Commodore:   Sandy Records

I grew up in New England in a small town, but always enjoyed going to the ocean, even if it was too cold to get in. When I joined the Air Force and ended up in Florida, I met a lot of new friends that enjoyed sailing and became involved in the sailing community at Tyndall Air Force Base. Rus and I have enjoyed boating together since we met in Panama City, Florida in 1985. We were married onboard a 33ft sailboat in 1987 in Florida, with all our friends joining in the festivities.

Rus and I have enjoyed many sailing vacations to the BVI, Saint Lucia, and New England. We have owned several boats, with our newest addition being a 42 ft. PT Trawler, Voyager II. Our sons, Ryan and Morgan, have been seen often at club activities and enjoy having their friends aboard the boat to swim at Redfish Island.

I have been involved in the club since 2000, and have served on the board as Rear Commodore, Secretary and Treasurer.  Now I am looking forward to serving the club in a new capacity as the 2008 Commodore. I am looking forward to a great year for Waterford Yacht Club and hope to see you at the events being planned this year.

Vice Commodore:  Jeanette Bliss

I started sailing on Lake Dallas and White Rock Lake in Dallas with my husband, Walter.  We purchased our first boat, an International 470 Olympic racer, shortly after getting married.  Walter, being from Hawaii, thought everyone should love boating – it was a surprise to him when he realized he had married an aquaphobic.  Talk about issues to overcome!  We were boat-less for several years while living abroad in Saudi Arabia, Scotland and Singapore (and South Louisiana). 

Nine years ago Walter talked me into purchasing our Catalina 380 sailboat, Mele Kai.  We have had great times sailing (I pray for light winds) around the area.  We have also enjoyed fun sailing vacations with family and friends in the BVI and Bahamas.

This is my first year on the Board, but I have enjoyed all the Club activities since 2001.  I know we will have a wonderful 2008 – there are so many super events being planned for this year!  Look forward to seeing you there and enjoying them with us.

Rear Commodore: Alan Albrecht

Fleet Captain:   Suzanne Donley

Your Fleet Captain for this year is Suzanne Donley.  My husband is Robert Donley and we own Panacea, a 45 ft Bayliner (power boat, of course).  We are on pier 14 and have been there since 1995. 

I am a family practice physician in Texas City, this year is my 23^rd year in medicine, and my title at work is Dr. Suzanne Schafer.

I have always loved the water and knew that I would someday own a boat.  When Robert and I first met, I told him that I would have a powerboat, pointing out one of the sport fishing boats in a slip in Port Aransas.  Our first boat was a 24 ft Bayliner called Poco Loco on Eagle Mountain Lake in Ft. Worth.  It wasn’t long before we developed “2 ft-it is” and moved up to a 30 ft Sea Ray docked at Lake Ray Hubbard in Dallas.  We named her Contagious.  Then one day I made the comment to Robert that we needed a bigger boat and that was all he needed.  Soon we were the new owners of Panacea, our current boat.  She was purchased in Florida and we brought her back on the hull in October of 1995.  We moved from Ft. Worth to live here permanently in February 1996, living on the boat for 14 months before purchasing our current house in Dickinson.

Robert and I have been members of the United States Power Squadron and have both taken boating courses, through Advanced Piloting.  I have also taken part of the Celestial Navigation course and Robert has his captain’s license.  We are charter members of the Waterford Yacht Club and hope to go cruising someday.

Another hobby of ours is motorcycling and you may see us at the marina on our Harleys at any given time.  It’s hard to make the decision whether to go boating or motorcycling when the weather is fine in Southeast Texas.

Secretary:  Steve Morehouse

Treasurer:  Chris Dupuy

Social: Era Lee Caldwell

Era Lee moved from Southlake, Texas (DFW area) to Houston in April 2004 as a result of a job opportunity for her husband, Harry. They found themselves drawn to the water and bought their home in Seabrook Island in July 2005.  While living in Southlake, Era Lee was active in many non-profit organizations.  She served on numerous boards including President of the Greater Southlake Women’s Society.  Because of her participation in so many worthwhile events, she was voted ‘Woman of the Year’ of the Pioneer District of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs.  Era Lee chaired a successful city wide effort to allow wine sales in the City of Southlake, bringing new businesses and more tax revenue into the city.  As a result of this, she was named The Southlake Chamber’s Citizen of the Year in 2001 and the Mayor of Southlake proclaimed an Era Lee Caldwell Day. 

Since arriving on the scene in Seabrook, Era Lee has continued her tradition of community involvement.  She was Secretary in 2007, and now serves as Photographer & Historian of the Bay Area Welcome Neighbor’s Club, Publicist for the Mystic Krewe Du Carnaval, and having served as Secretary in 2007 is now Social Director (and unofficial Publicist) of the Waterford Yacht Club. 

Having no past experience in boating, Era Lee and Harry both became ASA 101 certified in May of 2006 through SailTime and have enjoyed many hours of sailing their 36 foot Hunter Sailing Yacht, the Summer Wind.  They plan on continuing their sailing education, achieving Captain’s level, and look forward to visiting distant ports of call.

Director:   Marcel Gremillion

Director:   Barney Gulley

Barney spent 15 years sailing the lakes in the Dallas/FtWorth area.  After marrying his wife Janie, he convinced her to take sailing lessons in Florida to see if she liked the sport.  When she said she had a good time and thought she would enjoy sailing, Barney showed her the boat "they" had just bought!  That began the progression from a 21' trailerable sailboat to their current boat.  Barney has cruised the Florida Keys, and had his first crew position in the 2007 Harvest Moon.
 

Barney has been a member of WYC for four years and looks forward to being more involved and serving the great people in the club.  

Director:   Linda Wiper

 Linda has always enjoyed the water, but it wasn’t until 1970 when she met her husband, Larry, that she was able to get into boating.  When they weren’t skiing, crabbing, on the San Bernard River, they were shrimping or off-shore fishing.  A favorite Sunday pastime would be spent sitting out at the original Joe Lee’s and watching the ‘big’ boats go in and out…way before the Boardwalk was ever conceived…and hoping that one day they would be able to do the same.  After spending eight years weekend sailing in Galveston Bay with friends, they decided it was time to have something of their own. Once they made the decision whether to buy sail or power, the fun began.  They found Élan, a 42’ Grand Banks Classic, in Treasure Island, Florida, and on October 15, 2005 - just two days ahead of Hurricane Wilma – with a crew of five they headed for Texas, and successfully arrived in Galveston after 72 grueling hours crossing the Gulf.

 They always knew they wanted to be at Waterford, and are so pleased that it turned out to be this much fun – so much so that Linda volunteered to be the WYC treasurer in 2007 and a Director heading up the women’s education program for 2008.  They find everyone very accepting, helpful and friendly, and with the activities, seminars and cruises the club offers, there is always something fun to do and with great people. 

 Linda and her husband, Larry, have two children, Mindy (27), an outdoor education teacher for The Yosemite Institute in Yosemite National Park, and who spends her summers in Wisconsin where she leads campers on backpacking/canoeing trips.  Their son, Travis (25), is a graduate from the University of Houston Conrad Hilton School of Hotel & Restaurant Management and is currently an associate manager at Truluck’s in Houston.

 Linda and Larry’s dream after retirement is to cruise and explore the Florida Keys, the Chesapeake, and the Caribbean.  Until then, they enjoy every weekend on the boat even if she doesn’t leave the slip!

Past 2007 Commodore:  Dan Fuller

Dan was introduced to sailing by a friend in middle school who had a Sunfish that could be towed down to the marina behind a 10 speed bike. They would spend many summer days cruising down the lazy San Jacinto River while loud ski boats would speed by rocking the tiny two man boat.

Dan met his lovely wife of 27 years in his dad's church while attending University of Houston. Today Dan and Freddie own “Call me the Breeze,” a 34’ Hunter, and are two of the original charter members of Waterford Yacht Club.  They both have served on committees with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for over 15 years. Dan has served on the Waterford board as Rear Commodore, Director, Webmaster and 2007 Commodore. Dan currently works for Avery Dennison as a Major Accounts Manager. When not on his boat, Dan enjoys playing his guitar with his brother and the rest of the band on Sundays at First Baptist Church Heights.

 Along with his sailing experience Dan holds both a commercial helicopter and private fixed wing ratings. Dan has crewed on a few  Harvest Moon regattas and has logged many hours on Galveston Bay doing what most of us love doing best. Setting the sails for a nice quite relaxing ride while gliding over the bay swells sipping on a cold beverage while listening to Jimmy Buffet! The Go fast boats still race by now and then and rock the sailboats in the Kemah channel. Some things just never seem to change!

Webmaster:  Henry Milam