History and Officers of the Blackwater Yacht Racing Association

On January 12, 1985, a group of 40 sailors/racers got together at the Pelican Point Yacht Club to further sailing activities on Smith Mountain Lake.  This group formed a steering committee to see if there was enough interest to form a new sailing club.  The steering committee consisted of: Mark Bittle, Howard Chilton, Eddie Hornick, George Konizer, Charlie Manning, Dale Poe, and Jeff Powell. The steering committee members contributed $22.00 each to get the club started. Ralph and Ginny Zahn contributed $100.00 and offered the use of Pelican Point Yacht Club to help get us started.

We began to talk about an open membership racing association for Smith Mountain Lake. The Virginia Inland Sailing Association (VISA) already existed here, but was a private club with a long waiting list, and there were no other organized activities elsewhere on the lake.

Our goal was to have another racing and sailing organization that would be simple, low cost, and anyone could become a member without waiting lists or initiations.

On February 23, 1985, the first BYRA meeting was held in Pelican Point’s service shop.

The following people were nominated to be BYRA’s first officers:

George Konizer - Commodore

Barry Moss - Vice Commodore

Joyce Firing - Rear Commodore

Jack Chamberlain - Secretary-Treasurer

Mark Bittle - Fleet Captain  

With the name settled, Blackwater Yacht Racing Association (BYRA), club officers elected, by-laws drawn up, dues paid, racing schedule approved, and socials scheduled -- We were ready to go!

Blackwater Yacht Racing Association Charter:

The Blackwater Yacht Racing Association was founded as a non-stock, non-profit, educational organization to fulfill the following objectives:

·         To further the competition and sportsmanship of yacht racing.

·         To provide the opportunity to become familiar with the various elements of seamanship.

·         To strengthen the common bond between sailors through cruising and social activities.


Charter Members

Steve Armstrong & Nora Niles

Robert F. Bell

Alvin Bennett

Mark Bittle

James L. Bowen

Maxie J. & Anne E. Caldwell

Dick & Freddie Hood

Neal Hood

Eddie & Carolyn Homick

Richard & Helen Hunter

Guy Johnson

William & Eileen Keeney

Carl Padgett

Ann & Dale Poe

Jeff Powell

Hans Rott

Don Salisbury

Manfred C. Schmidt

Jack & Jo Chamberlain

Howard & Katherine Chilton, Jr.

William L. Cox

Floyd L. & Joyce Firing, Jr.

Walter Hugh Hagood

George B. Konizer

Bill McMann

Charlie Manning

Barry & Sarah Moss

H.C. Pace

David R. Williams

Phillip P. Wright

Ronald L. Wright

Loretta & John Yeaman

Ralph & Ginny Zahn

 

 

2012 Officers

2012 BYRA Officers

Pete Phillip

Commodore

Warren Theis

Vice Commodore

Jeff Witten

Rear Commodore

Carl Purdue

Fleet Captain

Bob Toone

Treasurer

Bob Grogan

Secretary

John Breckenridge

Member-at-Large

Bob Gearhart

Past Commodore

 


Previous Officers

2011

Bob Gearhart

Commodore 

Pete Phillip

Vice Commodore 

Kurt McGuire 

Rear Commodores 

Warren Theis 

Fleet Captain 

Bob Toone 

Treasurer 

Bob Grogan

Secretary 

Bill Hughes

Member-at-Large 

Dave Sweet

Past Commodore 

2010

Dave Sweet 

Commodore 

Bob Gearhart 

Vice Commodore 

Bill & Bonnie Hughes, George & Holly DeMestro 

Rear Commodores 

Warren Theis 

Fleet Captain 

Bob Toone 

Treasurer 

Glen Cliborne 

Secretary 

Pete Phillip 

Member-at-Large 

Gil Miekina 

Past Commodore 

 2009

Gil Miekina

Commodore

Dave Sweet

Vice Coommodore

Paul & Stephanie Triska

Rear Commodores

Pete Phillip

Fleet Captain

Bob Toone

Treasurer

Glenn Cliborne

Secretary

Bob Gearhart

Member-at-Large

George DeMestro

Past Commodore

2008

George DeMestro

Commodore

Gil Miekina

Vice Commodore

Bill & Bonnie Hughes

Rear Commodores 

Pete Phillip

Fleet Captain

Warren Ibaugh

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

Bob Boe

Member-at-Large

John Breckenridge

Past Commodore

2007

John Breckenridge

Commodore

Bob Boe

Vice Commodore

Bill and Sandra Cox

Rear Commodores

Pete Phillip

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Michael Martin

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Warren Ibaugh

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

Gil Miekina

Member-at-Large

Ellen Ramsey

Past Commodore

2006

Ellen White

Commodore

John Breckenridge

Vice Commodore

George and Holly DeMestro

Rear Commodores

Sandra and Bill Cox

Rear Commodores

Glenn Cliborne

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Marty Minot

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Warren Ibaugh

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

Bob Boe

Member-at-Large

Karen Litz

Past Commodore

2005

Karen Litz

Commodore

Ellen Ramsey

Vice Commodore

Bob Grogan

Rear Commodore

Jeff Moorefield

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Marty Minot

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Warren Ibaugh

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

Bob Boe

Member-at-Large

2004

Edgar Cliborne

Commodore

Karen Litz

Vice Commodore

George & Holly DeMestro

Rear Commodore

John Breckenridge

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Jeff Moorefield

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Warren Ibaugh

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

Larry Richmond

Member-at-Large

2003

Don Davis

Commodore

Edgar Cliborne

Vice Commodore

George & Holly DeMestro

Rear Commodore

Mark Davis

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Karen Litz

Sunfish Fleet Captain

John Breckenridge

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

Ben Gardner

Editor

Marty Minot 

Member-at-Large 

2002

Seth Oginz

Commodore

Don Davis

Vice Commodore

Bill Hughes

Rear Commodore

Jim Forrester

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Kirk McGuire

Sunfish Fleet Captain

John Breckenridge

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

Vickey Cliborne

Editor

2001

Robert Bowles

Commodore

Seth Oginz

Vice Commodore

Ben Gardner

Rear Commodore

Glenn Cliborne

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Tom Hardy

Sunfish Fleet Captain

John Breckenridge

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

Steve Mehder

Editor

2000

Ben Gardner

Commodore

Robert Bowles

Vice Commodore

Patrick Sizemore

Rear Commodore

Warren Ibaugh

Keelboat Fleet Captain

John Breckenridge

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Steve Mehder

Treasurer

Loretta Manning

Secretary

A 13' 4" Boston Whaler was purchased by BYRA to use as a chase boat.


 


1999

Kurt Lindquist

Commodore

Ben Gardner

Vice Commodore

Pat Cliborne

Rear Commodore

Don Davis

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Robin Giles

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Steve Mehder

Treasurer

Steve Mehder

Secretary

Loretta Manning

Hornpipe Editor

The Sunfish Hauler was acquired by the Sunfish Fleet in 1999.

1998

Tom Hardy

Commodore

Kurt Lindquist

Vice Commodore

Butch Meredith & LuAnne Nolley

Rear Commodore

Alvin Bennet

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Charles Manning

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Christine Giles

Treasurer

Christine Giles

Secretary

Loretta Manning

Hornpipe Editor

1997

Butch Meredith

Commodore

Tom Hardy

Vice Commodore

Robert & Meg Cliborne

Rear Commodore

Kurt Lindquist

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Bill Cox

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Christine Giles

Treasurer

Christine Giles

Secretary

Cheryl Lindquist

Hornpipe Editor


 

1996

Charlie Manning

Commodore

Jim Brunson

Vice Commodore

Butch Meredith & LuAnne Nolley

Rear Commodores

Al & Darleen Groden

Rear Commodores

Ed Neal & Edgar Cliborne

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Jim Brunson

Sunfish Fleet Captain

Christine Giles

Treasurer

Christine Giles

Secretary

Cheryl Lindquist

Hornpipe Editor

Sunfish Fleet 686 was created.

1995

Glenn Cliborne

Commodore

Doug Williams

Vice Commodore

Butch Meredith & LuAnne Nolley

Rear Commodores

Kurt Lindquist

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Christine Giles

Treasurer

Christine Giles

Secretary

Ben Gardner

Hornpipe Editor

1994

Freddie Compton

Commodore

Alvin Bennett

Vice Commodore

Marty Gardner

Rear Commodore

Robert Cliborne

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Christine Giles

Treasurer

Christine Giles

Secretary

Ben Gardner

Hornpipe Editor

Acquisition of a pontoon boat to be used as a Committee Boat was approved in January 1994.

1993

Bill Cox

Commodore

Freddie Compton

Vice Commodore

Marty Gardenr

Rear Commodore

Wally & Judy Schwab

Keelboat Fleet Captain

H.C. Pace

Center Board Fleet Captain

Christine Giles

Treasurer

Christine Giles

Secretary

Ben Gardner

Hornpipe Editor

1992

Marvin Huffman

Commodore

Jerry Wrightenberry

Vice Commodore

Sharon Pace

Rear Commodore

Glenn Cliborne

Keelboat Fleet Captain

H. C. Pace

Center Board Fleet Captain

Christine Giles

Treasurer

Christine Giles

Secretary

1991

Alvin Bennett

Commodore

Freddie Compton

Vice Commodore

Pat Cliborne

Rear Commodore

Criss Huffman

Keelboat Fleet Captain

H.C. Pace

Hobie Fleet Captain

Joan Bradford

Treasurer

Joan Bradford

Secretary

1990

Robin Giles

Commodore

Bill Cox

Vice Commodore

Katherine Chilton

Rear Commodore

Alvin Bennett

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Ed Neal

Hobie Fleet Captain

Joan Bradford

Treasurer

Joan Bradford

Secretary

1989

Jo Chamberlain

Commodore

Charlie Manning

Vice Commodore

Christine Giles

Rear Commodore

Alvin Bennett

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Richard Kettlety

Hobie Fleet Captain

Robin Giles

Treasurer

Robin Giles

Secretary

H.C. Pace, Member at Large

Hobie Fleet

At the annual meeting in 1989, BYRA and Hobie Fleet 290 merged into one club (BYRA).  Richard Kettlety was representing the Hobie Fleet.  The Sparger award came with the Hobie Fleet.


 

1988

Howard Chilton

Commodore

Jo Chamberlain

Vice Commodore

Helen Hunt

Rear Commodore

Judy Schwab

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Robin Giles

Treasurer

Robin Giles

Secretary

1987

Steve Bradford

Commodore

Bob Limroth

Vice Commodore

Helen Hunter

Rear Commodore

Alvin Bennett

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Jack Chamberlain

Treasurer

Jack Chamberlain

Secretary

1986

Jim Bowen

Commodore

Barry Moss

Vice Commodore

Ann Poe

Rear Commodore

Eddie Hornick

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Jack Chamberlain

Treasurer

Jack Chamberlain

Secretary

Jack Chamberlain

Hornpipe Editor

1985

George Konizer

Commodore

Barry Moss

Vice Commodore

Joyce Firing

Rear Commodore

Mark Bittle

Keelboat Fleet Captain

Jack Chamberlain

Treasurer

Jack Chamberlain

Secretary

Jack Chamberlain

Hornpipe Editor