Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine Nov/Dec 2015

November/December 2015 | www.gulfcoastmariner.com

Celebrating Coastal Life

HOLIDAY ON THE WATER! Christmas Boat Lane Parade West Bay Winter Wading Surf & Wade Gift Guide Fishing the Birds

[Letter from the Publisher] Admiral (Publisher) Charles Milby Vice Admiral (President) Rick Clapp Rear Admiral (Editor) Mary Alys Cherry Captain (Director of Art) Brandon Rowan Commodore (Graphic Designer) Kelly Groce Sales Commodore (Director of Sales) Patty Kane

Jon Jones of JK3 Yacht Sales and Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine Publisher Charles Milby on the Hanse 385.

Enjoy Texas Sailing Season

I

have been reading a lot of boating magazines lately and one common thread that runs through most of the articles on boats is this: Owning a boat requires a lot of time and work. I have only owned racing sailboats. Much of my time not racing is spent working on the boat. Replacing the hiking stick, making sure the vang is working properly and keeping the bottom in good condition are just a few of the items I do all year long.

Boats need to be used; if your boat is sitting at the marina and not being used, something is going to go wrong. Systems need to be run, halyards need to be raised and toilets need to be flushed.

After all of this rain, I’m going to check the bilge and see if I may need to do a little pumping. Then I’m going to take some friends out on the bay and enjoy the fall sailing season in Texas.

Charles Milby Publisher

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

November/December 2015

Sales Crew (Advertising Executives) Shannon Alexander Judy Gaines Debbie Salisbury Editorial Capt. David Dillman Kelly Groce Patty Kane Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit Charles Milby Brandon Rowan Janice Van Dyke Walden Photography Kelly Groce Patty Kane Charles Milby Brandon Rowan Debra Rueb Distribution Timothy Shinkle Company Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 For information on advertising: Phone: 281.474.5875 Fax: 281.474.1443 r.clapp@baygroupmedia.com www.GulfCoastMariner.com

Photo: Kelly Groce

FEATURES

November/December 2015

10|2015 Texas CCA Tournament Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the inshore, offshore, kids and teen divisions!

24|Sailing Race Results

Photography and results from the J/22 North Americans, J/80 North Americans, J/Fest Southwest and the HYC Hood Regatta.

13|Working the Birds

26|The Galley: Holiday Ideas

14|Wading West Bay

28|Galveston Gets Its Largest Nature Preserve

North winds are flushing shrimp out of the marsh and into the hungry jaws of trout and redfish.

Follow these signs to find schools of feeding fish.

By Capt. David C. Dillman

This popular Texas bay is a winter wonderland for wade fishermen chasing flounder, trout and reds.

By Capt. Joe Kent

16|Surf & Wade Gift Guide

Be foul weather ready and stay warm with great gear for wading, surfing or cold water boating.

18|What’s In Your Bag?

Great nautical gifts, for both him and her, to put in their bag for Christmas.

By Patty Kane

20|Christmas Boat Lane Parade Join in on the fun Dec. 12 and watch the colorful vessels of the League City 54th Annual Christmas Boat Lane Parade on Clear Lake, presented by the City of Kemah and produced by the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

22|Sailing the Hanse 385

Building on Success. The new Hanse 385 is a stunning successor to the admired 37-foot range.

Contents

Ideas and inspiration for your Holiday dinner on the water this year. Also recipes for pumpkin squares and creamed spinach.

By Betha Merit

For the past eight years, Artist Boat of Galveston has worked towards the 367-acre Coastal Heritage Preserve off Settegast Road.

By Janice Van Dyke Walden

ON THE COVER Caleen Worthen, Lainey Black, Kelly Groce and Charles Milby as Santa aboard ‘Pop A Top,’ J.P. Groce’s Luhrs 34 Tournament Open.

Photo by Debra Rueb.

Snapshots Nautical Numbers Sterling McIntosh’s STAR Trout Salute to Heroes Fishing Tournament Fennelly Anderson Real Estate Partners Galveston Bay Tides

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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2015 CCA TEXAS STAR TOURNAMENT WINNERS

send your photos to art@baygroupmedia.com

INSHORE DIVISION

Speckled Trout Upper Coast 9 lbs. 13 ozs.

James Pallan of San Leon Speckled Trout Middle Coast 9 lbs. 14 ozs.

Skip Kramer of Rosenberg Speckled Trout Lower Coast 9 lbs. 2 ozs.

Lee Roy Navarro of Corpus Christi

Flounder 8 lbs. 3 ozs.

Eric Thomas of Houston

Sheepshead 10 lbs. 12 ozs.

Wayne Grice of Houston

Gafftop 7 lbs. 11 ozs.

Larry Capps of Bay City

Ling 85 lbs. 9 ozs.

Nathan Crowe of Seabrook STARKIDS SCHOLARSHIP DIVISION (ages 6 – 10) $50,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Flounder 3 lbs. 15 ozs.

Adair Bates (10) of Corpus Christi

Sheepshead 11 lbs.

Maritza Martinez (8) of Baytown

Gafftop 7 lbs. 6 ozs.

Laken Bellanger (9) of Orange STARTEENS SCHOLARSHIP DIVISION (ages 11 – 17) $20,000 SCHOLARSHIP

REDFISH DIVISION TRUCK/ BOAT PACKAGE WINNERS

Speckled Trout Upper Coast 9 lbs. 2 ozs.

Austin Calhoun (14) of Texas City

Scott Hajovsky Caught 5/28/15

Speckled Trout Middle Coast 9 lbs. 10 ozs.

Tyler Gully (15) of Houston

Michael Gibbs Caught 5/30/15 Cuong Nguyen Caught 6/05/15 Ryan Cantu Caught 7/29/15 Joe Contreras Caught 9/4/15

Ryann Hendrix of Houston caught her first keeper red in a Galveston west end canal.

Speckled Trout Lower Coast 7 lbs. 12 ozs.

Collin Dziuk (15) of Falls City

Flounder 5 lbs. 3 ozs.

Freddie Velez (14) of Santa Fe

OFFSHORE DIVISION Sheepshead 8 lbs. 8 ozs.

David Hill (12) of League City Kingfish 53 lbs. 7 ozs.

Krystal Treybig of Wallis Gafftop 6lbs. 6 ozs.

Colton Carner (14) of Santa Fe Dorado 36 lbs. 7 ozs.

Austin Overstreet of Houston

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

Travis Williams, left, and his dad Donny Williams with a big tarpon caught in Galveston. Photo by Michael Scott.

NAUTICAL NUMBERS 3

Redfish that are between 24-25 inches long are about 3 years old. Redfish longer than 27 inches and up are 4+ years old.

Trey Pugh and his fishing partner Greg Keen caught this unusual pale Warsaw grouper in 450’ of water 80 miles out of Freeport.

Enes Constancio caught this 20 pound red snapper aboard the Captain John on Saturday, Aug. 1.

He is pictured with his son, Xavier.

57.2

The snook record in Texas is 57.2 pounds caught in 1937 on the Gulf beach off Padre Island.

423 The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is a 1,300-mile manmade canal that runs along the Gulf of Mexico. The Texas coast makes up 423 miles of the waterway.

Brandon Rowan, Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine’s creative director, with his first gag grouper, caught on a pink 300g OTI Jager jig.

Larry Peterson hooked into this 24” speckled trout while freelining a live shrimp at the Galveston jetties.

6 It takes 6 to 10 weeks for the left eye of a flounder to migrate to the right side. www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Gone Fishing!

A

nd that is exactly what Sterling McIntosh would like to do every day. He began fishing in the annual Coastal Conservation Association Star Tournament when he was 12 and won his first fishing contest at age 14. It was a big win, since his first prize was a $20,000 scholarship to the Texas college of his choice. Now that’s a great fishing tale!

His winning catch was a 7 pound, 9 ounce Speckled Trout measuring 30.5 inches. Since then Sterling has Sterling won or assisted McIntosh winners three proudly more times. shows off the The tournament Speckled is held every year Trout that from Memorial won him a Day to Labor Day. $20,000 scholarship.

There are different

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

age groups and Sterling, at age 18, is now in the adult division.

He continues to enter the tournament every year.

Sterling graduated from First Baptist Christian Academy in Pasadena. His senior year he played first base for the First Baptist Christian Academy Warriors and his team won the 2A State Championship.

When not fishing, he works with his father, Todd McIntosh, at the family business, Space Center Automotive, in Clear Lake and with the assistance of the $20,000 scholarship is studying Maritime Administration at Texas A&M in Galveston. He hopes to get a masters degree, making the maritime industry his life long career while having time of course, to be “Gone Fishing” as often as possible!

Norton Sand Eel in Black Magic.

MirrOlure Lil John Twitch Bait in Kitchen Sink.

Working The Birds

By Capt. David C. Dillman

Harbormaster at The Waterman Marina Spec-tacular Trout Adventures

U

pon waking up to a gentle north breeze, I felt a bit of chill in the air. I grabbed my rod and a variety of soft plastic lures. Heading out towards the boat, I sensed this would

be the day to “work the birds.”

The month of November, and even into December, is prime time for bird action.

Cooler water and dropping tides flush the back bays and marshes of shrimp. The shrimp become easy prey for speckled trout and redfish. As they feed, shrimp are driven

to the surface to escape, only to become easy prey for the seagulls and terns. The fish also become a easy target for anglers.

Having your boat equipped with a trolling motor comes in handy when chasing the birds.

It allows you to position your boat quickly and accurately to cast into a feeding school of fish. Also, a good pair of binoculars enables you to scan the horizon for birds.

Normally if you see one group of birds, there are other flocks working nearby.

A variety of lures work well under feeding birds.

Topwaters, slow-sinking plugs and soft plastics can be used to catch fish. I prefer

the latter. A soft plastic on a jighead enables you to quickly unhook the fish and get back to the action. My two favorites are the Norton Sand Eel and Mirrolure Lil John. Both are very durable and allow you to catch multiple fish on one bait.

Remember to remain courteous when chasing birds.

The bays can get crowded during this time of year. If you see a couple of boats working a flock, move on and try to locate another one. Many times other boaters will come in and tempers can flare. There is no need to get upset, just move on. Remember it’s just a fish!

Tight Lines to all!

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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A Winter Wonderland For Wade Fishermen

By Capt. Joe Kent

W

hen I first

started fishing Galveston’s West Bay during the late 1970s, several fishing guides referred to it as one of the best kept secrets for winter fishing.

Since then, the word has spread and today this body of water is a popular spot for late fall and winter fishing, especially by wade fishermen.

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From late October through much of the winter, wade fishermen score well on the big three, flounder, reds and trout.

Upper West Bay in particular tends to be the favorite of anglers as opposed to Lower West Bay.

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

Beginning in the vicinity of Jamaica Beach and running all the way to the Galveston Causeway, Upper West Bay holds numerous spots that are productive during colder weather.

We will discuss some of the favorite places waders choose and talk about the baits and conditions that produce the best results.

For starters, we need to mention that insulated waders are a must this time of year.

Also, fishing with companions is highly recommended over fishing alone.

While there are spots that anglers without boats or kayaks can fish, they are

limited and the use of a boat to get you to the better spots is almost essential for increasing your odds for good results.

Let’s start out by mentioning some of the spots that offer access to the bay for fishermen without boats. While actually across the line into Lower Galveston Bay, the shoreline from the Causeway Railroad Bridge down to Campbell’s Bayou is accessible by driving under the railroad bridge. You should plan on lots of walking if you fish this area.

Carancahua Cove behind the Galveston Island State Park near Jamaica Beach is a popular spot and offers easy wade fishing.

November is one of the best months for flounder fishing on the Texas coast.

The Sportsmen’s Road and Anderson Ways areas, just off of Eight Mile Road, are spots where wade fishermen can access the south shoreline of Upper West Bay. Starvation Cove is in the vicinity of this area and is quite popular.

All of those spots are easily accessible by boat as well.

For boaters, North and

Down South Lure in plum/chartreuse.

South Deer Islands and the surrounding areas are top spots for early morning wade fishing action. From Mecom’s Cut all the way to Green’s Cut, the spoil Islands offer great opportunities for taking all of the big three.

On the north shoreline of Upper West Bay lays the spoil

“Artificial baits are by far the best choice as they are easy to carry, allow you to cover more territory faster and present a wider range of baits.” area beginning at Harborwalk and extending all the way to the entrance to Chocolate Bay in Lower West Bay. Off of Jamaica Beach is Shell Island that is covered by water at normal high tide; however, it is an excellent spot to fish for trout and reds.

While it will be impossible to fish all of those spots on the same day, the variety is good.

Live bait, especially shrimp and mullet, fished under popping corks is excellent; however, for waders it presents obstacles with the extra equipment needed to keep the bait alive.

Artificial baits are by far the best choice as they are easy to carry, allow you to cover more territory faster and present a wider range of baits.

Soft plastics are the top choice and the brand, color and style will depend on where you fish and the clarity of the water. Bass Assassins, Saltwater Assassins, Down South, Norton and corkies

(Paul Brown Originals) are among the most popular soft plastic bait brands.

Gold and silver spoons, along with a variety of Mirrolures, are used by a good number of waders. One category of artificial baits may surprise you as the top waters are used during the winter.

Super Spooks, Super Spook Jrs. and Bombers are credited with some big trout during cold weather. Pre-sunrise and dusk are the times that they are most effective.

The patterns of fish change as the water gets colder, with a shift to an afternoon bite rather than early morning taking place later in the winter months.

Tidal movement continues to be important with high tide offering the best results for waders along the shorelines.

When the water cools down, wrap up, put on your insulated waders and give West Bay a try. www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Don’t let chilly mornings win.

This gear will keep you warm while you keep doing what you love. These items make great Christmas gifts too.

JACKETS WADERS Simms Headwaters Stockingfoot Wader.

Keep heat in and the water out. $349.95 MSRP

Grunden’s Men’s Sund 763 Waterproof Fleece-Lined Jacket. Resists dirt, oil, stays soft and waterproof.

Polyester fleece lining moves moisture away from body for warmth. $189.99 MSRP

FISH BOOTIES SOCKS Simms Wet Wading Sock. Hydrophobic polypropylene fibers repel water molecules $19.95 MSRP

Simms Zippit Bootie.

Designed to be worn barefoot or with a light liner sock $79.95 MSRP

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

HEAD GEAR Quiksilver Cypher 2mm Hood with Dickie $39.95 MSRP

WETSUITS

Photographer: Adam Valadez. Surfer: Gabe Prusmack

O’Neill Men’s Reactor 3/2 Full Wetsuit $109.99 MRSP

SURF BOOTIES GLOVES Quiksilver Neo Goo 4mm 5 Finger Gloves $44.95 MSRP

Rip Curl Rubber Soul Plus Split Toe Booties $74.99 MSRP

Rip Curl Women’s Dawn Patrol 3/2 Full Wetsuit $159.99 MSRP

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Kelly Groce, from left, Lainey Black, Caleen Worthen and Charles Milby as Santa aboard ‘Pop A Top,’ J.P. Groce’s Luhrs 34 Tournament Open.

Photography

by Debra Rueb

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

B

right lights and boats of all

kinds will meet Dec. 12, 2015 at 6 p.m. for the League City 54th Annual Christmas Boat Lane Parade on Clear Lake, presented by the City of Kemah and produced by the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

The parade will line up in the Nassau Bay Lagoon and South Shore Harbour Marina, travel the Clear Creek Channel past Seabrook, Clear Lake Shores and the Kemah Boardwalk, out into Galveston Bay and return.

These beautifully decorated sail and power boats will dazzle and entertain thousands of spectators with their brightly colored lights, music, dancers and designs. Some boats will be decorated traditionally, and others will look very unique. The honorary parade marshall is Texas Navy Admiral R.B. “Bob” Taylor, representing the Sam Houston Squadron of the Texas Navy based out of Lakewood Yacht Club.

The City of Nassau Bay signals the start of the parade with its beautiful fireworks display. For parade spectators, kicking off the holiday season should be a fun time of year to relax, spending time with loved ones and enjoying these vibrantly decorated vessels. Go early to Kemah and spend the day eating and shopping before the parade that evening, or visit Nassau

Bay’s winter festival during the day and enjoy artificial snow, Santa, food and fun prior to the parade.

The morning following the parade, awards will be given out at the longestablished awards brunch in the ballroom of South Shore Harbour Resort in League City. All registered boaters receive two tickets to the awards brunch to celebrate their hard work with their fellow participants.

Over 50 awards are given in numerous categories including family power boats, family sail boats, family man-powered boats, sponsored power boats, sponsored sail boats and sponsored man-powered boats. The entries are then divided into divisions by length, and then first place, second place and third place trophies are presented. Businesses from around the area sponsor these awards and attend the

brunch to present them to the winning captain. Excellent photo ops!

Major sponsors of the parade include the Cities of League City, Kemah and Nassau Bay, Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine/Bay Group Media, the Kemah Boardwalk, Hollis Huff Lewis & Co. P.C., Photosbyeddieharper.com, South Shore Harbour Resort and The Pet Palace Pet Resort.

The Blue Marlin hosts the parade committee while the judges enjoy their evening at the Kemah Boardwalk.

The $75 early entry rate for boaters expires on Dec. 1. If you need additional information about the parade, want to sponsor or want an entry form, please call 281-488-7676 or e-mail the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at shari@ clearlakearea.com

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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The Hanse 385 Building on success Photography by Debra Rueb

Offering a contemporary interpretation of a performance cruising yacht, the stunning new Hanse 385 is successor to the much admired 37-foot range.

D

esigned by Judel/Vrolijk & Co. and built by HanseGroup, the Hanse 385 integrates many of the groundbreaking features that have made their mark on the world market: an integrated self-tacking jib system with a matching sail plan, high-security keel-hull connections, a modern loft-style interior, and the way in which the halyards and sheets are guided to the helmsman.

The running deck is free of fittings while the anchor locker is large enough to accommodate

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

To see this cruiser in person, call Jon Jones of JK3 Yacht Sales at 281-9579788, your local Hanse dealer.

Hanse 385 Specifications LOA 11.40 m | 37´4˝ Hull length 10.90 m | 36´06˝ LWL 10.40 m | 34´12˝ Beam 3.88 m | 12´73˝ Draft 1.99 m | 6´52˝ (standard) 1.63 m | 5´35˝ (option) Displacement approx. 7.6 t | approx. 15,873 lb Ballast approx. 2.2 t | approx. 4,850 lb Engine 20.1 kW / 27,3 HP

“Hanse has created a new yacht that offers superior performance combined with easy handling.”

Fresh water approx. 300 l Fuel tank approx. 160 l CE Certificate A (ocean)

the fenders. The large cockpit has comfortable seating positions, a dual wheel system and a dropdown swim platform. Concealed storage space for a life raft and gas bottles are included. The interior concept showcases an intelligent use of the living space. The length and height of the owner’s cabin in the bow enhances freedom of movement. Extra volume has been invested in the head with separate shower and in a large U-shaped

pantry (two-cabin version) that is the benchmark of the 38-foot class.

Above the owner’s cabin are two full-size flush hatches, the side windows of the coach roof can be opened and both the galley and the head have large flush hatches and extra large cockpit windows.

Ultimately, Hanse has created a new yacht that offers superior performance combined with easy handling resulting in more fun on the water.

Mast length above WL approx. 17.30 m | approx. 56´8˝ Total sail area approx. 74 m² | approx. 797 sq ft Main sail approx. 44.00 m2 | approx. 473,61 sq ft Self-tacking jib approx. 30.00 m2 | approx. 322,92 sq ft Genoa 105% approx. 33.50 m2 | approx. 360,59 sq ft Rig I 14.70 m | 48´23˝ J 4.30 m | 14´11˝ P 14 m | 45´93˝ E 5.10 m | 16´73˝

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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[SAILING]

2015 J/Fest Southwest Race Results Class

Skipper

Club

Pts

J-22 1st 2nd 3rd

Dove Kivlovitz Anne Lee Larry Blankenhagen

N/A HYC LYC

8 16 19

J-24 1st 2nd 3rd

Natalie Penner James Freedman Kelly Holmes-Moon

AYC DCYC DCYC

9 20 24

J-70 1st 2nd 3rd

Bruno Pasquinelli Chris Lewis Tim Molony

FWBC LYC SYC

11 17 21

J-105 1st 2nd 3rd

Mark Masur John Barnett Ozi Ozeri

FWBC LYC LYC

10 12 24

J-109 1st 2nd 3rd

Albracht Goethe David Christensen Ascensios/Dees

LYC GBCA N/A

8 23 24

J-PHRF 1st 2nd 3rd

Chris Alk Gary Trinklein Glenn Stromme

GBCA GBCA N/A

7 12 17

2015 J-22 North Americans

L

ocal sailmaker Terry Flynn and his veteran crew of Mark Foster and Matt Romberg are the 2015 J-22 North American Champions Flynn must like sailing in his back yard. He won three races on the first day of competition and never relinquished his top spot in the standings. By winning this regatta, the former J-22 World Champion now has five North American Championships to go on his resume. Not bad for a Galveston Bay sailor.

Flynn gives a lot of credit to his crew. Mark Foster, Matt Romberg and Flynn have now sailed together for a number of years. They always seem to be in the right place at the right time and somehow are in the hunt no matter what the conditions.

Other local sailors who did well this year were Marvin Beckmann and the up-and-coming Wiley Rogers.

Thanks go out to the Houston Yacht Club, volunteers on the race committee and the support boats.

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

Photos: Lakewood Yacht Club

Crew

Club

Pts

1st

Terry Flynn Matt Romberg Mark Foster

GBCA/FWBC

10

2nd

Brad Julian Matthew Schubert Todd Hiller

Severn Sailing Assoc.

16

3rd

Marvin Beckmann Sam Meyers Eric Doyle

HYC

22

4th

Travis Odenbach Dave Vancleaf Billy Farmer

Rochester Yacht Club

23

5th

Michael Marshall Mark Sertl Matt Gowell

NYYC

29

6th

Wiley Rogers Yandell Rogers Lior Lavie Zane Rogers

LYC

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[SAILING]

2015 HYC Houston Open One Design Regatta Photos: Charles Milby

Class Boat

Skipper

Ensign 1st 2nd 3rd

Little Oil Dynamite Ouija

Dean Snider Lythia Powell Laura Dalgleish

J/22 1st 2nd 3rd

Tejas Blackburn Baby Lips

Terry Flynn Casey Lambert Keith Zars

J/24 1st 2nd 3rd

GIGGLES Miss Conduct BadMoon

Natalie Penner James Freedman Kelly Holmes-Moon

J/70 1st 2nd 3rd

GB Rogue Warrior usa98

Chris Lewis Bruce McDonald Alfred Poindexster

J/80 1st 2nd 3rd

Mojito Honey Badger Hammertime

Forbes Durdin Terri Gale Steve Hammerman

J/105 1st 2nd 3rd

Infinity Rumpus Stinger

Uzi Ozeri Brad Robbins J B Bednar

J/109 1st 2nd 3rd

Leading Edge Harm’s Way Airborne

Tom Sutton Andy Wescoat David Christensen

Lightning 1st Ramrod 2nd Mystique II 3rd Portugee Jr.

Steve Harris Gary Schwantz Christopher Shipman

Viper 1st 2nd 3rd

Pat Gibson Ben Robbins Iain Case

Seco Tu Pelo Dark ‘N Stormy Fuzzy Duck

Melges 24 1st Rocket Science 2nd GRINGO 3rd Play Date

David Hoye Ryan Glaze James Twining

VX One 1st 2nd 3rd

Chris Alexander John Potter Kenny Wolfe

Isbelita Con Queso

VX ONE Angry Baboon

Local sailors win the 2015 J-80 North American Championship

C

ongratulations go out to the skipper

and crew of Hammertime. In the ten race series Steve Hammerman and his crew managed to win four races. His worst finish was a 6th which gave him 19 points and that was just enough to edge out Kerry Klingler and Forbes Durdin, who finished second and third.

Pos

Skipper

Club

Pts

1st

Steve Hammerman

LYC

19

2nd

Kerry Klingler

GBCA

21

3rd

Forbes Durdin

LYC

22

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Holiday Dinner Ideas

By Betha Merit

L

ucky us, to live in a climate where we can go cruising during the holiday months.

And lucky us, that we have simplified packaging and ingredients so we can aim at a close re-creation of traditional holiday meals. It will take a tad of resourcefulness with a smack of creativity. Just break down the six areas that are must haves. These include main dish meat, side dish starches, your family’s traditional veggies/relishes, bread, dessert, and a holiday drink option.

Let’s start with the holiday drink, of course. In addition to your soda, wine, coffee/tea staples, for the holidays we associate aromatic scents and spices with the season. The drink choice will allow you to incorporate a lovely waft of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cloves to set the olfactory tone.

The easiest way to accomplish this is with individual packets for hot apple cider and hot chocolate with your additional spices. Just add water. For

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making these drinks adult beverages, add a splash of brandy, rum, bourbon, etc. A big side note here, is that you can put all your spices for drinks and the entire meal, into pre-measured baggies before you board if space/ storage is an issue.

and if you have any drippings, you can add that.

Potatoes, Yams, and Stuffing? It is always possible to use Great Aunt Ethel’s recipes by making them ahead and freezing them to bring on your vessel, or even preparing them on

“Do what makes sense for you.

And don’t forget the butter!”

The main dish. Turkey?

Chicken? Ham? Whole turkeys are probably too large for most galley kitchens. But a turkey breast or boneless roast, either pre-cooked or fresh/ frozen is a great option. If you simply must have a platter with a whole bird on it, a large roasted chicken is a beautiful option if your guests are few.

Gravy comes in packets, jars,

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

board. For an easy way, you can buy stovetop style stuffing and bring your own celery, mushrooms, or water chestnuts in baggies, ready to add. A great compromise to dried mashed potato flakes is to use a few boiled real potatoes in the mix. Canned yams is also an option. These are very personal choices, so do not create WWIII over these

emotionally charged dishes.

Traditional veggies and relishes are up to you. What can you fit? Relish cans and jars are heavy. What is a must have? Cranberry relish in some form is standard, and if the cream cheese stuffed celery is required, make the effort to get that done. Green beans are the easiest side, whether canned, frozen, or fresh.

Creamed spinach can be made on the cooktop. You know your family/guests, so your insight is the deciding factor.

The same with bread/rolls.

Do what makes sense for you.

And don’t forget the butter!

The dessert tradition is often pies. Two other ideas are pumpkin bars and gingerbread. Both smell delicious, can be made prior to the meal in most galley ovens, and are associated with the holidays. Lastly, have holiday music playing on your sound system. From Frank Sinatra to Amy Grant to a children’s choir, make the mood music according to your traditions.

And, bon appétit.

Pumpkin Squares Ingredients: 1/2 of a 15-ounce can of pumpkin 2/3 cup of sugar 1/2 cup cooking oil 2 eggs 1 cup flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 TBSP pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda Canned cream cheese frosting (topping only)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8� or 9� square pan. In a bowl, mix pumpkin, sugar, oil, and eggs. Mix remaining ingredients separately, then add to pumpkin mixture and stir until batter is smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top until level. Bake for 30 minutes. When cool, cut into squares and top with a dollop of canned cream cheese frosting.

Creamed Spinach Ingredients: 2 ten ounce bags of frozen spinach, thawed 1 TBSP of dried minced onion 1 TBSP olive oil 1/2 cup garlic and herb spreadable cheese, (Alouette brand is excellent) 2 TBSP shredded parmesan cheese

Directions: Heat olive oil at medium heat in large pan on stove. Stir in minced onion for one minute. Add thawed spinach and cook for one to two minutes.

Add garlic and herb cheese and mix together. Use salt and pepper to taste. When warmed through, sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top. www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Galveston Gets Its Largest Nature Preserve

By Janice Van Dyke Walden

W

ith Galveston’s new home builds reaching a

10-year high in 2014, one organization is making sure that limited space on the island is left in a natural state for wildlife to thrive and future generations to enjoy. In March, Artist Boat celebrated a victory when they dedicated the 367-acre Coastal Heritage Preserve off Settegast Road on the island’s West Bay. It’s been an eight-year effort for the Galveston-based non-profit known for its eco-art kayak tours. But, the effort paid off handsomely. With so much competition for land, this is one of the island’s last large tracts, and a protected parcel only superseded in size

by Galveston Island State Park. For Artist Boat, it’s more than an outdoor classroom.

“I’ve been birding on Settegast Road for 19 years,” says Artist Boat’s founder and executive director Karla Klay. “There’s no other place like this on the island.”

Flanked on two sides by new homes and channelized subdivisions, the Coastal Heritage Preserve contains four distinct coastal habitats. Klay describes it like “somebody cut a window in the ecosystem.”

There’s 136 acres of salt marsh, 33 acres of tidal flats, 17 acres of estuarine and fresh water habitats, and an upland produced by coastal dune swales and ridges where one can experience a threeinch change in elevation. From one of these ridges, Texas City is visible in the distance.

For Ted Lee Eubanks, who practices the valuing of natural assets through his company, Fermata, Inc., the Coastal Heritage Preserve represents what Galveston used to be like before development. “It’s a good place to see the island’s natural heritage. A lot of the original topography is still in place.”

While most large tracts on the island have become fragmented by development, the absence of roads, right-

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of-ways and utility lines on the Coastal Heritage Preserve allows migration between the four habitats, connecting nature’s network into a healthier system, allowing unusual species to exist. Species like the Curved-billed Thrasher.

Eubanks was drawn to this spot in the early 1970’s on a tip that someone had seen the bird. The unusual note about this is that Curved-billed Thrashers are not known to inhabit coastal marshes and uplands. They’re most common in the thorny deserts of Mexico, west Texas, southern New Mexico and southern Arizona. They are also long-term residents, staying in a specific spot for years. Eubanks noticed this about the bird he observed. “I’ve visited that land for years,” says Eubanks, “and he was always there along the prickly pears.”

Since it’s only one of two Curved-billed Thrashers Eubanks has ever seen on the Upper Texas Coast, he calls this residency “pretty remarkable. Things like that seem to happen on that property.”

Yet, convincing the new owners of the land’s natural value was a more artful task. They had plans to build a marina and an 800-unit channelized residential community. While some islanders chose to engage in litigation, Klay and Artist Boat’s board chose to show Marquette Cos. of Chicago what an incomparable natural asset they had. One evening in May 2008, Klay took Marquette’s Darrin Sloniger to a high point on the property to experience its beauty and vast overview.

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

In the distance they heard pilings being driven in the ground. “What is that terrible noise?” asked Sloniger. “That’s the noise you’re going to make for the next 25 years if you develop this land,” answered Klay. She says now, “Thank God I was showing him his land through my eyes.”

Even though an appreciative relationship started that evening, Marquette held to the asking price of $15 million for the 367 acres. That sum far exceeded any amount ever raised by the small non-profit.

Then, four months later, Nature and Wall Street played in Artist Boat’s favor: in September, Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston, followed by the collapse of the U.S. housing market in November.

Suddenly, setting aside the large tract made good business sense to Marquette.

They gave Artist Boat time to seek funding, receive three major grants from state, federal and other sources, and secure the 367 acres for $7.7 million.

Artist Boat’s prize for hard work and not giving up now moves into the bigger task of restoration and management.

First, the land needs to regain its balance.

Prairie grasses, which were grazed to the point that the invasive Baccharis and Western Rag Weed took over, need a chance to come back. Nate Johnson, in charge of habitat and stewardship for Artist Boat, hopes to provide those conditions with the help of volunteers who can remove the competitive invasives, allow the land to restore itself, and start native seedlings where needed.

With the land just now under Artist Boat’s care, the full extent of species has yet to be listed. But for now, Johnson estimates that no less than 300 species exist on the Coastal Heritage Preserve. That, alone, is plenty to learn from for years to come, and enough subject matter to fill a sketchbook.

To support Artist Boat and their habitat restoration projects, or to book a kayak tour, visit www.artistboat.org.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Heroes for Freedom ‘A Wounded Warriors Project’ celebrates 167% growth at 4th Annual Salute to Heroes Fishing Tournament

T

he 4th annual

Salute to Heroes Fishing Tournament, held Oct. 3 at the HarborWalk Yacht Club & Marina, was a huge success.

The first Salute to the Heroes Fishing Tournament began with only 15 boats. This year’s tournament brought over 250 anglers and Warriors to help raise funds through the Heroes for Freedom Foundation

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benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project.

Philip Jalufka, founder, president and CEO of Legacy International Resort Properties, says, “It was an honor to serve my country from years at West Point to different teams in the Special Ops Community. Now it is my greatest privilege to have our entire Legacy International team contributing to an

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

amazing organization.” As the Title Sponsor, Jalufka presented a check to John Angelina bringing total contributions from Legacy International to $14,825. “We are truly grateful to Legacy International Philip Jalufka and their of Legacy International ongoing support presents a and generosity check to the for the Heroes Heroes for for Freedom Freedom Foundation.

Foundation,” said Angelina.

Celebrity Suzi Hanks, co-host of The Dean and Rog Show, hosted the live entertainment by Bubba Bateman and the DJ Connection, with a special appearance by The Zack Willard Band. The day’s activities culminated with John Angelina of Heroes for Freedom, in conjunction with the Wounded Warrior project, presenting the awards for the Salute to Heroes Fishing Tournament to the winning teams. The 1st place in the Guided Warrior Team was

captained by Nathan Gray with Karen Keesler (sponsor), Kim Gates (sponsor), Ulises Ossio (Warrior) and Chris Sanchez (Warrior).

From Wounded Warrior Danny Williams: “My appreciation for Philip and Legacy International is tremendous. Philip is very down to earth and his generosity goes way beyond the distance you could imagine. Meeting a veteran that is running a successful and reputable business and giving back to his fellow wounded warriors is not something you see every day.

We are taught to never forget where you come from, once a soldier always a soldier and to always have your brother’s back.”

The tournament was held at HarborWalk Community, Yacht Club and Marina, one of Legacy’s Resort Master Planned Communities on West Galveston Bay, bringing a new horizon for coastal waterfront living.

Krystyna Fennelly and Nancy Anderson Recognized as Top Marketing Experts in United States and Canada

R

eal Estate Agents and Marketing Specialists, Krystyna Fennelly and Nancy Anderson, Recognized as One of the United States’ and Canada’s Top 500 Marketing Experts by the National Association of Expert Advisors.

North America’s top association for real estate professionals honored Krystyna Fennelly and Nancy Anderson with an award at the 2015 installment of its annual Exponential Growth Summit, held in Dallas last month.

The National Association of Expert Advisors [NAEA] is proud to announce that Krystyna Fennelly and Nancy Anderson of Fennelly-Anderson Real Estate Partners, have been selected as one of the United States’ and Canada’s Top 500 Marketing Experts. This is a huge honor considering there are more than 1.2 million agents practicing real estate between the two countries.

They will be given an award and recognized at a special ceremony in front of more than 600 real estate agents, experts and industry insiders.

As a successful real estate team, Krystyna and Nancy understand that selling a home is more than a transaction; it’s the fulfillment of someone’s lifelong dream. By being marketing experts,

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

Krystyna and Nancy are able to help home sellers get more money for their home and home buyers get access to a larger number of homes to choose from so they get the best home for their needs.

More importantly, they are able to provide a selling or buying process that gives clients a more diverse suite of offerings, additional financial benefits and an overall more enjoyable experience. The NAEA is proud to associate itself with Krystyna and Nancy and considers them professionals among professionals in the real estate industry.

The NAEA was formed in 2011 and is a North American real estate association that provides real estate agents who are truly serious about delivering the absolute best real estate experience to each of their clients, with tools, strategies and systems to establish themselves and operate their businesses as true expert advisors in the real estate process.

Fennelly-Anderson Real Estate Partners is affiliated with Bay Area Elite Properties, located at 2900 E. NASA Pkwy, Ste 290 in Seabrook. Contact them by calling 281532-6610.

To contact NAEA Media Relations, call 972-668-5090, email media@naea.com or visit NAEA.com

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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

NOVEMBER

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine November/December 2015

DECEMBER

Sun 11/1 03:45 AM 04:31 PM

1.6 H 0.3 L

Mon 11/16 03:34 AM 03:34 PM

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Tue 12/1 03:13 AM 04:52 PM

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Wed 12/16 02:20 AM 04:01 PM

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Wed 12/2 03:13 AM 05:43 PM

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Wed 11/18 03:44 AM 05:20 PM

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Sat 11/7 04:17 AM 11:07 AM 05:35 PM 10:29 PM

1.1 H 0.7 L 1.0 H 0.9 L

Sun 11/22 02:42 AM 10:23 AM 06:21 PM 09:32 PM

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Mon 11/9 03:41 AM 11:38 AM 08:01 PM 11:58 PM

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Tue 11/24 02:13 AM 11:27 AM 09:31 PM 11:41 PM

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Thu 12/10 12:47 AM 12:05 PM

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Sun 12/27 01:55 AM 02:11 PM

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Wed 11/11 12:35 AM 02:48 AM 12:27 PM 10:43 PM

1.1 L 1.2 H 0.2 L 1.2 H

Thu 11/26 12:50 PM

-0.3 L

Fri 12/11 01:14 AM 12:39 PM

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Mon 12/28 02:09 AM 02:54 PM

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Thu 11/12 12:57 PM

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Tue 12/15 02:44 AM 03:19 PM

0.8 H -0.4 L