NSA Officers and Directors
 Jeff Kenyon
Commodore 2025
commodore@neusesailingassociation.org
Jeff joined the NSA in 2005, and is a past Board Member, VC of Cruising and Commodore
Jeff grew up as an Army brat, living mostly on the East Coast and learned to sail at a young age lake sailing a Sunfish, much as his wife Pat did.
After they were married, Pat and Jeff traded in the family Sunfish for an 18’ Hobie Cat. What a wild and wet boat that was sailing on lakes and the ocean! By the mid 1990’s they got their first cruising boat, a Tartan 3500. During the cold New England winters, they charted many times in the BVI, Grenadines, St. Maarten, and Mexico. As well as visiting live-aboard cruising friends in the San Blas, Mexico and London. Thinking about future long-term cruising, they traded in the 35 foot Tartan for a 41 foot Tartan and have been cruising on Calitri ever since.
Jeff is interested in keeping the long traditions of NSA alive and well, while looking at new ways to provide the most value and fun for members both old and new.
David & Christa Kreutz
Vice Commodores - Cruising
vccruising@neusesailingassociation.org
David and Christa are the Vice Commodores of Cruising and have been NSA members since 2021.
We moved to Oriental, NC, in 2015 from St. Louis to be near sailing. After we built our home, we decided we needed a sailboat. Neighbors heard we were looking for one, and lo and behold, one day, a 1978 Saber 28, Katrina, appeared and became ours. She hadn't sailed in years and needed some TLC, but it had great bones. David worked on getting her in ship shape, replacing the chainplates and the standing rigging. Then, during COVID, we joined the NSA to learn all things cruising. Still having a high schooler at home, we couldn't do many cruises initially. But now, we have slowly worked on overcoming our introvertedness, made a lot of sailing mistakes, and finally decided that to do more cruising, we needed a bigger boat. Fortunately, the NSA club is one of the kindest groups of people we've ever met. And they love to share advice, all of which we welcome.
In 2023, we purchased a 1989 Mirage 39, Cymbeline. Many people ask us what the name means. It is of ancient Greek and Gaelic origin and translates roughly as "Sun Hound." We occasionally sail with our two hounds, Whistler and Burrito.
We race her regularly on Wednesday nights. Care to crew for a race or two? Just ask. It's a great way to keep up your sailing chops for the NSA cruises. You can learn a lot during races, and they're a lot of fun.
We are looking forward to a good cruising season. We have some exciting cruises planned and hope you all will join us for as many as possible. If you are interested in helping out by being a cruise captain or co-captain, please reach out.
 Pat Sordil
Vice Commodore - Finance
vcfinance@neusesailingassociation.org Pat and Jeff joined the NSA in 2005. Pat is a past Secretary and VC of Cruising.
Having grown up in NJ and sailing on a Sunfish from the age of 8, she has had many years of sailing experience. She then went to camp and sailed on Beetle Boats on Saranac Lake, NY for a few summers as a teen. After they were married, Pat and Jeff traded in the family Sunfish for a Hobie Cat and then graduated to their first Tartan, a 35 foot yacht. In 2005, they traded in the 35 foot Tartan for a 41 food Tartan and have been cruising on that ever since.
Additionally, Pat and Jeff have done many bare boat cruises in the Caribbean and joined friends on their Amel in London, the Sea of Cortez, and the San Blas Islands.
Pat is a small business owner and has provided training and development to many organizations since 1984. As VC Finance, her experience in the business world will come in handy as she has been responsible for the finance role in her own business for over 40 years.
 Erik & Jean Hardtle
Vice Commodores - Communications
vccommunications@neusesailingassociation.org
We have a retirement plan... we plan to SAIL! We are working the plan... sell the house... (done) buy a big sailboat... (done... 1974 Gulfstar 44) remodel it to what we want... (done) live aboard for a while... (pending) then cut the lines and the jobs and make our lives an adventure! We also have a YouTube channel about it: Sailing Knotshore
Then we joined the NSA and bought a dock (and house) in Oriental!
Todd & Tammy Richards
Vice Commodore - Special Events
vcspecialevents@neusesailingassociation.org
Nine years ago, Todd and Tammy started watching sailing videos on YouTube and decided “We can do that!”. A little research brought them to Oriental, where they received the best sailing advice they were given….”just join the NSA”. After a very warm welcome and some patient tutorage, they learned to sail on their Fountaine Pajot catamaran. The many good friends and memorable trips they’ve made since, have been amazing. Always there for the party, “Socials” is probably what “Island Girl “ is best known for. Anytime you see people aboard, don’t hesitate to join in for a drink or a song! They plan to use this opportunity to bring old friends closer and new friends in.
Sharon Bellrose-McDonald
Vice Commodore - Membership
vcmembership@neusesailingassociation.org After catching the “sailing bug” during a few sailing opportunities with experienced sailors, Sharon and her husband Rob purchased their first sailboat, a Pearson 30’, in 2015. With the help of a how-to textbook and YouTube, they learned how to sail the waters of Lake Champlain in Grand Isle, VT.
After moving their youngest daughter to UNCW in Wilmington in 2018, they happened upon Oriental, instantly falling in love with the community. To escape the cold, they moved from Vermont to Oriental in October 2020. Before the move, they decided to sell the sailboat and purchase a Monk 36’ Trawler, which they motored from Florida to NC.
They became members of the NSA in early 2021 and have made many new friends and connections, through group events and trips.
I am so happy we found the NSA and all its adventurous, warm, and supremely fun members. The NSA has allowed us to make great friends and explore our new home and the surrounding waters, with a fleet of others who are remarkably knowledgeable, supportive, and welcoming. I look forward to being Vice Commodore of membership and encouraging new members to join the NSA family.
Lisa grew up around inland lakes in Wisconsin. She learned to sail on Sunfish at camp and quickly fell in love with the sport. The best job she ever had was teaching sailing to kids at her camp. Before she moved to NC, Lisa lived in Cleveland and joined a sailing club similar to NSA where she was introduced to”big boats” and week-end cruising on Lake Erie. She and her husband Ray finally took the plunge and bought their Beneteau 373 “Freedom” in 2020. They really appreciate all the support and friendship in NSA; Lisa is happy to contribute as Secretary in 2024.
 Kathy Kenny
Vice Commodore - Social Media
vcsocialmedia@neusesailingassociation.org
Kathy lives in Wilmington with her husband, Buster. Originally from NC, Kathy and Buster started as lake sailors while living in Roanoke, VA, beginning with Smith Mountain Lake, VA, in 1991, then Lake Ray Roberts in TX & finally Percy Priest in TN. They moved back to NC in 2003 where they discovered and joined the NSA in 2005. Kathy was NSA’s “Secretary/ Treasurer” in 2009, 2010 and 2011. She created our current Facebook group in 2009. She has served as Vice Commodore of Social Media since 2009, as well as ordering our NSA merchandise the last several years. Kathy looks forward to serving the club again in 2024! Buster served as Commodore in 2008 and has held various positions throughout the years. They are now both retired and own a 36’ Catalina, “Cool Change”, which is docked at Whittaker Creek Yacht Harbor
Rob McDonald
Past Commodore 2024
Boating was always in the cards for Rob.
Born with an innate understanding of all things electrical and mechanical, and a strong desire to be in and around the water, it was inevitable. Today, if you don't find him puttering around the boat at the dock, then he’s out on the water with his wife Sharon, or thinking about being out on the water with his wife Sharon, or maybe just thinking about puttering…
He and Sharon learned to sail while living on Lake Champlain in Vermont, where they were both born and raised. After the last of the children left the house Rob and Sharon were lured south by the warm breezes and friendly faces of Oriental where they live now. They have never looked back.
Rob and Sharon now sail a Monk Trawler. Rob would grinningly call it “A more civilized way to see the world”. But please don’t hold that against him :)
Directors
2025
Pat Thomaier
Cara Keys
2026
Carl Crothers
Tony Nelson
2027
Tim Smith
Chuck Gordon
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Upcoming events
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America/New_York
22 Feb 2025 9:00 AM
Zoom Only
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America/New_York
1 Mar 2025 9:00 AM
Zoom Only
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America/New_York
8 Mar 2025 9:00 AM
Zoom Only
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America/New_York
29 Mar 2025 2:00 PM
TBD
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