Notice of GYA Winter Meeting & Annual Awards Reception


TO: Commodores of General and Affiliate Members
GYA Executive Committee
GYA Past Commodores
GYA Standing Committee and Council Chairmen
GYA Coordinator of each GYA General Member Club
GYA Associate Members

PLEASE NOTE THE MEETING FORMAT HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICALLY FROM PRIOR YEARS

The Winter Meeting of the Gulf Yachting Association will be held on January 12th – 14th, 2024 at the Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, 115 E 1st Street, Biloxi, MS 39530. Since some contact information at your club may have changed since our last meeting, please distribute this information to the appropriate contacts at your club.

Friday, January 12, 2024
7:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting & Dinner
Hosted at the home of Commodore Robbie Schmidt

Saturday, January 13, 2024
9:30 am Museum Doors Open – Reception Area at Entrance
10:00 am Race Management Committee Meeting – Theater, 2nd Floor
10:30 am One Design & Youth Committee Meeting – Large Meeting Room, 1st Floor
11:30 am Racing Regulations Committee Meeting – Hurricane Gallery, 3rd Floor
1:00 pm Capdevielle Committee Meeting – Large Meeting Room, 1st Floor
2:00 pm Offshore Council Meeting – Theater, 2nd Floor
2:00 pm Trophy Committee Meeting – Board Room, 3rd Floor
3:00 pm Scheduling Committee Meeting – Hurricane Gallery, 3rd Floor
5:30 pm GYA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING – Large Meeting Room, 1st Floor
6:30 PM GYA ANNUAL AWARDS RECEPTION – Nydia Gallery, 2nd Floor $25 per person RSVP to GYA Secretary (228) 669-7518 or secretary@gya.org Payments made to GYA, mail to 1245 Kensington Drive, Biloxi, MS 39530

*GYA Managers Association next meeting will be during the Annual GYA meeting at Fairhope Yacht Club in May

Sunday, January 14, 2024
11:00 am Walk On Schooner Sail
$30 per person, reserve through the museum directly, (228) 435-6320
Departs from the Schooner Pier Complex, 367 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530

NOTICE OF WINTER MEETING
January 12-14, 2024
Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
115 E 1st Street
Biloxi, MS 39530

GYA COMMODORES – GENERAL MEMBER CLUBS – Your club’s attendance is very important. If you cannot attend the Board meeting, please send a WRITTEN NOTICE naming your club’s representative to the GYA Secretary-Treasurer via email secretary@gya.org, or hand deliver at the meeting.

All GYA Club Board Members and their club members are invited to attend the Annual GYA Awards reception. The reception will be Saturday evening at the Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum beginning at 6:30 pm. Please note that this is a reception this year (not a dinner), and the cost will be $25 per person. Please make your reception reservations to the GYA Secretary by January 5, 2024, via email secretary@gya.org, by calling (228) 669-7518 or mailing your payment payable to the GYA to 1245 Kensington Drive, Biloxi, MS 39530.
Your GYA Flag Officers look forward to seeing you at the Winter meeting at the Biloxi Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum. Please wear your appropriate blazer, club badge and dress slacks for the meeting and reception.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Schmidt
GYA Secretary/Treasurer
(228) 669-7518

PROPOSED EXECTUIVE COMMITTEE BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR 2024:
Randy Fitzpatrick-Wainwright, Commodore (Fairhope YC)
Alan McMillan, Vice Commodore (Pensacola YC)
Richard Heausler, Rear Commodore (Bay Waveland YC)
Shannon Weatherly, Secretary/Treasurer (Pass Christian YC)

PROPOSED GYA BY-LAW CHANGES:
Article III – Membership
Current
B.
Classification
(2) Affiliate Membership. Organizations in this classification shall be a member of the United States Sailing Association. Compliance with this requirement may be delayed until acceptance. Affiliate members shall have the right to participate in USSA events conducted within the GYA, use the services of the Appeals Committee and the PHRF Rating Committee in accordance with the established procedures and otherwise participate in GYA affairs on a reduced basis as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time, but shall not be entitled to representation on the Board.
Proposed
B.
Classification
(2) Affiliate Membership. Organizations in this classification shall be a member of the United States Sailing Association. Compliance with this requirement may be delayed until acceptance. Affiliate members shall have the right to participate in USSA events conducted within the GYA, use the services of the Appeals Committee and the Handicap Rating Committee in accordance with the established procedures and otherwise participate in GYA affairs on a reduced basis as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time, but shall not be entitled to representation on the Board.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
SECTION 5: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Current
A. Commodore. (3) exercise ratification authority over the selection of the Chair of the PHRF Rating Committee.
Proposed
A. Commodore. (3) exercise ratification authority over the selection of the Chair of the Handicap Rating Committee.

PROPOSED GYA RACING REGULATION CHANGES:
Current Rule
7.4 Capdevielle Series Regattas. Interclub events established by the BOD and managed as specified in Regulation 11 – Host Club Requirements. Certain regattas have special regulations as defined below in addition to the regulations common to all series regattas. Series regattas may be added with the approval of or deleted by the action of the BOD only. Series regattas established by the BOD are:

Regatta Name Abbreviated NameDesignation Host Club
Mardi GrasNon-ChampionshipNew Orleans Yacht Club
GYA OpeningOpeningNon-Championship
Regulation 23
GYA Commodore’s Club
SpringNon-ChampionshipBuccaneer Yacht Club
CandlerNon-ChampionshipSt. Andrews Bay Yacht Club
MeigsNon-ChampionshipFt. Walton Yacht Club
SummerNon-ChampionshipMobile Yacht Club
WeatherlyNon-ChampionshipGulfport Yacht Club
Junior Lipton ChallengeJunior LiptonChampionship
Regulation 20
Determined by previous year results
Knost Ladies ChampionshipKnostChampionship
Regulation 21
Pass Christian Yacht Club
Sir Thomas Lipton Cup ChallengeLipton CupChampionship
Regulation 19
Determined by previous year results
WadewitzNon-ChampionshipFairhope Yacht Club
Sugar Bowl Race of ChampionsSugar BowlNon-Championship
Regulation 22
Southern Yacht Club


Proposed Rule
7.4 Capdevielle Series Regattas. Interclub events established by the BOD and managed as specified in Regulation 11 – Host Club Requirements. Certain regattas have special regulations as defined below in addition to the regulations common to all series regattas. Series regattas may be added with the approval of or deleted by the action of the BOD only. Series regattas established by the BOD are:

Regatta Name Abbreviated NameDesignation Host Club
Mardi GrasNon-ChampionshipNew Orleans Yacht Club
GYA OpeningOpeningNon-Championship
Regulation 23
GYA Commodore’s Club
SpringNon-ChampionshipBuccaneer Yacht Club
CandlerNon-ChampionshipSt. Andrews Bay Yacht Club
MeigsNon-ChampionshipFt. Walton Yacht Club
SummerNon-ChampionshipMobile Yacht Club
WeatherlyNon-ChampionshipGulfport Yacht Club
Junior Lipton ChallengeJunior LiptonChampionship
Regulation 20
See reg 20.1(a)
Knost Ladies ChampionshipKnostChampionship
Regulation 21
Pass Christian Yacht Club
Sir Thomas Lipton Cup ChallengeLipton CupChampionship
Regulation 19
See reg 19.1(a)
WadewitzNon-ChampionshipFairhope Yacht Club
Sugar Bowl Race of ChampionsSugar BowlNon-Championship
Regulation 22
Southern Yacht Club

Current Rule
14.1 The number of races scheduled and required to constitute a series at each event shall conform to the following:

EventNumber of Races ScheduledNumber of Races to Constitute a Series
Lipton Cup52
Junior Lipton61
KnostMaximum of 51
Sugar BowlMaximum of 5Per the OA
All Others51


Proposed Rule
14.1 The number of races scheduled and required to constitute a series at each event shall conform to the following:

EventNumber of Races ScheduledNumber of Races to Constitute a Series
Lipton Cup52
Junior Lipton51
KnostMaximum of 51
Sugar BowlMaximum of 5Per the OA
All Others51


Current Rule
15.3 Ties: Except as provided in Regulations 19.9 (Lipton Cup), and 20.4 (Junior Lipton), ties shall be resolved according to RRS A8.

Proposed Rule
15.3 Ties: Except as provided in Regulations 19.9 (Lipton Cup), and 20.5 (Junior Lipton), ties shall be resolved according to RRS A8.

Current Rule
20 JUNIOR LIPTON REGATTA
20.1 Host Club
(a)The host club shall be determined exactly as the Lipton Cup host club, Regulation 19.1(a)(b), except that the three (3) mile radius restriction shall not apply.

Proposed Rule
(a) (Effective for the 2025 season.) The GYA club that won the previous year shall normally host in the current year. No club, however, shall host in consecutive years. If, because of this restriction, the previous year winner is not eligible to host, that club may offer hosting the current year to another GYA club. Any such awarding of an alternate host shall only be with EXCOM approval prior to the next Annual Meeting.
(b)(Effective for the 2025 season.) In the event that a previous year winner that is eligible to host the current year elects not to, that club may offer current year hosting to any GYA club that is eligible to do so. Any such awarding of an alternate host shall only be with EXCOM approval prior to the next Annual Meeting.



Margaritaville Resort Biloxi
195 Beach Boulevard
Biloxi, MS
(228) 271-6377
0.3 miles to museum
Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel & Casino
151 Beach Boulevard
Biloxi, MS
(228) 435-5400
0.3 miles to museum
Palace Casino Resort
158 Howard Avenue
Biloxi, MS
(228) 432-8888
0.3 miles to museum
The White House Hotel
1230 Beach Boulevard
Biloxi, MS
(228) 233-1230
3.3 miles to museum
The Roost Boutique
604 Porter Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS
(228) 285-7989
2.5 miles to museum
Hotel The Hemingway
929 Washington Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS
(228) 875-4496
2.9 miles to museum
Area Lodging
Official Notice (click here)

Year End Reminders

Submit your club’s 2024 sailing schedule, links have been emailed
Submit your club’s 2024 Directory information, links have been emailed
Winter Meeting, January 13, 2024, Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum

Notice of Semi-Annual Meeting, Sept 2, 2023, PCYC

July 31, 2023

TO:      Commodores of General and Affiliate Members
GYA Executive Committee
GYA Past Commodores
GYA Standing Committee and Council Chairmen
GYA Coordinator of each GYA General Member Club GYA Associate Members

The Semi-Annual Meeting of the Gulf Yachting Association will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at Pass Christian Yacht Club, 120 South Market Street, Pass Christian, MS (228) 452-2571. Since some mailing and email addresses may have changed since the last meeting, please distribute this information to the appropriate contacts at your club. 

GYA COMMODORES of GENERAL MEMBER CLUBS – Your club’s attendance is very important. If you cannot attend the Board meeting Saturday, September 2nd beginning at 1000 hours, please send a NOTICE naming your club’s representative to the GYA Secretary-Treasurer via mail at 1245 Kensington Drive, Biloxi, MS 39530, email secretary@gya.org, or hand deliver a letter at the meeting. 

Pass Christian Yacht Club, will provide all GYA Clubs the program and schedule of events for the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge competition for the following trophies:

  • Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Trophy
  • Sir Thomas Lipton Inter-Club Sportsmanship Trophy
  • Tim Murray Memorial Trophy, Most Improved Performance
  • Race 1 Floyd Davis Memorial Trophy
  • Race 2 J. Fred Clerc Trophy
  • Race 3 Michael S. Johnson Trophy
  • Race 4 no permanent trophy, special trophy by GYA
  • Last Race Commodore Larry Beauvais, Jr. Memorial Trophy

SCHEDULE CHANGE 8/15/2023

Friday, September 1st

1000                            Pool Opens
1300 – 1700            Registration/Check-In
1400 – 1700           Boat Measurement (hoist)
1800                            GYA Executive Committee Meeting (Board Room), Dinner (Main Dining Room)
1800 – 2100            Dinner Service (Main Dining Room)

Saturday, September 2nd  

0800 – 1000                Breakfast
0800 – 1100                Registration/Check-In/Weigh-In
0900 – 0950                Capdevielle Committee (Main Dining Room)
0900 – 0950                Trophy Committee Meeting (Junior Room)

1000                             Pool Opens
1000 – 1100                GYA Board of Directors Meeting (Dining Room)
1100 – 1400                Lunch Menu Served
1115                             Team Captains Meeting (Bar)
1200                             Flag Raising Ceremony (Blue Blazer / White Pants)
1200 – 1800                Pool Bar Open
1330                             Warning signal for Lipton Race 1
Race 2 and 3 (if possible) to follow after crew changes.
1900 – 2200                Ship Wreck Party (Dining Room, band begins at 1930)     

Sunday, September 3th  

0800 – 1000                Crew Weigh-In and Crew List
0800 – 1000                Light Breakfast served in bar by Ladies Auxiliary members
1000                             Pool Opens
1030                             Warning signal for race 4, race 5 to follow after crew changes
1100 – 1400                PCYC Sunday Brunch
1600                             Latest time for warning signal
TBD                              Trophy Presentation (approx. 1.5 hours after first boat docks)
     Light hors d’oeuvres will be served

This schedule is subject to change – please be sure to check the official bulletin board.

Pass Christian Yacht Club asks all guests to please pre-register for a guest card prior to arrival (attached).

 

A discounted room block as been established at the following:

The Inn at Long Beach
300 Beach Boulevard West
Long, MS 39560
(228) 338-2270
Group Code:  Pass Christian Yacht Club

Other area accommodations in the area:  

Hotel Whiskey
115 Davis Avenue
Pass Christian, MS 39571
(601) 557-2611
Hotel Pass Christian
116 W Scenic Drive
Pass Christian, MS 39571
(228) 222-2062
Pearl Hotel, LLC
104 North Beach Blvd.
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
228- 688-0400

Your GYA Flag Officers look forward to seeing you at the Semi-Annual meeting at Pass Christian yacht Club. We ask that you share all information about the weekend events with members of your club.  Please wear your appropriate blazer, club badge and white dress slacks for the meeting and flag raising ceremony.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Schmidt
GYA Secretary/Treasurer

Link to Lipton Challenge Regatta Network Site (Click Here)

Link to Winter Meeting Minutes (Click Here)

Link to Lipton Challenge Form (Click Here)

Link to PCYC Authorization Agreement for CC Payments (Click Here)

Supporting Yachting in the Southeast since 1901