GBCA - The Place to Race since 1947

Meet your 2021 GBCA Board of Governors

Commodore, Kevin Bednar

I’ve been sailing and racing on Galveston Bay since the mid 1990’s when my father bought a Hunter 26.5. He upgraded to a Santana 30/30 and then a J/105 named Stinger and we’ve managed to win more races on Galveston Bay and offshore than I ever would have predicted. I became a GBCA board member a decade ago when I shot my mouth off about the need to update the website and the discussion forum and found myself volunteered to do the upgrades. (Yes, that’s how we reel in new Board members.) I’d suspect most members know me as the guy who cleans up after all of the parties and closes down the clubhouse. GBCA was founded as a local handicapping authority for yacht racing on Galveston Bay and in order to promote sailing and yacht racing regionally. I’m proud to be an elected volunteer supporting GBCA in that mission.

Vice Commodore, Allie Cribbs

My first sailing experience was when I was two weeks old sailing on Galveston Bay. While I can't say I remember my first two years sailing here, I grew up learning to sail lasers in Virginia at VISA Yacht Club. Because I grew up inland, each year I would spend all day sailing up and down the beach while on our month long Florida vacation. While at Eckerd College, my sailing bug turned into a racing bug, having the opportunity to travel up and down the east coast competing in regional and national intercollegiate events and receiving the all district crew award for SAISA. I coached the Red, White and Blue opti fleet for a short time at the St Petersburg Yacht Club. Eight years ago, I moved back to Houston to continue work as an ocean engineer supporting the offshore industry. Since then, I have become an active member in the J22, RS21 and J105 one design fleets here on the Galveston Bay competing in WNR, circuit, NAs and world events. For the distance races, you can find me sailing Blitz our Martin 243, a Wylie Wabbit, one of the J105s or Pingo. My hope is to further promote competitive women’s sailing in the area, to retain younger sailors in the community, and to help support racing with GBCA.

Rear Commodore, Andrea Hanson

Hi! I am Andrea Hanson. I am excited to be serving on the GBCA BoG as Rear Commodore. You can spot me out on Galveston Bay on my Hunter 28.5, on the foredeck of a Capri 25 with the crew of On The Go, or sailin’ around Texas with the J24 fleet! I am my happiest on the water, and being part of the GBCA community has been a true joy. Sailing has become a natural part of my everyday conversations, and I meet new folks regularly looking to get involved in the local sailing scene. I tell them proudly that GBCA is The Place To Race. I have previous board experience, having served as the Chair of the Space Camp Alumni Association Board, and currently serve as the Treasurer for the Space Medicine Association. When I’m not out sailing, I am helping NASA tackle the physiological and psychological challenges of sending astronauts to the moon and Mars. I look forward to giving back to this awesome organization as Rear Commodore.

Past Commodore, Jimmy Peck

Jimmy Peck started sailing Daysailers on Clear Lake soon after moving to Texas in 1989 and after a handful of Waiting For The Great Pumpkin Regattas with the Clear Lake Sailing Club, and up-sizing boats to GBCA events, he sailed blue water for the first time crewing on the Regatta de Amigos to Veracruz.

He is also an American Sailing Association (ASA) instructor with several Gulf crossing and is active with GBCA Wednesday Night Racing, and other local and regional regattas including multiple NOOD, HOOD, Harvest Moon, the Daysailer Nationals on Huntington Lake CA and Galveston Bay, The Wurstfest and Turnback Canyon Regattas in the Texas Hill Country.

Fleet Captain, Chris May

I grew up in Galveston, and landed in the Clear Lake area after graduating college in 1997. Always a water sports enthusiast, I was introduced to sailing soon after graduating college and have been racing ever since. I have raced both large and small boats over the years, including J22, J24, J109, J46, Peterson 38, Melges 24, Melges 32, and Ker 43. I have raced mostly in Galveston Bay and near-coastal Texas, but have also participated in various national events as well. I have a keen interest in growing racing participation in the area, and helping to develop GBCA as a key regatta provider in the region.

I have previously served on various not-for-profit and corporate Board of Directors. I am currently a Director on the Board of the Texas Bay Area Lacrosse Association, an organization focused on growing and developing youth lacrosse in the local area.

Treasurer, Marty Pedowicz

The story begins north of I-10 during the second half of the 1900's. I learned how to sail on a Sailstar Corinthian, and to race on an Ensign. After a much too long hiatusfrom sailing, I returned to crew on Ananda, Leopard and Stinger. I now spend my time and disposable income on Hobgoblin and provide rail meat services and unwanted advice to On the Go Wednesday nights.