ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL
This Thursday is a business meeting. The meeting starts at 8:30 pm and our guests are welcome for dinner and through introductions at the meeting. Dinner is served at about 7pm.
Jes Gearing to hosting the free feed this month. She’s serving Taco Soup, bread, and salad
Please read the Breeze to the end, you never know what you’ll find down in the bilge. This includes Kristen’s Yeti story.
HELP! We need bartenders! Please, Please volunteer for a shift so we can have more bar hours. With only two consistent bartenders, hours are limited.
You want the bar open more, well come help us do that. If you have a key, why isn’t your name on the calendar for a bar shifts
JULY 2025 Bar Shifts
July 20 - Chris Weaver 1-6
Won’t you take a shift? The bar only OPENS when we have a bartender.
We are always looking for new bartenders. If you’re interested, please contact Tony or Mary Gartman, or Dawn Deputy. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! If they order it, they have to tell you how to make it, or you can Google it, or look it up in the bartender’s book behind the bar.
It’s BACK, the Summer Sailing Competition
Week 2 Results: TBA
Summer Sailor competition begins Friday, June 20th and ends September 22nd on a Monday. Record your hours slip to slip(motoring in and out counts but you must sail in between) Turn your hours in weekly with date of sail to captainjack1250@gmail. Com or text 251-709-1532. Trophies to the top 7.
Sunday Races
Sunday Races Return on Sunday
Come join the fun, starting at 2:30 pm.
ALL boats are welcome. Bring your friends and splash a boat, challenge your friends to race, and just spend some time on the water, it’ll recharge your batteries.
Lipton Committee Meeting
The next Lipton planning meeting will be held Thursday, July 24 at 7:00 pm in the Main Hall. Stop in to hear what is being planned. All are welcome - hope to see you there! Kenny and Amy
Pictured: (L–R) Debbie Grimm, NWSA President, New Orleans, LA; Lexi Parker, Michelle Barlow, and Angela Colman, Mobile, AL.
Gulf Coast Sailors Attend National Women’s Sailing Conference
By Michelle Barlow, Buccaneer Yacht Club
From June 6–8, three sailors from Mobile—Michelle Barlow of Buccaneer Yacht Club, along with Lexi Parker and Angela Colman of Sundowner Marina—traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida, to attend the 35th Annual National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) Conference. Held on the waterfront campus of the University of South Florida, the 2025 event welcomed more than 120 sailors from across the country for a weekend of seamanship, hands-on learning, and camaraderie. About half the attendees bunked in the university dorms, adding a relaxed and communal vibe. Participants chose from over 30 sessions on and off the water and gathered under the stars for informal dockside discussions that lasted well into the night.
Lexi Parker, a Navy veteran and experienced offshore sailor, shared insights from years living aboard, adventures sailing the East Coast, and crossing the Gulf of America. “Emergency Response Aboard (aka Stop That Leak)”—a hands-on class focused on avoiding and responding to mishaps—left a strong impression. She also attended Boat Systems and has sailed her 31’ Hunter in Mobile Bay and around the Pensacola area.
Angela Colman is currently preparing to move her 31’ Island Packet from Mobile to Annapolis in the spring. She took an on-the-water course to prepare for the US Sailing Keelboat Instructor Certification and joined a group for a tour of the Mastry Engine Center and Island Packet Yacht Factory. She also attended the Women That Sail Tampa Bay session. Dockside inflatable life raft deployment was on the agenda as a demonstration. She mentioned that she liked watching it while sitting under the oak trees with fellow sailors. Angela has also sailed in the British Virgin Islands, the Sea of Cortez, and Grenada.
My goal was to improve on-the-water racing skills and boat maintenance knowledge. After replacing two batteries in my 26’ Capri this year, the Electrical and Battery Systems class is where I started, then followed by Wind Strategy on the Racecourse. I wrapped up the weekend with a class on Telling Your Sailing Story, and I recommend following She Sailor Sea Story, a series published on the NWSA website.
The conference not only provided valuable education and hands-on experience but also strengthened the bonds within the national women’s sailing community, inspiring participants to pursue new challenges on the water. Women seeking a sailing community are welcome to join. Some attendees have taken part in all 35 conferences, which have been held at locations across the U.S. Membership in NWSA is $45 per year or $100 for three years, offering access to workshops, events, and a national network of women who sail. For more, visit womensailing.org
Coming Attractions…
August 23 Block Party
August 29-31 GYA Sir Thomas Lipton Championship
September 12-13 Middle Bay Light Race
October 11-12 Fish Class Worlds
October 18-19. GYA Fish Class/John G. Curren
December 6 Annual Dance
Classifieds
Please send your ads to ddeputy@mac.com or qbbucyc@gmail.com. I will be happy to advertise your boat (with a picture), boat parts, trailers, sails, or whatever. All ads will remain posted until the item is sold or the owner removes the ad.
For Sale… Impulse 21
For Sale… Impulse 21 and solid trailer, $3,500. Two jibs, two spinnakers and two mains. One set practice grade. Always dry sailed. At Pontchartrain Yacht Club.
Contact David Legett 251-610-8657
Power Washing
Need something pressure washed but don't have the time, energy, or equipment to do it? Decks, docks, boats, driveways, she-sheds, etc. Contact Tonia Camardella 256.531.3083 for more info.
1995 Beneteau Oceanis 351 for Sale
Docked in Slip F-1 at Fairhope Yacht Club. Asking price $62,000. Contact Cathy Cromartie, 251-895-0993. More info and photos at: https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1995-beneteau-oceanis-351-9674871/
Get your Thursday Night Fun Race T-shirt
Thursday Night Fun Race Pirate T-Shirts are available. Order your shirts here!
Women’s Foul Weather Gear
Gill Key West Jacket, size 10 and Gill Key West Bibbed Pants, size 12
Never worn; the pants still have the tags attached with a price $179.00
Price: $200.00 for ALL pieces
If you are interested, please contact Catherine Potter at 251-422-2183
New Business Notice
Southern Sports Vehicles has been opened by Johnrobert Deputy. Revive Your Ride: Expert Repairs for Boats, Cars, and Powersports at Southern Sports Vehicles! Contact Johnrobert at john@southernsportsvehicles.com or (251)510-4857
For the Good of the Order
This year’s Storm Stomp Story as told byy Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT) guided by Kristin Musgrove :
The Year of the Yeti
In the semi-mystical wetlands of lower Moh-Beel, where alligators recite poetry on Thursdays and tree frogs DJ weddings for a modest fee, lived the most infamously unserious tribe in recorded swamp history: the Bucca-nay-nay Tribe of Moh-Beel.
One year ago, this chaotic collective saved themselves from watery doom by performing a mighty stomp-dance that sent Debborrah, goddess of water, into a soggy sulk-fest deep beneath the marshes. But now, exactly one year later… the drama was back. The skies flickered. The air smelled faintly of mildewed sailing pants and hairy drain clogs. But why?
Because of the Yacht Club Yeti—a massive, matted-fur cryptid who looked like someone had abandoned a shag carpet at sea and then fed it nothing but resentment and coleslaw. He was the perfect kind of villain brewed from years of neglect and public dismissal of his bids for chiefdom and inclusion in the Bucca-nay-nay tribe.
The Yeti had emerged from the Mangly Mangroves and gone full chaos-mode. Optis were sabotaged. Sunscreen was replaced with mayonnaise. Catamarans were converted into impromptu catapults. But worst of all, that hairy bastard sneezed directly into the giant box of screws on JR’s Tool Bus…ON PURPOSE! The tribe was in shambles. And so was Debborrah, who hissed through the rain clouds: “WHERE IS MY OFFERING? MY STOMP? MY GOURD-POWERED DANCE GROOVE?” With all of the distractions inflicted at the paws of the Yeti, the tribe had been forgetful in heeding to their most powerful tradition.
The Emergency Council convened immediately in the giant, hollowed-out gator-head known as the Think Shed. At the helm sat Chief Dan-Dan, his face creased with either fear or gas pains from the 10-bean chili he’d eaten for lunch earlier. He banged a ladle loudly on a crawfish pot to call order to the meeting, but more limportantly to mask the sound of his gas. “We are on the brink of a full-scale Level 5 Moistening, people!”
“Debborrah is peeved,” croaked Nan-sea-sea, the tribe’s level-headed strategist, who was sipping swamp tea and drawing diagrams in the mud. “She wants respect, not excuses.”
“We can sacrifice my shampoo!” shouted Retha, the fearsome yet fabulous Barber of Moh-Beel, waving her shears like twin sabers. “But nobody messes with my town OR my bangs. And I mean NOBODY!”
Beside her stood Quiet Mike, her sweet and almost completely silent husband, nodding solemnly while slowly assembling a miniature catapult out of used toothpicks and popsicle sticks.
“Not to interrupt the apocalyptic planning,” chimed in ABCD, Driver of Piles (a man whose job was as mysterious as his shorts collection), “but the Yeti just rearranged my harbor pilings into a no-no word.”
“Oh, I like him,” said Cousin Tito, stumbling in wearing a coconut bra, soaked in rum, wielding a hockey stick. He plopped down and slurred out his claim once again to be Debborrah’s long lost cousin - through marriage, of course. “We used to do water aerobics together. She’s misunderstood. Hydrated, but misunderstood.”
“We need a distraction,” Nan-sea-sea insisted.
“How about me and Lew-Lew do a daring river dive through the twisted roots of the mangroves?” chirped Stephy, half of the tribe’s swashbuckling, inseparable lovebirds. She adjusted her pirate-style bandana while Lew-Lew winked and held up a harpoon made entirely from recycled flip-flops and old biminis.
“It worked last time,” said Dan-Dan, blinking sideways.
“It also caused the accidental release of three semi-possessed otters,” KrisKris the local minstrel added while tuning her ukulele. She strummed a melancholy swamp ballad about humidity and betrayal. “Matteo, do you think it’s too soon to report on this storm?”
Beside her, Matteo, the tribe’s recently adopted and inexplicably Italian-accented weatherman boyfriend, spun in a circle with his arms wide.
“Eet’sa already raining inside-a my soul, bella.”
“Not helpful, weather boy,” ABCD sneered.
Just then, the council door creaked open dramatically, dust rising from the footsteps of the slim, shadowy stranger silhouetted by the light from the door. Then, the stranger flipped on the light switch. “Why are you all sitting around here in the dark?” It was Ken-Ken the wise.
The group blinked around at each other. “I dunno, dramatic effect?” offered Stephy.
“Well, stop screwing around and wasting time. It’s obviously time to execute Operation Storm Stomp once again.” And just like that, Operation Storm Stomp was reborn.
The Bucca-nay-nays split into teams:
Stephy & Lew-Lew strapped on their wetsuits and swam into the murking depths of the mangroves using only drinking straws to draw breath. Well, at least until they got too soggy, because they were those crappy paper straws from Starbucks, but it was still really cool and heroic. They began luring the Yacht Club Yeti into the open with laminated coupons for sailboat upgrades and complimentary beard straightenings.
Retha and Quiet Mike prepared a full-scale grooming station. Curling irons were ignited. Shampoo lathered. Mike even embroidered a “Yeti Makeover” towel in total silence.
Marr-ay and Toe-nay, the tribe’s trusty barkeeps, brewed a cocktail strong enough to either sedate the Yeti or remove bathtub grout stains. While Cousin Tito volunteered to taste-test it… Twice.
Back at the Think Shed, Nan-sea-sea and Dan-Dan led stomp rehearsals.
“We need more heel,” Nan-sea-sea shouted.
“LESS FLAIL, MORE FEROCITY!” cried Dan-Dan.
“Where’s KrisKris?” someone asked.
“In the reeds writing a breakup song just in case Matteo’s wrong and Debborrah drowns us all,” came the reply.
Before too long, the Yeti Trap was set! As the sun set, the tribe launched the plan. Retha waited, shears glinting. Lew-Lew and Stephy rode back across the harbor on a zipline yelling, “ COME AND GET ME, YOU BIG-FOOTED BOOBY!”
The Yeti roared, lunging forward—and fell directly into the trap: a net made from biodegradable hula skirts, disco balls, and coconut shavings. “I JUST WANTED CONDITIONER,” the Yeti bellowed, snot glistening.
Retha strutted up. “You poor beast. Let Mama fix that mossy mop.”
With Quiet Mike’s help, the tribe gave the Yeti a full glow-up: shampooed, detangled, deep conditioned, glitter-moussed, and braided like a battle-ready Viking.
The Yeti wept. His hair shone like seaweed dipped in moonlight. “I feel... wind on my scalp. I can hear colors again.”
“NOW!” shouted Dan-Dan, and the Great Stomp began.
Under swirling storm clouds, with Debborrah herself watching from a geyser with arms crossed and thunder eyebrows raised, the tribe assembled. KrisKris struck a chord. Matteo held up a weather dial that burst into a shower of sparks. Everyone stomped. Retha led with precision. Tito moonwalked in his coconut bra, chanting nonsense. Toe-nay and Marr-ay passed out mojitos. The Yeti, now slick and stylish, danced a full eight-count of interpretive waltz-funk.
Then the chorus rose:
“Debborrah, queen of cloud and stream,
Forgive us for the Yeti’s scheme!
With stomps and song we shake the sky,
No more floods—just boots kept dry!”
A final group stomp—BOOM!
The marsh trembled. The clouds popped like overfilled water balloons. And Debborrah rose, sipping from one of Tito’s rum cocktails. “You remembered my favorite recipe,” she mused, eyeing the tribe. “And you taught the Yeti how to mousse. Fine. I’ll spare you this year.” Then, she vanished with a wink and a slow clap.
The Bucca-nay-nay Tribe of Moh-Beel erupted in cheers. They hoisted Retha on their shoulders. Quiet Mike smiled (which, to them, was more like a shout). The Yeti did jazz hands. Stephy and Lew-Lew kissed dramatically under a lightning rainbow. KrisKris played the first happy song of her life. Matteo forecasted the weather in interpretive dance. Tito threw up in a bucket, then yelled, “SHE ALWAYS HAD A THING FOR RUM AND RHYTHM!”
And from that day forward, the tribe took the Yacht Club Yeti in and invited him to also share in the creation of new fun goddess offerings for the Annual Storm Stomp Spectacular. And they did not disappoint!
Retha the Barber of Moh-Beel and Quiet Mike’s Yeti Spa
Lew-Lew & Stephy’s Swamp Diving Show
KrisKris & Matteo’s Musical Forecasts
Cousin Tito’s Coconut Cabana Cabaret
And the now beloved, glitter-haired Yacht Club Yeti, who ran a water aerobics with grace, funk, and only occasional drain-clogging.
Because even goddesses like Debborrah appreciate rhythm, respect…
…and a damn good shampoo.
GYA SCHEDULE FOR JULY 2025
To access the complete GYA racing calendar/schedule for the year go to https://www.gya.org/documents/schedule/
NEVER FORGET… Our participation in the club is what keeps us strong.
If you have ANYTHING to be posted in the next Breeze, please send all submissions to ddeputy@mac.com or qbbucyc@gmail.com., or text it to me at 251-802-3636.