2013 GBCA Board of Governors

Officers

Commodore, Walter Caldwell

I first sailed in 1985 on my uncle Harold's Columbia 24 on the Great South Bay in New York. Guess I got hooked, because I came back to Houston and started renting sailboats out of Gulf Coast Sailing Center, eventually going in on a three-way partnership on a Ranger 22 the following spring. We were the slowest boat in the GBCA races, rarely getting to the party before the keg ran out. Since then I've owned a Sunfish (still do), Lido 14, and J/80, and have crewed on numerous others. My lovely admiral Beverly and I currently enjoy our 1986 J/40 "Shaken Not Stirred" as much as we can. Times have changed some since I first became associated with GBCA a quarter-century ago. I'm committed to making sure we don't run out of beer.

Vice Commodore, Jim Wells

Jim Wells began sailing on Clear Lake with the Clear Lake Sailing Club in his first Daysailer.  A few years later he began competing in the CLRA Wed. Night Races with a few other CLSC sailors.  He and his partners will begin racing their recently acquired S2 10.3 in GBCA events this season. He and his wife live in League City; their four grown children and families live near-by.

Rear Commodore, Charles Broaddus

My first sailing experience was in 1962 in 6 man canoes with sailing rigs. I did the speedboat/water skiing thing as a young adult until getting married. Living in Killeen at the time, I bought my first sailboat, a Venture 22, in 1993, just to see if I would like sailing. I got hooked on racing, thanks in part to Jeff Jones, and went through a succession of boats. While crewing for Jeff in a NOOD race at LYC, I saw several “older” couples who were racing Catalina 22's. I told the wife we should get one, and a few weeks later purchased “Half Fast”. I raced it every chance I could at Austin Yacht Club over a ten year period, then moved to League City in 2007 when I retired. I started racing at CLRA that summer and joined GBCA soon after and got a crew position via Chris Dees on Millennium Express with John Butler. I started crewing for Bee Bednar on Stinger in 2011. My wife, Faye, and I have 4 children, 2 in the Spring area, 10 grand-kids and one great-grand-kid.

Fleet Captain, Christopher Dees

Chris started sailing in the mid 60’s on the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt aboard a wooden boat the family co-owned with another.  Continued sailing whenever possible with a variety of board boats in various countries as the family moved around for the oil company.  After college, he moved to Houston in the early 80’s and did some racing on a J29 and Bene38.  Married and raised 3 boys with a day sailor.  Has gotten back into racing in the last 6 years as the boys went off to college.   He participates with his wife Kelley and son in the Wednesday night races with his Mirage5.5 and crews aboard an Express37, J105 and J109 for bay and offshore races.  

 

Treasurer, Chris Alk

Chris splits his time between his house in Houston and his boat in Seabrook Shipyard.  He owns a Cal 33, Bad Girl.  You'll see him on the weekends crewing on the 1D35 Revolution. This is Chris's fourth year as the GBCA treasurer.

Secretary, Terri Gale

Past Commodore, Jody Henry

Jody grew up sailing Thistles and Flying Scots on Berlin Lake in Ohio.  She moved to Houston in 2000 and started racing with Dave Hampp on his J24, Heartbreak Hotel.  She currently races with John Mather on his J109, French Connection.  She's been on the board of GBCA for what seems like forever.

Member, Steve Ghormley

Steve Ghormley, a native Texan, has been sailing and boating in and around the Texas coastline since his early childhood. Born in Pasadena, Texas in 1959, Steve’s father Charles, an avid sailor, passed down his love of boating to his youngest son.  Steve has been married to Karen Ghormley for 31 years and they have two children and two grandchildren.  Steve is a partner of Novus Wood Group, LP in Houston, Texas.

Member, Kevin Bednar

Kevin is the mastermind behind the web site and the discussion page.  He is our go-to for all things computer related.  Kevin sails with his Dad, Bee Bednar on their J105, Stinger.

Member, Gerhard Wittich

Member, Pete Meeh

Pete Meeh is a long time resident of Clear Lake Shores as well.  He is married to Dee and they have a motorboat and a sailboat.  Pete races his own boat on Wednesday nights and on the weekends, sometimes you'll see him crewing for Walter and Beverly on Shaken Not Stirred.

Member, Dave Christensen

Dave began racing in GBCA events in 1980.   He and his wife Denise now race their J109 “Airborne” in both bay and offshore events and spend most weekends either racing or cruising with friends.  

Member, Scott Lacy

Scott has been boating for about 40 years.  You can hear him on "TRAMP" as the time-keeper for the GBCA races.  He and his brother John have been doing Race Committee for the past 5 years.  He retired from AT&T in 2008 and needs a job to get some rest!