Mark’s dream of sailing became a reality when six years ago he sold his large canvas company, relocated his home to Grand Rivers and started a small, family-owned canvas and boat graphics company which he runs with his wife, Susan and their son, Caleb.  Mark quickly discovered that when you live this close to the lake, you really need to own a boat and purchased his sailboat, a 30’ S2 9.2.  Mark sails his red-hulled sailboat, Varangian, with Susan.  When not working in his shop, you can usually locate Mark and Susan on their boat and, if not there, hanging out at the CYC (the two stools located at the left-sided end of the bar).

In 1999, Mark’s company designed the sea anchors used by Tori Murden, to help in her successful quest to become the first woman and the first American to row unsupported across the Atlantic in the SECTOR NO LIMITS sponsored American Pearl.  Mark has also made canvas for the famous African Queen and the River Rat.

Mark is a member of the Kentucky Lakes Sailing Club (KLSC) and also crews on a 35.5 Hunter during the KLSC racing season.  Mark is also Vice President of the Grand Rivers Chamber of Commerce and has been an essential member of the Grand River’s Hunter’s Moon Festival Committee for the past 3 years.
 

his wife Pat on their Sea Ray Sundancer on pier 11 or in one of the many bays on Barkley or Kentucky Lakes.

In the winter months, boating and scuba diving in the Florida Keys is their favorite destination. Although an avid power boater, Butch sails from time to time, whenever anyone will let him crew.

pontoons, houseboats and cruisers over their many years of living in the lakes area.   All of their cruisers and houseboats were appropriately named Teacher’s Pet.  They raised two children in the boating environment, Alyn, who is an attorney in Chicago, and Ashley who works and is a student in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 Since retiring from teaching, Sharon is the coordinator and director of the Courtroom Gallery in Benton, Kentucky.  She is on the board of directors of the Marshall County Arts Council, and she is active in coordinating art exhibits as well as stage productions within the county.  She is also actively involved with a gardening website and writes articles on arts, crafts, and outdoor gardening for the site.  She works as a free lance artist for an interior design shop in Paducah as time permits, and has several paintings in various stages of development at any given moment.  She is also, as time permits, involved in Market House Theatre in Paducah.

She is currently collaborating with an anthropologist in Greensboro, Alabama to write a series of articles on the evolutionary changes of untended medicinal and flowering plants in the area of the Land Between the Lakes.  They are also in the process of writing and illustrating a children’s book entitled “Ms. Cat”.

Along with her children, writing and painting, Sharon’s true love is her 3 year old grandson, Ethan.

Sharon has been the secretary of CYC since it began in 1993.

Pat and her husband Jerry have lived aboard their 50' houseboat at GTB on pier six for seven years.  They have traveled most of the US and lived in several states before coming to this area and immediately fell in love with the beautiful water and the kind people here. Pat retired from the medical field after many years.  Pat has served on the board for the CYC for several years and states that she has enjoyed it so much you can find her there enjoying her friends and making new ones often. She is known to all on pier six and many folks around GTB as "Mayor Pat". Each morning as she enjoys her coffee on the front of their boat she feels so blessed to be able to continue living this wonderful "Water Way of Life".

You will find David and his wife Janet Rittenhouse on pier 11 slip 1 aboard the DaJaRi II during much of the summer. As Professor of Computer Drafting Technology for Kaskaskia College career obligations result in much of the fall to spring spent in the classroom. Boating has been a part of our lives since 1986 with many hours of travel and skiing. As more leisure time became available, we began to visit the marinas, resorts and boat shows. Our conversation moved from ski boats to yachts. Barkley and Kentucky Lakes had long been favor boating locations. We could anchor in a cove, walk the shoreline or cruise the waterways. We found good food, good accommodations and good friends.

Our friend, Tom Pape, gave some great leads and provided a positive insight about Green Turtle Bay Resort. The day we boarded the former “Special Lady” our interest grew the most and the 1986 Carver 4207 Aft Cabin was ours. Convenience of the pier was the primary consideration, but we quickly found that the friendly nature of the people at Kentucky and Barkley Lakes as well as Green Turtle Bay Resort bring are what truly make the trips, the cost and the boating season worthy of our precious relaxation time. We have found that which we were seeking.

They started sailing on their 28' Hunder "Off Wallstreet" and skiing behind their 18' SeaRay "A No Wind Day". They currently sail aboard their 32' Beneteau "Off Wallstreet II".

While Kevin found his crew, consisting of his wife Lennie and daughters Bailee and Peyton adequate, he has recently been blessed with two new crew - twin boys Weston and Walker. Needless to say, they see the need for a larger boat in their future.

John and his wife Sue have two daughters, Stepanie and Sherri . They have only been boat owners for 5 years but have not missed any chance to enjoy their 41 Maxum "Obsession" on Pier
6 during the week but usually somewhere out on the Lake or River every weekend. They have taken 2 short vacations on the Tennessee River. One was to Chattanooga two years ago and last summer they joined other pier 6ers and went to Aqua Harbor. They look forward to every weekend and maybe someday make the
Great Loop.  

In 2002, Bev married her best friend, Harry Reed, a fellow sailor who has also sailed for a number of years.  Harry introduced  Bev, who previously loved cruising, to racing on Kentucky Lake and she was never the same.  They have since raced and cruised a number of boats.  Harry took first place in the 2006 Club Series JAM B Fleet on his Cal 27 and Bev took second place in the JAM A Fleet on her Hunter 33.  This year, they decided to size up and bought their Hunter 54, Windblown.  You can find Bev &/or Harry at any point in time, working on one of their boats.  They still have a J/22, Cal 20, Holder 20, and three Sunfish, in addition to the others.  The Holder 20 was the boat they accidentally sunk on March 1, 2006, and didn’t know if they were going to drown, freeze, or go over KY Dam.  After a good bit of hypothermia, Bev screamed and got some attention.  Not that Bev ever needs attention or anything!  10 days later, Bev & Harry recuperated, repaired the boat, and took it to Harbor Island, TN and placed 3^rd.  Yep, they love sailing!

While Bev’s passion is sailing, she also has a love of her business, commercial insurance.  She has been in the insurance industry for 22 years and has been employed by Western Rivers Insurance since 2005 as a commercial lines agent.  In addition, Bev teaches several continuing education insurance courses for Professional Insurance Agents of Kentucky.  She is a former member of Insurance Women of Marshall County and Insurance Women of Chattanooga.  She holds her Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation as well as her Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Insurance Service Representative designations.  She holds a bachelor degree from Murray State University in Organizational Communication.

Bev has also been very instrumental in several non-profit and civic organizations.  She is currently Secretary and a director of Kentucky Lake Sailing Club and has been on the board of directors for 3 years. She handles the communication tasks and newsletter in the club as well.  Bev presently serves as a co-chair on the Paducah Rotary Antique Quilt Show Promotions Committee, where she has been a member of the club since 2005.  Formerly, she was a member of the Murray Rotary Club, since 1998, where she served as Chairman of the Christmas Parade Committee, Chairman of the Soap Box Derby for 2 years, and Co-Chairman of the Membership Committee and Attendance Committees.  She is also a Paul Harris Fellow.  Bev formerly served as Secretary of St. Marks Anglican Church and served as a Vestry member. Bev is also currently serving on the 2007-08 United Way of Paducah and McCracken County Campaign Cabinet.

A proud grandmother of three, Peyton, 10, Hailey, 8, and Weylin, 3, Bev also loves to ride horses and shares a love of living in the country with Harry.
 

Rene' and I started with our own boat, a  Sea Ray Sundeck 240 in 2003.  We spent the summer weekends traveling to various lakes from Dale Hollow to Table Rock and many in between seeing the natural beauty in the Midwest.  In 2005 we upgraded to our current cruiser so we could spend more weekends at the lake.