothing, shoes and accessories.

By Laura Snow

14 | Fall Fishing Offshore

As the weather cools, the fishing still stays hot. The Pelagics are still hanging around, reef fish become more active and red snapper move closer into state waters.

By Capt. Joe Kent

16 | Girls with Swords

Swordfish to be exact. Two fine ladies and a full crew have an epic trip on Capt. Brett Holden’s Booby Trap.

By Joshua Graves

18 | Texas Corinthian Yacht Club Celebrates 75 Years

Founded in 1938, this club still preserves the principles of family, sailing and racing that it was founded on.

By Charles Milby

Contents Letter from the Publisher 2013 Hood Regatta Dorado Found Full of Baby Sea Turtles

26 | Gear Up: Bay Fishing

Some of the best lures, rods and reels to get those trout, reds and flounder on the line and in boat.

2013 Harvest Moon Regatta

30 | Carolyn Lexa

Beneteau Rendezvous

HSH Yacht Sales broker Carolyn Lexa was named the 2012-2013 Broker of the Year by the Galveston Bay Yacht Brokers Assoc.

ON THE COVER John Duffy and his daughter, Taylor Blair with a sweet pair of yellowedge grouper.

Neptune Subs Celebrates 35 Years Boatoberfest on Clear Lake Galveston Bay Foundation Tide charts

20 | The Galley

How to feed and energize a racing crew, plus a recipe that will keep them warm during those windy nights at sea.

By Betha Merit www.GulfCoastMariner.com

7

Got a Hot Catch? Send your pictures to Art@baygroupmedia.com

Sept. 20-22 at Houston Yacht Club

A

ll one design sailors, mark your calendars for the HOOD Regatta.

The Houston Open One Design Regatta is Sept.

20-22 at the Houston Yacht Club. The title sponsors for the 2013 event are Mount Gay Rum, J Boats Southwest and Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. This event saw 102 entries in 2011, 87 in 2012 and this year promises to be bigger and better with the addition of the J70 Class and Day Sailor Class.

Classes anticipated to sail are J22, J24, J70, J80, J105, J109, A Cat, Ensign, V15, Lightning, Viper, Catalina 22, C420 and Day Sailor.

For the J22, J24, J70, J80 and Viper classes this will be a circuit regatta and it will be Part A of the C420 Gulf Coast Championship.

The racing will take place on three race courses on upper Galveston Bay. The Skipper’s meeting will be held Friday night, with racing on Saturday and Sunday. Awards will be given out on Sunday afternoon. Each boat registered will receive a backpack and two dinner tickets for Saturday. This will be the largest regatta on Galveston Bay this year, so please don’t miss it.

Check the HYC website, www.houstonyachtclub. com or regattanetwork. com for the Notice of Race and registration information. For more information, contact regatta chair, Linda McKee at lindamckee@aol.com.

8

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

Aaron Jolly and Connor Weigelt hold up Debbie Conway’s 34-pound wahoo. The fish was caught trolling a rip.

This fat 112-pound yellowfin was caught on the same rip as the wahoo and was muscled in by Ron McDowell.

Connor expertly gaffed the fish and pulled it up onboard the Bad Intentions.

Greedy Dorado Found Full of Baby Sea Turtles TIME WAS RUNNING OUT in the Lone Star Shootout when a big fish took off with the center line of the Contingent Sea as she trolled along a promising weedline.

September/October 2013

Angler Sherry Potter got to work and reeled in the tournament-winning dolphin, which weighed in at 50.5 pounds.

A shocking discovery was made once the fish went under the fillet knife.

Over 20 sea turtles were found in the stomach of this greedy dorado.

“Given that all the hatchlings came from a single dolphinfish, the event is rather unique,” said Dr. Jaime R. AlvaradoBremer of Texas A&M at Galveston’s Marine Biology department, after reviewing the photo and information.

NAUTICAL NUMBERS

590 feet Length of the largest motor yacht in the world, the Azzam, built

by German luxury boat builder Lürssen. The massive pleasurecraft is jet powered and has 94,000 horsepower.

Joe Mesuch with a solid tilefish caught on a deep drop in over 800 feet of water.

The husband and wife teamwork of Zack and Regan Bertrand brought this 47-pound amberjack up from the rig and into the boat.

$1.8 million Record price a 489-pound bluefin tuna sold for at a Tokyo auction in January 2013.

Gina Dominique of Kemah displays an impressive redfish.

Jeremiah Corbin with a nice Galveston Bay slot red.

Harvest Moon Regatta Features Sail-A-Thon ®

F

or the second year, a Sail-a-thon to raise ovarian cancer awareness will be part of the Lakewood Yacht Club’s Harvest Moon Regatta,® which will race from Galveston to Port Aransas over Oct. 17 – 20.

The beneficiary of the Sail-a-thon proceeds will be the Judith Liebenthal Robinson Ovarian Cancer Foundation (JLR Foundation). This was created several years ago to honor Judy Robinson, a long-time member of Lakewood Yacht Club and participant in the Harvest Moon Regatta®. The Judy’s Mission trophy honoring Robinson will be presented to the skipper who raises the most donation money for the event.

This will take place during the Harvest Moon Regatta® Awards Ceremony to be held the evening of Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Port “A” City Pavilion.

Robinson was an avid sailor, boat owner and racing participant. She was a member of the

Harvest Moon Regatta® Committee for years and was a great supporter of the event. Despite a healthy lifestyle, Robinson was diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer in 2009 and died within a year. While battling ovarian cancer, she was determined to do something to raise awareness about the vague signs and symptoms and ineffective screening tools for victims of ovarian cancer. She and her friends then created the JLR Foundation.

The JLR Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Houston dedicated to raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and to funding research. For further information, please visit the website www.jlrfoundation.org To participate in the Sail-a-thon, visit the website www.harvestmoonregatta.com and click on Sail-A-Thon.

65.45 knots Current world record for sailing speed set in November 2012 by Australian Paul Larsen in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

1,631 miles United States coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. That number jumps to over 16,000 if bays and inland waters are included. www.GulfCoastMariner.com

9

NE W P O RT S U MME R F UN

2013 New York Yacht Club

GRANDMASTERS Texas Corinthian Yacht Club Team Races in Newport, Rhode Island

Photos: Beecie Kupersmith

Sails and celebrations at this historic New England city by the sea

By Charles Milby

I

love to go to Newport, Rhode Island in the summer. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay, this historical New England town will charm you forever. www. gonewport.com This natural harbor is home to many impressive international yachts. Many of them come north in the summertime to escape the hurricanes that plague the Caribbean. On a good day you will see 300 boats of all shapes and sizes coming and going as this modern day harbor comes alive. Throw in the Newport Folk Festival and you have one heck of a party town. www. newportfolkfest.net One of my favorite places in Newport is the International Yacht Restoration School. Take a walk through their facilities

and you really get the feel of how boats were built 75 to a 100 years ago. Crafting and restoring wooden boats is what they do best. www.iyrs. edu Even though the Newport sailing season only lasts for three months in the summer, there is a regatta going on almost every weekend. The club house at the prestigious New York Yacht Club is home to many of our country’s best sailors. If you can swing an invitation, then jump at the chance to visit. It’s well worth it. www.nyyc.org From stately mansions and yacht clubs to lobster rolls and surfing, Newport has something for everyone.

Be sure to pack a sweater, if you can remember what that feels like and say goodbye to our Texas heat for just a little while.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

11

VIPER 640 QUICK TUNING GUIDE 2013 Viper North American Championship, Oct. 9-12, Houston Yacht Club. Get Ready.

This guide is for the new open-body style turnbuckles. 3/32” Staymasters for Lowers 1 turn= half hole

All turns are from base settings Uppers 28 on PT-1 Lowers3fingers 1 m up PT-1 Headstay 21 onPT-1 Back of Mast to Straight Line between Spreader 280 mm Max Headstay Length bearing point to bearing point 7588 mm Arc Measurement-Tack pin for main to forstay, Mark on forestay to forestay pin 1320 mm VIPER 640 Length Overall 21’ 1” (6.4m) Length of Waterline 19’ 1” Beam 8’ 2” Displacement 749 lbs (340 kilos) Draft 4’6” with keel down, 1’10” with keel up Sail Area Main/Jib 252 sq. ft Spin 425 sq. ft

“When I bought my Viper 640, I really didn’t know what I had gotten into.

Now, I realize what a great boat it is. Extremely fast downwind, it keeps you on your toes at all time, and tough work upwind with full on hiking and I love every minute of it.”

-Farley Fontenot

12

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

Beneteau Rendezvous Packed With Fun

T

he 2013 Beneteau Rendezvous, presented by Sea Lake Yachts, will be held at Lakewood Yacht Club from Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22, and promises to be packed with fun activities for Beneteau owners. Last year’s Rendezvous was a huge hit with more than 30 boats in attendance, and this year 50 boats are expected!

Beneteau Sailboats, as well as Beneteau Power Boats are invited and will be gathered together in Lakewood’s Inner Harbor over the weekend. Most of the activities will be pool-side, with a tent set up for all of the attendees to gather throughout the weekend.

Friday night will include a mixer, along with registration.

Saturday will be full of activities beginning with breakfast and mimosas by the pool. Afterwards, guest speakers will include Cruising Destinations on Galveston Bay, presented by Phillip Kroff. This presentation has been very well received in the past, giving boat owners specifics on fun places to go in the area.

Also speaking will be Kevin Wilson of Stix n Rig’n who will be discuss proper care and feeding of in mast furling and roller furling systems. Patrick McAndrew with True North Marine will speak on Marine Electronics as well.

There will be poolside activities after the speakers conclude that will include lunch, demonstrations by Leigh Ann Hawboldt with KO Sailing, and a demonstration of an inflatable life raft in

the pool. Saturday will also include a silent auction benefiting Boys and Girls Harbor and vendors will be set up by the pool for individual questions and demonstrations, “boat show style.”

One of the favorite activities in the past has been the Smorgasaboard, which will be held at 5:30 Saturday night. All of the boat owners will prepare their favorite appetizers and guests will sample these and vote, after which a winner will be picked.

The Saturday night party and dinner will wrap up this fun filled day.

Sunday is the Unruly Regatta, which is a fun race on Galveston Bay and will be followed by trophy presentations and lots of prizes will be given away. For information or to sign up for the rendezvous, contact Angela Pounds at angela@ sealakeyachts.com or call her at 281-248-6001.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

13

Fall Fishing Offshore TEXAS

By Capt. Joe Kent

WE OFTEN READ about the prolific offshore fishing Texas offers during the prime months of July and August; however, not much is mentioned about the fall months, especially September and October.

O

ne reason fishing articles no longer mention much about offshore fishing during the fall is because red snapper are one of the prime targets, or at least they were before Federal regulations limited the fishing season to just a few weeks beginning June 1 each year.

This year, deep-sea anglers may have an opportunity to fish for the prized table fare during October if the Gulf Council of the National

14

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

Marine Fisheries Council has its way. The council was to make its formal recommendation in MidAugust, after press time for this article.

If the recommendation is approved and added days are set for October, this will be a bonus for offshore fishermen in Federal Waters. Regardless, red snapper fishing is open year-round in state waters. Fall is prime time for this species to be found in the

Snapper Slappers are effective for a variety of species found in the Gulf. Try a brightly colored 1 oz. lure tipped with squid for dorado on weedlines, or drop a big 5 oz. slapper with a sardine on the circle assist hook for that sow snapper.

Tasty mangrove snapper make an excellent subsitute when red snapper is not in season.

shallower waters controlled by less pelagic fish are around yet the State of Texas within nine the populations of reef fish tend Nautical Miles of shore. to increase.

The populations of snapper By now most of you have have increased dramatically thought of another big plus over the past five years with the for fall fishing offshore and quality and quantity of the fish that is the pleasant conditions resembling what I recall from 20 in which to fish. The extreme years ago. heat of summer is behind us One of the advantages of and pleasant temperatures are fall snapper fishing is that the usually the norm. distances needed to travel Offshore anglers are are much less than in the encouraged to brush up on summer. During the warm the Federal Regulations before summer months, most of the making a trip as they do differ better snapper fishing takes from the well-published state place beyond 40 miles out of rules. For example, there is a Galveston, while during the two-fish bag limit Capt. Joe Kent cooler months decent-sized fish on red snapper and Gulf Coast can be found in state waters and in Federal Waters Mariner’s Director of in the near Federal waters nine compared to a Art, Brandon to 20 miles out. four-fish limit in Rowan with a Even though we talk about state waters.

65-pound ling.

This big fish the virtues of fall red snapper Recently, was found on fishing, the pelagic fish still are the Federal a small, sparse around. While perhaps not in Government patch of weed 50 miles out of the concentrations as in July removed the Galveston. and August, king mackerel, requirement for ling, dorado, bonito, sharks and having a deflating device on others continue to roam the near board and reduced the bag limit shore waters of the Gulf. for vermilion snapper from 20 One of my best days ever to 10 per day. Circle hooks are for dorado came in late required for fishing for reef fish September of 2000 while fishing in both Federal and State Waters approximately 30 miles out of In the fall, there is less boat San Luis Pass. At the time, red traffic offshore which is good for “While perhaps not in the concentrations snapper season ran from June fishing but a problem if you get as in July and August, king mackerel, ling, 1 until September 28. While stranded. This time of year it is anchored near an offshore especially important to leave a dorado, bonito, sharks and others continue platform, a weed line drifted by float plan with someone onshore to roam the near shore waters of the Gulf.� and behind it was a large school who would be one of the first to of dorado in the 10 to 18-pound be aware if you were not back category. Every line on our boat on time. winter and are easy targets for anglers had a fish on it and the dorado stayed Take advantage of our great fall weather fishing the bottom. around until we had boated 12. and make it out to one of the wells and One pattern that I have observed is an Other species of reef fish including platforms out of Galveston, you might be inverse relationship between pelagic fish vermilion snapper, mangroves, grouper surprised at what is waiting for your bait. and reef fish with each passing cold front, and others are in close preparing for www.GulfCoastMariner.com

15

Photography by www.boobytrapfishingteam.com

“Make You Famous” Swordfishing Trip Capt. Brett Holden’s BOOBY TRAP 52’ Viking Express

By Joshua Graves

T

he Booby Trap headed out Thursday at noon on July 11 for the three-and-a-half day “Make You Famous” swordfishing trip. John Duffy of Richmond, Texas put up the winning bid of $17,000, with all of the proceeds going towards Everyday Heroes.

The crew consisted of Brett Holden (Capt. Ahab), Capt.

Jeff Wilson, first mate Capt.

Matt Reed and the team’s videographer “Miles.” The anglers for this trip were John Duffy, his daughter, Taylor Blair and Brett Holden’s daughter, Chelsey Holden, who is no stranger to big game fishing.

The girls were fired up!

Taylor was the first one in the chair and nailed a 150-pound swordfish after a onehour battle. Then Chelsey stepped up and caught a small sword which was released after a 40 minute fight. With the sun failing, one more drop was made which led to Taylor catching and releasing a nice 80-pound swordfish.

The night bite was a little slow with one mako shark hooked and a 80-pound sword caught by Chelsey. A good pile of blackfin tuna was also jigged up from under the lights.

The next day resulted in one nice swordfish reeled in and released after one drop. Brett, Jeff and Matt had been telling Taylor, Chelsey and John about a grouper

16

and tilefish spot they had really been catching them on just a few miles away, so the days plan changed with huge smiles.

With John and Taylor on one side of the boat, and Brett and Chelsey on the other side, they deep dropped with LP-S1200 electric reels to catch singles and doubles of big tilefish and grouper.

After talking with John that evening, Brett decided to make a 30 mile move to target bigger swordfish and get away from the heavy weekend boat traffic. The ones the girls had been catching were nice, but after releasing 23 fish over 200 pounds on the previous 30 sword trip just a couple of weeks ago, they had to give this same area a shot once again.

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

It was John’s turn on the rod. The girls made it clear that John had to sit through one of these swordfish battles this trip. No matter what John said they were determined to get him in the chair. The first drop was the one; a big sword was hooked and after seeing it jump, it was estimated to be around 450-500 pounds.

Unfortunately, the hook was pulled after a few minutes.

The next drop, using the same expert daytime swordfishing techniques perfected by the Booby Trap Fishing Team, resulted in another great fish.

John has caught several swords in the 200-400 pound range on the Booby Trap, but this one was going to fight harder than any of them! The sword wacked the BaitMasters squid once, then wacked it again. With each wack John started reeling up, but Brett yelled “Drop it!” John gave the bait back to the sword and soon yelled “I’m Tight Sucka!”

He took the rod to the chair and the fight was on. Brett, Jeff and Matt thought the swordfish was going to be in the 400-500 pound range the way she was fighting. The big daytime fish was hooked in 1730 feet of water and it wasn’t long before John had all the line back on the Tiagra 80. Brett started to wire the leader but the swordfish then found its strength, took the leader from Brett, and stripped approximately 2000 feet of line without stopping, straight to the bottom and then at an angle, raced back to the surface. The

Trap Fishing Team is looking forward to having a repeat trip with this same group in the future!

The trip was a great time with great folks for a great cause! Dan Mathews of www.matthewsart.net donated one of his hand painted bills to the winner of this trip and I am pretty sure Taylor will be getting a nice trophy to stick on the wall! A special thanks goes out to all the great sponsors of the Texas Swordfish Seminar and everyone that supported and attended for the last three years. Hope to have them all back for the 2014 Seminar / Everyday Heroes Benefit!

You can keep up with the Texas Swordfish Seminar by visiting www.

Boobytrapfishingteam.com for sponsorship info, dates of the event or just to view the site. swordfish jumped behind the Booby Trap, disrupting the slick calm day with a white water splash. The sword was getting tired now and so was John. After all, it had been three long hours hand-in-hand with the big broadbill.

Once the swordfish was boat side the crew was amazed. After being pulled in the boat, it was estimated to be a shocking 275-300 pounds, despite fighting like a Nickle (500 pound class fish). What a powerful fish! Brett and Jeff just scratched their heads and Matt started to laugh.

John grabbed about three cold drinks and retired to the air-conditioned helm.

Taylor and Chelsey asked if they could catch more grouper and tilefish so that’s exactly what happened. The crew picked up and ran three miles out to another drop and the two teams limited out on yellow edge grouper and big golden

tilefish. With the rear fish box full, everyone called it a day and got some much needed rest.

The next morning, the girls both decided they wanted to catch more swordfish! The boat ran six miles to the closest daytime swordfishing spot and the bite was on. A total of five swordfish were caught in four hours, with three different anglers finishing off the 10 swordfish trip on the last day.

John Duffy, as before, was a pleasure to have on this trip, as well as his daughter Taylor. These two did a fine job fighting the big swords and never gave in for a second. Brett’s daughter, Chelsey Holden has been fishing offshore her entire life and did a stellar job on this trip as well. The Booby www.GulfCoastMariner.com

17

The Corinthian sailboat.

The 5.5 Meter sailboat.

Texas Corinthian Yacht Club Celebrates 75th Anniversary History of Racing Sailboats on Galveston Bay

•

Promote the art of sailing, seamanship, boat handling and the idea of Corinthian spirit.

IF ONE WORD CAPTURES the essence of the Texas Corinthian Yacht Club, it has to be family. The founders knew this, and if you ask anyone who has spent some time around the club, everyone would say they got it right. A small yacht club by most standards, the TCYC membership hovers around 125 stock holding members. It’s personal and that’s the way they want it.

Racing sailboats on an International stage and, more importantly, on a club level is what the TCYC has done for 75 years. From its beginning, three essential goals were stressed.

•

Provide and maintain a clubhouse, pier, and facilities for members.

•

Support and encourage National and International Yacht Racing.

Aerial shot of the club in the early 1960s.

18

Famed naval architect Olin Stephens was commissioned to design a new sailboat for Galveston Bay. The final product was a 21ft sailboat that resembled a Lightning with a 500 pound keel. The new boat was named Corinthian. The first boats were made of wood and many of them were built at the Seabrook Shipyard, which the Fay family still owns. The Corinthian class continued to grow with every year. The Houston Yacht Club had a fleet of Corinthians and the two clubs would hold regattas throughout the summer. The competition on the race course was refreshing. More and more people were getting into the sport of sailing and the new yacht club would soon start to gain recognition on the global stage.

In the early fifties the new International 5.5 Meter Class of sailboats

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

would attract Kings, Crown Princes, and Texas oilmen. Even though Europe and the East Coast were leading the way in this new class, the men and woman from a small club in Texas were proving they could hold their own in regattas all over the world. The Fay brothers would make the cover of Sports Illustrated to the delight of members and the TCYC would continue to set the standard for one design sailboat racing on Galveston Bay. The Corinthian and the International 5.5 Meter class may have been the best boats for racing on Galveston Bay after World War II but new changes in building materials were being developed and in the late sixties a new trend of fiberglass design hulls were attracting some attention from the global sailing community.

The Soling class of boat.

The Sonar sailboat, which is still in use today.

The Soling is a class of open keelboat designed by Jan Linge of Norway. In 1968 it was chosen from among many other boats to be the men’s triple handed boat for the 1972 Olympics. The new boats were affordable, easy to trailer and built to last. Fleets were started all over the world. In the US the TCYC would be fleet # 1. For the next twenty years the Soling would be the boat of choice for most of the members as one design racing became a way of life at the TCYC. Big regattas were held on Galveston Bay, the club wanted to show off our bay and give the traveling crews a little bit of that Texas hospitality. Traveling to new venues and racing sailboats was catching on and the idea of representing the TCYC in this country and around the world was always something the members were proud of.

It’s a terrible feeling to lose your fleet in one day but that’s what happened to the TCYC. A freakish storm hit the bay and destroyed the pier, the boats and the any hope of continuing the Soling class as a club boat. The members decided to go with a new boat, a Sonar designed by Bruce Kirby who was known for designing the Laser.

In 2000 the first three Sonars were purchased.

The fleet was new to the bay and the competition with other fleets kept the number of boats low at first. After the first summer of racing, three more boats were added to the fleet and this trend would continue for a number of years. Now the club has sixteen boats, which is the largest one design fleet on Galveston Bay.

Team racing is a popular form of yacht racing. Teams of 2,3, or 4 boats compete together in a team race, with results being combined as opposed to fleet racing where boats are scored on individual basis. The races are very short usually 5-12 minutes. This type of racing puts a premium on boat handling, tactics, and the rules of racing. The TCYC got into this type of racing about six years ago. It’s an inexpensive way of getting new people into the sport and it builds the fleet. The club teams travel to regattas all over the country. Programs for new members will ensure the sport of sailing grows and it continues to be a way to have fun on the water, which is what the founders had in mind. The Gulf Coast Mariner magazine salutes the men and women of the Texas Corinthian Yacht Club. Your legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of members who love sailing and the Galveston Bay lifestyle.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

19

The crew of the Sea-quell takes a moment to sit and eat.

How to Energize and Feed Your Racing Crew

By Betha Merit

T

here is a balance in planning the meals for your racing crew.

The competitor in you wants to make sure everyone is fueled up and ready for duty. The host in you wants the food to be appetizing and as fresh as possible. The medic in you knows that certain foods may contribute to seasickness. So we went to Bay Area Houston boat owner

says Susan. They sailed the “Regatta de Amigos” in 2008, and came in First Place in 2010, “Cruising NonSpinnaker” class.

“The very first requirement in choosing your Chief steward/Chief cook for a race is to choose someone who doesn’t get seasick, ” says Susan. “Thank God I don’t get seasick, so it’s always been my job. Cooking becomes

“Plan meals for seven days, if you are out for a five day race,” says Susan, “you might have days of no wind.” Hot meals at night are important.

Susan gives several ideas for main dish meals you can buy pre-cooked and frozen. “Guys like meat, so frozen packages of pre-cooked fajita meat from Costco can be added to onions and peppers cooked on the stove and served on tortillas,” says Susan. “Sam’s Club has a barbeque roast that is outstanding, and chicken spaghetti is another great choice, just stay away from very spicy foods.”

Sandwiches, chips, and fruit make up lunch, and are easy prep and handling. For breakfast, a favorite is Jimmy Dean Breakfast Skillet bought pre-made at Walmart and cooked with eggs. Susan has a creative way to make coffee as the boat sways, and that’s by putting the drip coffeemaker on the stove which can be unlocked, to rock with the boat, and not spill or go flying off the counter. Brownies and

cookies are fun to bake on board, smell good, and are a good way to break up the long days at sea. The only alcoholic beverage is champagne to be consumed upon finishing the race at your final destination.

Susan talks about assigning colored water bottles to each crew member to cut down on waste, stacking used paper plates and all trash densely.

Food is planned to eat in order, fresh food first, eating foods as they thaw, limiting the crew on what they can bring due to space and weight. Power bars are invaluable as are ginger cookies and ginger ale.

Susan and Audie currently live between Singapore and their Bay Area Houston residence at the Endeavour with a three-sided view of Clear Lake and Kemah. Their sailboat is currently for sale, and can be viewed at www. littleyachtsales.com, click on Sailboats, View Inventory, 46 ‘ Beneteau. Their next boat will be a catamaran, perhaps on the Caribbean.

Susan’s Racing Recipe

Potato-Cheese Soup

“Plan meals for seven days, if you are out for a five day race.” and race champion, Susan Setters, and asked for her tips and tools of the trade.

In 2009 and 2011, Susan and her husband, Audie Setters, raced their 46 foot 2007 Beneteau sailboat in the “Race to the Border” that sails from Galveston to South Padre Island, www.racetotheborder. com. “We learned a lot on these races, and had a variety of crew members both times,”

20

entertainment during a race where you don’t see land for days,” says Susan. Not everyone can take the hot, swaying kitchen, so Susan hands up food that needs to be chopped or peeled so the crew can help on deck. A meal for seven is prepped by direction, completed in the galley, and passed around up on deck, usually in bowls because food flies off your plate in the wind.

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

Ingredients 5-6 med. potatoes ½ onion, chopped ½ stick margarine Chicken broth ½ c. flour

1 ½ c. milk 2-inch chunk Velveeta cheese Salt and pepper, to taste Crumbled bacon, green onions (opt.)

Grated cheddar cheese

Directions Melt margarine in large saucepan. Add onion and cook until transparent. Peel potatoes and cut into large chunks. Add to pan and pour in enough chicken broth to cover potatoes. Boil until potatoes are tender (about 20 min.). Whisk flour and milk together and add to soup. Stir. Add Velveeta and cook and stir occasionally over low heat until cheese is melted. Add bacon if desired. To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with grated cheese and optional chopped green onions.

NEPTUNE SUBS Celebrates 35th Anniversary

By Patty Kane

I

t all began in 1978 with an idea, a dream, a small building on Highway 146 in Seabrook and the hiring of a young lady who would become an irreplaceable employee.

Owner Vinny Schillaci came to Seabrook by way of Albany, New York.

First opening a boating company, he decided to go into making what he considers the original fast food….. submarine sandwiches.

Vinny wants to give special recognition to Pat Knight, that young girl who drove into the parking lot of the original Neptune Sub building and needed a job. She too was from New York and new to Seabrook. Neither of them realized that Pat would be working at Neptune Subs for the next 35 years. Vinny’s appreciation is apparent when he says “Pat is loyal and hard working. Day in and day out she handles the lunch crowd and knows what the regular customers want without them saying a word.”

Neptune Subs is known for great subs, salads and soups.

But it is also known as “The

Home of Bald Monday,” a fun concept Vinny came up with to bring recognition to bald heroes everywhere. Every first Monday of the month, bald customers are given a discount. The rule is….”The more you shine, the cheaper you dine!”

Vinny is one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet and it was no surprise to those who know him that the Clear Lake Chamber and the City of Seabrook proclaimed August 5, 2013 as Vinny Schillaci and Neptune Subs Day. Take your appetite and go by and see Vinny and his great staff. The restaurant is located at 1917 Highway 146 in Seabrook. For more information and photos, visit Neptune Subs on Facebook, or call 281-474-3973.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

21

GMC Sierra Scores BIG

All-new half-ton pickup set to win numerous awards at fall media trials

By Don Armstrong

W

hat has kept GMC in business for 111 years is fact; the company builds what Americans want in a full-size pickup truck. Yes, there are formidable competitors that we are all aware of; sister to the GMC, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford, Ram and also-ran’s Toyota and Nissan, but not many can tout a 1902 start-up year.

Just before Christmas, at a Michigan movie studio (did somebody say Detroit is bankrupt?) parent company GM brought throngs of journalists to a well-timed reveal of the 2014 GMC Sierra. As the garage doors opened and the stage lights were brought up, most of us really didn’t know how to react, since it appeared the designers didn’t change much, if anything, on

22

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

Three power plants are available, a 4.3L V-6, a 5.3L V-8 and a 6.2L V-8, all from a shared EcoTec3 engine family. Each engine features standard direct injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management, which means they seamlessly switch to run on four cylinders during light-load driving to save fuel.

There just isn’t enough room here to tout the great things that GM had to put on hold because of bad times, but we’re glad to see that they haven’t lost that GM swagger. Way to go.

Pricing starts at $32,215 for GMC Sierra Crew Cab model.

B OA

On Clear Lake

T

“Simply put, the new design is bigger, bolder and stronger in appearance than the outgoing model.”

E B RF O T

ES

the exterior. Since we couldn’t yet see the interior from our stadium-style seating arrangement, we had hopes that a lot of attention went to the living quarters. We weren’t disappointed.

Fast forward to June of this year when we were given the opportunity to drive the new GMC at the Knibbe Ranch outside San Antonio. There, in a side-by-side comparison was what we were looking for. To see for ourselves the significant reinvention of an allAmerican classic was stunning, especially in a beautiful Texas ranch setting.

Simply put, the new design is bigger, bolder and stronger in appearance than the outgoing model -- from the stout chrome grill to the more pronounced wheel well flares to optional LED cargo lights under the bed rails, the all-new GMC is a huge step forward in design.

The interior, too, has been completely redesigned with a sharp-looking, easy to use center stack and an available eight-inch color touch screen. Knobs are big enough to be used with a gloved hand. A six-gauge instrument cluster comes standard on all models with an optional driver info center.

OCT. 24-27 Show includes On Water Events and Gourmet Food Trucks!

T

here won’t be a better time to visit Clear Lake this fall than at the first annual Boatoberfest on Clear Lake, Oct. 24 – 27, 2013, a Houston Texans’ BYE week!

A true four day Festival for the whole family, Boatoberfest on Clear Lake will include a Boat Sale featuring boats, both in and out of the water, ranging in size from 15 ft. to 70 ft. and offering incredible end of season boat deals and incentive programs.

Some of the boats already booked into the show include the all new Sabre, Back Cove and Hanse with JK3, the brand new Jeanneau 50DS from Texas Coast Yachts, the new DeFever 50 with Jay Bettis & Co, and the, never before seen in Texas, Mainship from HSH Yacht Sales, along with the new Beneteau First 20 and the Oceanis 37 and 41 from Sea Lake Yacht Sales.

Meyer Yacht Services will also be attending the event with a brand new category of fishing boat for Texas, the Ocean Skiff 27 by Ocean Master, and Suncoast Marine Works will show 3 new boats from the Renegade line, plus Fox Yacht Sales, with the exciting Cabo Sportfishing boats, and Texas Sportfishing with some great offers from their brokerage line.

In-water boats will be featured on the docks at the MarineMax Marina, and over one hundred vendors will display the latest in fishing and boating gear, technologies, products, services, accessories, gifts and apparel, alongside some awesome boats on trailers, fabulous RV’s and a selection of brand new 2014 Chevy Silverado Trucks at Endeavour Marina.

Don’t miss the close up action of the in-water events taking place on Saturday, and watch out for the arrival of the Gourmet Food Truck Rally, offering mobile menus from some of Houston’s best food trucks, over the weekend.

Live bands, a Craft Beer Garden for beer aficionados, and a Chili Cook-Off will round off a great four days on Clear Lake – so mark your calendars to “Celebrate the Lake” Visit www.texasboatoberfest.com for further information on the event or email info@ texascoastboatshow.com Sponsored by the City of Seabrook, GEICO, Budweiser, Bay Area Houston Magazine, Miss GEICO Racing, Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine and MustangCat.

What’s in Your Bag? Beach bag, duffle bag, tote bag, ditty bag, shopping bag, tool bag, rigging bag or bag of ideas—whatever your bag, you’ll find some good ideas here.

The only glassware you’ll ever have to buy for your boat . . .

To the rescue Can’t say enough good about Rescue Tape. Yep, that’s what it’s called.

Arguably one of the best emergency repair products available, it’s used by the U.S. Army in its BDAR kit (that’s Battle Assessment and Repair kit).

Rescue Tape is self-fusing, creates a permanent airtight, watertight seal, and resists fuels, oils, acids, solvents, salt water and UV rays. Even works on wet, dirty or oily surfaces. Use it to seal leaky hoses, pipes, tubing, lines, fittings; to insulate electrical wiring and connections (it withstands 500 degrees F, 8,000 volts per layer, with 950 PSI tensile strength). You can even use it as an emergency fan belt!

Of course, you can learn all of this and much more on their web site, but if you didn’t know about it you wouldn’t know what to look for. This is a must have on your boat and off; check it out at www.rescuetape.com.

24

Tervis Tumblers. Insulated plastic drinkware keeps your beverages cold, available in different shapes and sizes, and with a huge selection of motifs or plain clear. Many of us already own them, and if you don’t, you should!

What I have found, though, is that those first purchasing Tervis, and even those who already have some, don’t know about the lifetime guarantee.

They are virtually indestructible, but if you do happen to break one, or if the motif slips out of position, or if they no longer insulate properly, you can go to their website, grab a return form, throw them in a box, send ’em back, and they will send you new ones. I’ve used this drinkware for years (dare I say decades?) and have had some replaced. There are many knockoffs, but only Tervis does everything it claims.

TIP: Want your lettuce to last longer, stay green and crisp in your boat fridge or icebox, here’s how. Wet a paper towel or towels, wring them out, wrap around your lettuce and place in a plastic bag.

You never knew lettuce could last so long so well.

always go together. That’s because the two worst enemies of wine (especially reds) are motion/vibration, and changes in temperature (as in we take bottles of wine to the boat, stow it in the fridge or icebox, subject it to the motion of the ocean, maybe have some left over . . .).

A bottle of red wine, warm and still, will fare much better than one that’s “shaken.”

Enter the box. The generic ones, well, not any better than bottles of generic wine. But the varietals in a box are really quite good. They’ve come a long way!

“There are many knockoffs, but only Tervis does everything it claims.”

A toast to the host and hostess, no less Ah, wine. We all enjoy a glass or two now and then, but wine and boats don’t

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

The wine, being enclosed in an airtight bag inside the box, with a convenient spigot, is not subject to exposure to air, nor are they susceptible to motion/ vibration because they don’t slosh, as in a bottle. Leftovers keep very well. And no chance of broken glass. Try it, you’ll like it!

TIP: If it’s just too darn hot on the boat at night (sometimes even the AC isn’t enough) and you really want to sleep comfortably, just take a few paper towels (okay) or any kind of tech/micro fiber cloth (better) and wet with cool water. Apply to forehead, chest, neck and/or arms, and you will fall asleep with a smile.

The great sock experiment Sperry Topsiders make some dandy little socks, or shoe liners. What makes them so special? They are non-slip.

You know those little shoe liners that don’t show, but they have a nasty habit of sliding down your heel, and then you’re walking on the folds . . . . Sperry has put what looks like some kind of silicone in little rows in the heel, and they do not slip!

The experiment? I thought okay, these are great, but what about all the ones I already own that do slip? Armed with several little tubes of various silicone sealants, I tried different methods of application, thinking that I would then wash them and see what happens. Well, didn’t get as far as washing. I tried applying in a straight line and zig-zagged as are the Sperrys.

Tried it to a relaxed socklet, and also stretching it out before applying. What a failure. And now I’m out several pairs of the old slippy kind. Guess I’m gonna get some more of those cool Sperrys!

Quick clot Please don’t be without it, either on your boat or just about anywhere else. From a child’s bike wreck to hurricane aftermath, car accident or being far away from land on your boat, Quick Clot is something you want.

It’s a mesh pouch filled with hemostatic material that stops bleeding. You open the package, apply the pouch to a wound with pressure until it stops bleeding, wrap the area well and find medical help as quickly as possible. This product is used by the military and first responders.

By the way, that Rescue Tape we discussed earlier: it is also perfect as a wrap for bleeding injuries. The Quick Clot pouch and the Rescue Tape work together to stop bleeding, prevent growth of bacteria and fungi, and seal out dirt. Perfect for wounds to pets, too. It’s a beautiful thing. Cheers!

Galveston Bay Foundation Earns National Recognition

A

fter an extensive evaluation, Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) has been awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Galveston Bay Foundation is among 230 land trusts from across the country, including seven in Texas, that have been awarded accreditation since the fall of 2008.

“Simply going through this process has made us a better organization,” explains GBF President Bob Stokes. “Our land conservation efforts are done to the highest standards in the nation, and we look forward to continuing to work with local landowners to preserve our lands and heritage and ensure the health of Galveston Bay.” Each accredited land trust submitted extensive documentation and underwent a rigorous review.

“Through accreditation land trusts conduct important planning and make their operations more efficient and strategic,” said Tammara Van Ryn, Executive Director of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. “Accredited organizations have engaged and trained citizen conservation leaders and improved systems for ensuring that their conservation work is permanent.”

Since its establishment in 1987, GBF has conserved over 3,300 acres of coastal habitat through property acquisitions and conservation easements and is working to substantially increase acreage conserved in the coming year. GBF is now able to display a seal of accreditation indicating to the public that it meets national standards for excellence, upholds the public trust, and ensures that conservation efforts are permanent. The seal is a mark of distinction in land conservation.

“Land trusts are gaining higher profiles with their work on behalf of citizens and the seal of accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission is a way to prove to their communities that land trusts are worthy of the significant public and private investment in land conservation,” noted Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth.

Land is America’s most important and valuable resource. Conserving land helps ensure clean air and drinking water, food security, scenic landscapes and views, recreational places, and habitat for the diversity of life on earth. Across the country, local citizens and communities have come together to form land trusts to save the places they love. Community leaders in land trusts throughout the country have worked with willing landowners to save over 47 million acres of farms, forests, parks and places people care about. Strong, well-managed land trusts provide local communities with effective champions and caretakers of their critical land resources, and safeguard the land through the generations.

“We are very proud of this accomplishment,” explains Matt Singer, Conservation Lands Manager for GBF. “Accreditation represents an alignment with other respected land conservation organizations throughout the United States. This designation helps GBF portray credibility and stability as a non-profit organization. We look forward to growing as a land trust and continuing to preserve and enhance important coastal habitats within the Galveston Bay watershed.”

Todd and Mary, owners of Marburger’s Sporting Goods in Seabrook, look through their inventory and give us insight on some of the best inshore gear around.

SHIMANO Symetre 4000FL

LEW’S BB1 Inshore

ABU GARCIA Revo Inshore

A longtime favorite of anglers, this front drag reel offers Shimano’s M Compact Body design mixed with X-Ship technology for solid cranking power.

Eight stainless steel bearings make for smooth casting.

Braid ready spool and MSB (multi-brake setting increases your casting control.

The Revo’s X2- Cräftic™ alloy frame provides strength and corrosion resistance. The extended bent handle offers increased cranking power and the strongest drag in class at 20 pounds makes for a perfect saltwater reel.

SHIMANO Chronarch 50E

TIDAL SURGE Maniac Mullet

EGRET BAITS Vudu Shrimp

Compact, powerful and precise. The Chronarch continues to offer unmatched reliability and performance.

Fast and slow sinking mullet imitations to fool fish in any depth of water.

Perhaps the most realistic shrimp bait on the market today. When matched with a popping cork it is absolutely deadly for hungry trout and reds.

FALCON Lowrider Salt American made quality and performance with a lowrider guide concept that gives anglers increased casting distance and sensitivity. It is the perfect flats and inshore rod.

26

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

27

28

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

29

Galveston Bay Tides CAROLYN LEXA EAGLE POINT, TX NOAA Station Id: 8771013

SEPTEMBER Sun 9/1 09:57 AM 11:50 PM

1.3 H 0.3 L

Mon 9/2 10:00 AM

1.3 H

Tue 9/3 12:29 AM 09:42 AM 01:47 PM 03:49 PM

0.4 L 1.2 H 1.2 L 1.2 H

Wed 9/4 01:03 AM 09:17 AM 01:43 PM 05:47 PM

0.5 L 1.1 H 1.1 L 1.1 H

Thu 9/5 01:34 AM 08:52 AM 02:03 PM 07:21 PM

0.6 L 1.1 H 0.9 L 1.1 H

Fri 9/6 02:03 AM 08:28 AM 02:29 PM 08:50 PM

0.7 L 1.1 H 0.8 L 1.1 H

Sat 9/7 02:31 AM 08:05 AM 03:01 PM 10:28 PM

0.9 L 1.1 H 0.7 L 1.1 H

Sun 9/8 02:53 AM 07:42 AM 03:38 PM

1.1 L 1.2 H 0.5 L

Mon 9/9 12:40 AM 02:45 AM 07:22 AM 04:23 PM

1.2 H 1.2 L 1.3 H 0.4 L

Tue 9/10 07:08 AM 05:15 PM

1.4 H 0.3 L

Wed 9/11 07:13 AM 06:15 PM

1.5 H 0.3 L

Thu 9/12 07:36 AM 07:23 PM

1.6 H 0.3 L

Fri 9/13 08:06 AM 08:35 PM

1.6 H 0.3 L

Sat 9/14 08:31 AM 09:44 PM

1.6 H 0.3 L

Sun 9/15 08:38 AM 10:46 PM

1.5 H 0.4 L

Mon 9/16 08:24 AM 11:43 PM

1.4 H 0.5 L

Tue 9/17 08:06 AM 01:00 PM 04:47 PM

1.3 H 1.2 L 1.3 H

Wed 9/18 12:34 AM 07:51 AM 01:17 PM 06:47 PM

0.7 L 1.3 H 1.0 L 1.3 H

Thu 9/19 01:22 AM 07:36 AM 01:47 PM 08:26 PM Fri 9/20 02:07 AM 07:21 AM 02:21 PM 09:59 PM Sat 9/21 02:51 AM 07:02 AM 02:58 PM 11:37 PM Sun 9/22 03:32 AM 06:33 AM 03:36 PM Mon 9/23 05:40 AM 04:18 PM Tue 9/24 05:23 AM 05:06 PM Wed 9/25 06:01 AM 06:03 PM

Wed 10/16 05:52 AM 12:25 PM 06:56 PM

1.3 H 0.9 L 1.3 H

1.3 H 1.1 L 1.3 H

Thu 10/17 12:13 AM 05:38 AM 12:50 PM 08:27 PM

1.1 L 1.3 H 0.7 L 1.4 H

Thu 10/3 12:29 AM 06:46 AM 12:55 PM 07:26 PM

0.9 L 1.3 H 1.0 L 1.3 H

Fri 10/18 01:06 AM 05:22 AM 01:19 PM 09:49 PM

1.2 L 1.3 H 0.6 L 1.4 H

0.8 L 1.2 H 0.8 L 1.3 H

Fri 10/4 01:07 AM 06:23 AM 01:18 PM 08:48 PM

1.1 L 1.3 H 0.8 L 1.4 H

Sat 10/19 02:00 AM 04:58 AM 01:51 PM 11:13 PM

1.4 L 1.4 H 0.5 L 1.5 H

1.0 L 1.2 H 0.7 L 1.3 H

Sat 10/5 01:45 AM 05:59 AM 01:47 PM 10:14 PM

1.2 L 1.3 H 0.6 L 1.4 H

Sun 10/12 02:24 PM

0.4 L

Sun 10/6 02:18 AM 05:34 AM 02:22 PM

Mon 10/21 01:02 AM 03:00 PM

1.5 H 0.4 L

1.4 L 1.4 H 0.5 L

Tue 10/22 03:36 AM 03:40 PM

1.6 H 0.4 L

1.3 L 1.4 H 0.5 L

Mon 10/7 12:05 AM 02:27 AM 05:10 AM 03:04 PM

1.5 H 1.5 L 1.5 H 0.4 L

Wed 10/23 04:33 AM 04:26 PM

1.6 H 0.4 L

1.6 H 0.3 L

1.6 H 0.5 L

1.4 H 0.5 L

Tue 10/8 05:07 AM 03:52 PM

Thu 10/24 05:15 AM 05:17 PM

1.7 H 0.3 L

Fri 10/25 05:46 AM 06:15 PM

1.6 H 0.5 L

1.5 H 0.5 L

Wed 10/9 05:31 AM 04:48 PM Thu 10/10 06:03 AM 05:50 PM

1.8 H 0.3 L

Sat 10/26 06:06 AM 07:16 PM

1.5 H 0.6 L

Fri 10/11 06:31 AM 06:59 PM

1.7 H 0.4 L

Sun 10/27 06:10 AM 08:15 PM

1.4 H 0.6 L

Sat 10/12 06:45 AM 08:10 PM

1.7 H 0.5 L

Mon 10/28 05:58 AM 09:12 PM

1.4 H 0.7 L

Sun 10/13 06:38 AM 09:19 PM

1.6 H 0.6 L

Tue 10/29 05:38 AM 12:37 PM 03:19 PM 10:05 PM

1.3 H 1.0 L 1.0 H 0.8 L

Mon 10/14 06:22 AM 10:22 PM

1.5 H 0.7 L

Tue 10/15 06:06 AM 12:14 PM 05:01 PM 11:19 PM

1.4 H 1.1 L 1.2 H 0.9 L

Wed 10/30 05:14 AM 11:51 AM 05:45 PM 10:57 PM

1.2 H 0.9 L 1.1 H 0.9 L

Thu 10/31 04:49 AM 11:55 AM 07:18 PM 11:49 PM

1.2 H 0.7 L 1.2 H 1.1 L

1.2 L 1.3 H 0.6 L 1.4 H

1.6 H 0.5 L

Thu 9/26 06:40 AM 07:09 PM

1.6 H 0.5 L

Fri 9/27 07:15 AM 08:19 PM

1.6 H 0.6 L

Sat 9/28 07:42 AM 09:25 PM

1.6 H 0.6 L

Sun 9/29 07:54 AM 10:20 PM

1.5 H 0.7 L

Mon 9/30 07:49 AM 11:08 PM

1.4 H 0.7 L

NOAA GULF COAST TIDAL PREDICTIONS www.tidesandcurrents. noaa.gov/tide_ predictions.shtml?gid=225

30

OCTOBER Tue 10/1 07:32 AM 12:58 PM 04:02 PM 11:50 PM

1.4 H 1.2 L 1.3 H 0.8 L

Wed 10/2 07:09 AM 12:43 PM 05:58 PM

NOAA GULF COAST MARINE FORECAST www.nws.noaa.gov/ om/marine/zone/ gulf/gulfmz.htm

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine September/October 2013

Yacht Broker of the Year

HSH YACHT SALES BROKER CAROLYN LEXA was named the 2012-2013 Broker of the Year by the Galveston Bay Yacht Brokers Association. In a business dominated by men, Carolyn continues to beat the odds and excel in her profession. She loves to sail and talk about boats, a perfect fit for our magazine; we hope you enjoy her interview.

GCM: How did you first get into the yacht brokerage business?

Lexa: Many years ago I was asked to help out in the fall boat show at Watergate Yachting Center.

Not knowing much about boats at that time, it was a bit overwhelming for me but I had a great time and learned a lot.

GCM: Who was the biggest influence on your early career?

Lexa: Joe Higgins created Pier 21 Yachts Sales 40 years ago. We met out on the docks at Watergate and he asked me to come and work for him. I accepted and we had a great partnership. He called me his right hand man.

We sold a lot of boats and I learned so much from him.

He was very well respected in this business and is to this day, even though he is now deceased.

GCM: What’s the most important factor to remember when buying a boat?

Lexa: There is no perfect boat in my opinion. Every boat is a compromise, so the fun part is trying to figure out which boat best fits your needs and desire. If it speaks to your heart go for it, then ask your spouse.

GCM: What’s the biggest news at HSH Yachts these days?

Lexa: We are very excited with our recent move to Waterford Harbor Marina.

Our new location is the building that Ship & Sail occupied for many years.

This building is very accessible and easy for our customers to find. We are happy to be here.

GCM: Will the current economic environment affect boat sales in the next few months?

Lexa: Texas is such a positive place. I think there are ups and downs in this industry but it’s definitely on the rise for us here at HSH. We have a large supply of boats and a wonderful place to go boating all year long. Many people from both coasts are pleasantly surprised with all we have to offer here, wonderful people, good yacht clubs, and of course our warm southern hospitality.

GCM: When you can get away and go cruising, where do you like to go?

Lexa: Tough question, I personally love the Bahamas.

Not necessarily where the crew ships gather but there are plenty of remote beaches and islands to cruise around.

New Zealand is another amazing cruising destination for the brave. It’s all fun, just go do it.

Visit www.GulfCoastMariner.com for the full interview.