2011-2012 Flag Officers
Commodore Troy Curran: A member of the club since 1992 and is a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain. Troy, Cori and their daughters Amber and Brandy, enjoy sailing their 62’ Ketch Typhoon in the San Juan and Gulf Islands.
Troy has been a successful member of the Bellingham business community for more than 15 years as owner of the local apple store TD Curran, Inc. and looks forward to serving the BYC and its members.
Vice Commodore Jody Erickson: A Bellingham resident since 1995, she worked in aviation at the Bellingham International Airport for 10 years. During this time, she raised two boys that are now 24 and 22 years old respectively. She also took care of her wonderful mother for eleven years before her passing at 91 years young. During this tenure, Jody’s mother encouraged her to join the Bellingham Yacht Club and to go back to school at Western Washington University to complete her Masters Degree.
Jody has also been active in the US power Squadron where she has taken many boating classes. While she currently does not own a boat; she hopes to enjoy one soon.
Rear Commodore Michele Bodkte: An avid boater and supporter of racing programs, Michele has acted as our US Sailing certified P.R.O. for the past several years, organizing and running race committee for our major regattas. She and husband Bart Bodtke own S/V Spartan, additionally Michele is co-owner with Michele and Neil Bennett of an Etchells that they have been racing on Wednesday nights.
Fleet Captain Jonathan Knowles: “I’ve been involved with boating for as long as I can remember. I come from a long ancestry of sailors: My Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Captain Winslow Knowles, commanded several ships in the Valparaiso and South American trade in the early 1800’s; my Great‐Great Grandfather, Josiah N. Knowles was a Clipper Ship Captain from Brewster, MA and master of the ships “Wild Wave,” “Kentuckian,” “Charger ” and “Glory of the Seas” from the 1850′s‐1890′s; Great‐Grandfather Henry Josiah Knowles ran whaling and maritime businesses in San Francisco; Grandfather Josiah N. Knowles was a naval commander in the South Pacific during WWII; and my father, Josiah N. Knowles Jr. was avid sailor/racer and Port Captain at the San Francisco Yacht Club. For the past 10 years, I’ve cruised the local waters with my family on our 34’ sailboat, have raced my Etchells weekly, and have crewed on other boats at major regional races and regattas.
Immediate Past Commodore Michele Bennett: A Bellingham resident since 1987, Michele was introduced to Wednesday night racing as a WWU student, and has been involved as either crew, volunteer or skipper ever since. She enjoys cruising with her husband Neil on their Freedom 32, Garufa, and racing on their Etchells on Wednesday evenings.
2011-2011 Trustees
First Year Trustees: Arne Ahlen, Mark Santusuosso, Kathy Brown, Joe Young
Second Year Trustees: Joe Bartlett, Sally Poorman, Don Jorgenson, Michael Poulos
