Bay Yacht Club

Since the beginning of The Bay Yacht Club, members have offered to cook meals for a Friday night dinner and later, a Saturday night affair, to raise donations for club functions. Their participation is always voluntary as well as the price of the meal.

Members also celebrate designated holidays and events throughout the year.

Award winning photograph!

Get a page out of the BYC Cookbook 

Ed and Susie (pictured left) Portis went all out this past Saturday, at the clubhouse, for a turnout of forty members and guests. It consisted of all homemade recipes, including, Boeuf Bourguigon with rice, salad, garlic bread and cookies and ice cream. This was no store bought affair, this was the real deal. The crowd loved it. Great job!

During the affair two announcements were made by Vice Commodore Chris Colley. Sadly, both our refrigerator and upstairs “kegerator” have failed to make muster. The refrigerator will be replaced using the Equipment and Tools budget allowance and the “kegerator” will be paid for from those members choosing to donate. Please contact the mailto:treasurer@bayyachtclub.org if you wish to donate to the new "kegerator" fund.

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by Tammy Swart

This year’s Board Boats & Burgers was held on Saturday, August 14^th. Neil and Teresa Gallagher out did themselves this year in putting on this fun day of Sunfish Sailing for the Club.

There was no organized racing this year but there looked like some friendly competition out there as the Club Members went out and sailed the course. Bruce Swart took his step-daughter, Brittney out and taught her how to sail the sunfish. Wayne Greer (pictured right) and Steve Steakley chased one another around the marks. Andy Horner went out there and found that his skills had not improved in the year since he last sailed a Sunfish, but nor had they diminished. The winds were steady at 10 knots early, increasing to 16 and gusty in the afternoon. The early arrivals had the best winds for sailing.

Later, as the winds were increasing, Dean Domingue and Nick joined in the fun. Doug Weakly motored TomKat around among the Sunfish sailors to provide some moral support. More than one of our intrepid sailors ended up wet! It can be said that they were the lucky ones as the day boasted record heat.

The afternoon wore on and Neil wrapped up the sailing so that he could turn his attention to helping his wife, Teresa in producing burgers with ALL the trimmings for over 30 Club Members and guests. We had a fun day on the water and a delicious meal thanks to the Neil and Teresa Gallagher and Melissa Bowen. (pictured left)

More photos by Tammy Swart

What a crowd! At times it looked as though one more person would not fit in the club. As usual the BYC members, over thirty volunteers, put on a large spread of delicious food and plentiful drink for the race registrants, cruisers, military members, family and friends. 

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Over sixty members and guests savored a meal of pork tenderloin, roasted vegetables, rice, salad, ice cream and cookies this past Saturday at the BYC Clubhouse.

Pictured right is Jake Jacobsen, master chef manning the grill.

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A small crowd showed up but still enjoyed a variety of food, fun and drink at the BYC clubhouse Saturday, June 26.

A rigged game of strength, “Men vs. Women Lifting a Chair” was played. Of course the women won, proving once again they are of superior class when compared to the male species.

(Pictured left - Jo Ann Robertson shows the men how it is done)

What a finish to a great day! Over fifty people including MORF, Rockport Yacht Club and BYC members enjoyed a beef and chicken fajita dinner after the joint offshore race this past Saturday at the Port A Marina. Cold beverages were supplied and in ample supply by MORF. Later in the evening attendees were entertained by Ken Sharp and friends on their guitars and bongo drum. It wasn't until late in the evening when the fat and happy fathers waddled off to their boats to rest for the next day's race back to Corpus Christi Marina.

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Great time great food! Over forty members and guests showed up. Haven't seen any photos yet. If anyone has any comments that may be posted and used on the website, bowsprit and yearbook, please send to:

webmaster@bayyachtclub.org

Well over thirty members and guests toured member's boats and grazed "cruiser goodies and libations" this past Saturday, June 5th at 5:30 pm. The pier crawl began on D Pier - On-On, Merlin and Elan, followed by C Pier - Wave Dancer, Tally Ho, Eau De Vie, Lawrence Street - Cabaret and B Pier - Honky Voodoo and Adagio before ending up in the club to have dessert and refreshments. Topping off the festivities, twenty plus brave souls manned Adagio for a beautiful night time bay sail.

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Over sixty members, guests and Bowen family members helped celebrate Ralph's 80th birthday at the club. Jo Ann and Jim Robertson prepared a meal of chicken cacciatore while Melissa Bowen and family furnished salad, bread, birthday cake and ice cream.

Relatives and friends of Ralph and Melissa attending were son John and his wife Karen; granddaughter Brooke Thorpe and her husband Bob and their daughters Katy and Kylie; granddaughter Lauren Bowen, fiancee' Ford McMurtry and his mother Betty; daughter Shirley Bibles and her daughters Jessica and Taylor and John's friend Johnny Krause.

Also in attendance were Bob and Kay Jack from Merida, Mexico.

A fast food extravaganza was served to a BYC clubhouse full of mothers Saturday, May 8. It looked as the favorite meal of the fathers present was either fried chicken, bar-b-que, or pizza. Luckily, a few true hearted guys actually cooked a casserole or a fantastic dessert. No doubt, almost fifty members and guests had a great time!

During the event, the club even captured a pair of new members, Edward Isenberg and Lucy Jessee of Copperas Cove and owners of Heffa Cat on C Dock. Guests of the evening were Maribeth Duffy - Larry Frank; Jim Johnson and Chuck Arasim - Julie Lambert; David and Andrea McGilvray - Cathy and Chris Colley and Charlene Bell - Walt and Judy Crawford.

Pictured right are Kerry Kaldenbach and Judy Crawford, proud and lucky winners of the Mother's Day Door Prize. Each won a fine bottle of vintage Chardonnay wine.

Great turnout, almost sixty members and guests attended. Dean and Aleta's dinner consisted of bar-b-q beef and chicken, Aleta's special recipe beans and potato salad and a pineapple pistachio creamy delight dessert. Guests included Linda Guiffre's mother, Connie; Kevin Kaldenbach's mother and father, Marcelle and Charles, and his bother and sister-in-law; Dean and Aleta Domingue's son and fiancee', Russell and Johanna friends of Jeniffer and Malcolm Holubec; and Mary Lee and Russ York's grandson Michael.

Jeniffer and Malcolm Holubec and Aleta and Dean Domingue were awarded their club burgees following the meal.

Arriba! Arriba! What a great Mexican dinner prepared by Walt and Judy Crawford, Julie Lambert and new members Malcolm and Jeniffer Holubec. Nearly sixty members and guests enjoyed fajita tacos, rice, beans and all the sides following the Spring General Membership meeting this past Saturday, April 17th, 7:00 PM.

After the meal Richard Durham, instigator and promoter of the July 1 - 5, Sail South Texas 2010 Festival of Sailing, History and Independence explained to the crowd the participates and plans for the upcoming event to be held at the old Naval base in Ingleside. Durham said three international tall ships, Esmeralda of Chile, the Cuauhtemoc of Mexico and the Capitan Miranda of Uruguay as well as the USCG Eagle will participate in this first time multiple "sail in" event.

Rear Commodore, Chip Spence, Captain Cruise Coordinator, Johnny Huddleston and Lisa Kelley are all working together to "dove tail" BYC participation into the event. Stay tuned.

What a great time! No wonder the Romans loved their wine. Fifty two members and guests enjoyed an evening of abundant, tasty hors dourves, flavorful wine and education. Murry Rhodes (pictured right), wine specialist of Specs Liquors led the crowd through the tasting of six different wines, three whites, three reds, from Italy, Chile, Washington State, California and Spain. The wines were: Don Raphael "Single Vineyard" Sauvignon Blanc, Chile, 2007; Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio, Italy, 2008; Washington Hills "Paradise Peak" Late Harvest Riesling, Washington State, 2008; Monte Campo Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Italy, 2008; Dynamite Merlot, North Coast California, 2007; and Gamacha De Fuego, Spain, 2007.

Following the evening's event, Malcolm and Jeniffer Holubec, guests of Julie Lambert joined the club and Rear Commodore Chip Spence made an announcement of Wayne Greer's membership, recruited by Larry Frank and Jim Whitworth. Other guests for the evening included those of Bruce and Tammy Swart - Bruce's brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Laura McNamara and her parents Charles and Annette McMurrey and Bruce and Tammy's daughters Melissa and Brittney Honeycutt. Chris Colley's Dad, Don, from Canada enjoyed the festivities as well as Linda Giuffre's mother Connie, Ron and Jo Hebert's neighbors from San Antonio, Carol and Hal Smith and Jay Sacco from Austin guest of Julie Lambert.

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by Russ York

As a fitting end to a hard day of racing in the first of this year’s Joe’s Crab Shack regatta series, some 60+ members and guests retired to the clubhouse for a toothsome Santa Maria bar-be-que. Although the rolling hills around Santa Maria, CA were missing as well as the whispering red oaks, the tri-tip was well seared, the grits cheesy and creamy and the banana-cherry pie with real whipped cream delicious. The cooks send a special thanks to the members for their attendance and timely response to the invitation. It’s always a challenge, but also a pleasure to cook for this crowd.

The club is always happy to entertain guests of our members, and we hope to see some if not all as new members in the future. Guests in attendance were: Katy Long and Michael Amolsch guests of Mary Lee and Russ York, Nick Childs, guest of Aleta and Dean Dominque, Carl and Marisa Travis, guests of Kerry and Kevin Kaldenbach, Charlie and Martha Long, guests of Jo Ann and Jim Robertson, Tom Respondek guest and cousin of Martha Respondek. Leslie Peart, a past member of 1976 vintage and the club’s first historian and poet is shown in the picture above, center, with Martha Respondek and Tom Arnold, the current BYC poet laureate.

Remember, support your club. Come to dinner!

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Just too beautiful of a spring break weekend for everybody to turn out for the St. Patrick's Day Dinner! Thirty seven of the thirty nine RSVP showed up, as well as six guests, to enjoy the corned beef and cabbage, green beer, Irish coffee and creme de mint ice cream. Rear Commodore Chip Spence introduced two perspective members, Dean and Aleta Domingue, owners of Adagio on D dock to the group. Also, attending as guests were Jeniffer and Malcolf Holubec and Mike and Marilyn Myers. Above, Harry Armenia accepts the Fairhope (Alabama) Yacht Club Burgee from Pam Carrothers. This burgee was a friend of a friends and given in the hope in would expand Fairhope's horizons.

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Fantastic! Sixty six served - Sixty three RSVP. Good time had by all. Fried food extravaganza, fish, hush puppies and potatoes. Cole slaw and brownies cake, too!

This event started eight years ago, originally on Friday, as a celebration of Lent. Kelley was added this year to take charge of desserts.

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At right, Hal Peterson, Jerry Vaughn man the grill.

Knot expert, experienced mountaineer and infamous sailor, Walt Crawford, demonstrated the importance and uses of many knots to a gathering of more than a dozen members, 5:00 PM, Saturday, February 20th. In the first educational seminar of the year and preceding, "Grill Yourself", Crawford taught the crowd how to tie the cleat hitch, bowline, round turn and two half hitches, and the carrick bend as well as many others while explaining the vices and virtues of each for specific nautical uses.

Neil Gallagher, Walt Crawford, Hatcher Chalkley, Andy Horner, Bruce Swart, Mark Lambert, Jim Robertson and Rudy Mircovich, Jr., shown above.

How to tie Knots link click here to see demonstrations

Afterwords, the knot tiers, were joined by many more members bringing "sides" as well as meat to "grill yourself" for the nights dinner. Mark Hiler shepherded the grill and attempted to assist the other grill experts in their fiery feast as all were fed to their hearts desire.

Read Tammy Swart's first hand account here.

 At right, Doug Weakly, Jim Isbell and Johnny Huddleston man the grill.

Jo and Ron Hebert with cooking assistants, Ron's sister and brother in law Sharon and Dennis Mayes

Great cajun food and just good ole Mardi Gras fun. Jo and Ron Hebert put on a spectacular spread including wonderful decorations, beads, masks and party favors. Even though there were a few RSVP disfunctions, the Hebert clan was able to feed the teaming hungry mass. Please folks, don't forget to RSVP to future events.

Debbie and Bud O'Brien were presented their official club burgee and we welcomed the guests of Julie and Mark Lambert - Frank and Carol Garza, of E Dock and San Antonio, during the party. As an additional highlight, the Yucatan Peninsula Yacht Club burgee was presented to the club by Commodore Harry Armenia following his return from the Club's Carnival Cruise to Mexico.

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With only 37 RSVP, 2008 Cooks of the Year, Cynthia and Johnny Huddleston ended up feeding 62 members and guests for the first club dinner of 2010, Saturday, January 23rd. Good thing the Huddleston's had gained the experience in crowd feeding during 2008. Their meal consisted of 25 lbs. of pork loin, 4 large beer butt chickens, 20 lbs. of Cynthia's special potatoes, a large garden salad, whole wheat rolls and 2 large cherry crisp desserts. The Huddleston's would like to thank Terry Butler and Cathy Colley for help in serving the meal, Tammy Swart for collecting donations and Judy Crawford for help in cleaning up after the meal.

Remember shipmates, these meals are a voluntary effort to raise money for the club's general operating fund. For them to be truly successful and as a courtesy to the cooks, please RSVP your attendance. If you are not sure you may attend but at the last minute do so, please be willing to go to the back of the line and let those who have RSVP go first. The cooks will be serving accordingly as to their received number of confirmed meal requests.

For future meals, send your RSVP to dinner@bayyachtclub.org.

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You really can't believe how well sailors clean up and look when they have a fancy function. That was the case this past January 9th for the 2010 Installation Banquet held at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. Sixty members found their way in from the cold to partake in a wonderful meal of beef, fish, salad, broccoli, pasta and potatoes followed by either a fruit or chocolate dessert.

After the meal, Tom Arnold gave his traditional, for the twentieth time in as many years, recap poem of the year. Be assured, he pulled no "punches" in his verse of events. Following Arnold's presentation, 2009 Commodore Walt Crawford presented a memorial plaque, to be hung in a place of recognition within the BYC Clubhouse, to the McNeill family recognizing their parent's contribution, Jo Ann and Bob McNeill for more than twenty years of service to the Bay Yacht Club. Commodore Crawford also gave Outstanding Service Awards to the Officers and Committee Chairpersons for the 2009 year as well as the Commodore's Trophy to Bill Carrothers and the Terry T. Harkrider Award to Jerry Vaughn. Harry Armenia, 2009 Vice Commodore presented the Young Yachtsman of the Year Award to Megan Gallagher, daughter of Neil and Teresa Gallagher. Later, Dinner Chairperson, Cynthia Huddleston presented Mary Lee and Russ York "Cook of the Year" Award. Cruising Director, Cruise Dude, Ron Hebert gave the "Cruiser of the Year" Award to Cynthia and Johnny Huddleston.

Following the award presentations, Commodore Crawford gave the oath of office to Harry Armenia 2010 Commodore. Commodore Armenia in turn presented Commodore Crawford, a token of  appreciation from the board and members, an antique brass weather barometer. Commodore Armenia then swore in the new board and with a rounding sound of applause told everyone to have a good time. The evening concluded with the invitation to dance with the Padre Island Yacht Club members at their annual function in the next room.

View Jenny Jackson's                                  Walt Crawford Harry Armenia

and Tammy Swart's Photos                 

Bright and early, at least for some, 8:30 AM, January 1^st, thirteen past Commodores either attended or prepared a hearty breakfast for the prior night revelers. Coffee, eggs, bacon, pancakes, sausage and biscuits, as well as “Mimosas” help nurse back life to those needing assistance. Following the breakfast all joined in and dismantled the Club's Holiday face and stowed it back in boxes to wait for the 2010 season.

Past Commodores (back row) Walter Crawford '09, Hal Peterson '92, Larry Frank '03, Jim Whitworth '04, Jerry Vaughn '96 , Jake Jacobsen '07, Andy Ficken '80, Craig Loomis '79. (front row) Joe Blair '05, '08, D.B. Kline '91, Charlene Forest '83 and Phylis Vaughn '98. (not pictured) Ed Bonner '08.

See Jenny Jackson's photos