GS Team Aspect - Needs Overhaul Regarding Partnering Requirements

I'm feeling bad about how the team aspect of Gimme Shelter went.  I'm guilty of adding too many people onto my team instead of making them find other teams when they came to me needing one.  When it came to tournament day, if the teammates weren't there within 30 minutes of the agreed launch time (5:30AM) then we bailed, and I didn't feel bad about that.  Slackers need to get it together.

What I do want to improve on is the structure of teams and the commitment of all involved to stay in teams of at least two at ALL TIMES.  Some teams have no doubt hung close and followed an ideal of always being within voice and visual distance, but I'd say most of us have strayed from that level of discipline - me definitely included.

Anthony / zingthing was on Local Connection!  When I gave him his gear I told him we're launching at 5:30, and he agreed to be there.  When he didn't show by 6 we hit the water without him.  Same thing happened last year when another of my teammates didn't show at the agreed time. 

First, I will be considering not fishing next year, although I'm not thrilled about that, and I will be thinking of how I can manage to fish and also take care of monitoring who's launching, team structure, readiness...etc.

Second, I will not add stragglers to my team next year like I did this year.  My team will likely be Domenic and I, and we're both considering not fishing so we can administer the tourney and be ready for the scoring.

Third, I'm not proud of abandoning teammates who didn't show up on time, but I also feel that they shouldn't even get to go out if they can't show up as agreed.

So, I feel better now, kinda.   

Bring the criticism - I've already worked it out with myself.  The rules are clear - you must fish in teams of at least two with at least one waterproof VHF.  If someone launched without a teammate they broke the rules.  Let's take a hard look but not get too crazy with this.  Did Jim / Salty launch alone with that salmon gear?...  What I'm doing here is illustrating that we all have some issues to work out.  I am in NO WAY suggesting that Jim's victory isn't valid - it's rock solid.  What I'm doing is trying to show how we all play within a set of parameters based on our own knowledge of safety and our abilities.  I intend to alleviate the liability on myself, the tournament and the entire group by pusing safety and teams, but I'm the first to admit I love solo water time and work very hard to assure that what I'm doing is smart and acceptable to me.

In the future I will need to hold people to a greater level of accountability on many levels.  Actually, we ALL will have to do that, because, even though I call it my tournament, it belongs to all of us.

I hope the discussion on this one can lead to creating an agreed upon structure for team fishing at Gimme Shelter and a greater understanding of what we're doing out there in general.

Thanks in advance to all who contribute to these discussions.  Please don't slam anyone who wants to bring criticism - I need to hear it, and it will benefit the entire group.

I'd honestly rather see it go the other way Eric - so long as an individual has a functioning radio/Fox 40/etc. then s/he should be free to roam.  Kayak fishing on the ocean has its inherent dangers, but it isn't glacier navigation where you are quite literally tied to your teammate and have your fates intertwined. 

I'd also hate to see you not fish this event.  So much so that I'd sit out and do the work so you can fish.  This is your baby, you need to enjoy it.

First, I will be considering not fishing next year, although I'm not thrilled about that, and I will be thinking of how I can manage to fish and also take care of monitoring who's launching, team structure, readiness...etc.

Consider engaging the local college/university, especially if they have a tourism program.  I've done a tournament in which I got volunteer assistance from a student and in return that student got internship credit.  She did a better job keeping things organized and moving than I have ever done.  Win win situation!!!

-Allen

I'd honestly rather see it go the other way Eric - so long as an individual has a functioning radio/Fox 40/etc. then s/he should be free to roam.  Kayak fishing on the ocean has its inherent dangers, but it isn't glacier navigation where you are quite literally tied to your teammate and have your fates intertwined. 

I'd also hate to see you not fish this event.  So much so that I'd sit out and do the work so you can fish.  This is your baby, you need to enjoy it.

You're a good man and a good friend, Doug.  Thanks.     We'll figure it out, and I can't see myself not fishing either.

Consider engaging the local college/university, especially if they have a tourism program.  I've done a tournament in which I got volunteer assistance from a student and in return that student got internship credit.  She did a better job keeping things organized and moving than I have ever done.  Win win situation!!!

Great idea, Allen.   

I'm leaving the office now to hit a couple of inspections in Crescent City.  Nice day for a drive.  I don't even have a kayak with me!   

Bring your honest opinion, folks, and don't worry about hurting my feelings.  I see where I dropped the ball, and I'm looking forward to getting things better organized and even safer.  I can handle being wrong as long as we're all ready to move forward toward being right as a group.   

I think the simplest thing you can do is require EVERYBODY to carry working radios to participate in the tournament. Not sure if Anthony had a radio or not, but I never heard from him that he was in the water or that he had made it out OK.

When I hit the water in SPB I immediately radio'd that I went in and that I was OK. As soon as I was back in my boat I also radio'd that I was in my boat, but that it was taking on water. Polepole was quick to respond with a bilge pump and I started pumping away and all was good. (I also went and bought a bilge pump the very next day).

eric just think of things that you would like to see taken off your plate or things that you need help with addressing. maybe instead of a huge safety seminar on the beach have some volunteers for a safety drill right in the cove.

bottom line___ the event is getting bigger and the last thing we want is for the fun to be taken out for you , NCKA will step up and help take some of the many responcibuiltys for you and help you during the duration of the event. i think were moving in the right direction for example: BigJim was the camp guy , he  helped resolve all camp issues and trust me , jack was really happy about having a goto guy. ill help with this task next year. maybe each team has a safety captain , the safety captains participate in an actual on the water drill right in the cove and discuss what they learn from the other captains , we capture it on go pro as well for future events.

just keep the communication open eric and we can be a model for all events going forward.

I could have done a better job hanging closer to my teammates, but I see two issues which make it difficult to stay together.
1) Hobies and Hobies with sails. I'm thinking of getting one myself, but a paddler can't keep up, nor can they maintain position as well in heavier current/wind drift situation. Seperation occurs.
2) Salmon fishing / Trolling.  If some of a group decides to target Salmon they are going to be seperated from the rockfish / Halibut guys

That is a great idea Allen, even some of the fire academy guys working on their Incident Command System training could be a huge help.  Eric, no need to second guess anything you've done, managing to coordinate an event of this magnitude is a huge undertaking, and you've done an incredible job and have covered all bases.  Anytime 150 people get together, things are going to come up.  Anytime you have 10 people on a team, things are going to come up.  I like RH's idea that everyone has a working radio, and I also feel everyone should have a wingman, someone they stay within earshot of the entire time on the water. 

I too love getting out solo and just doing my own thing, but in a tourney environment there are just too many moving pieces to be flying blind (even w/ a radio).  Just my two cents.
-beenfishin

Maybe I'm not getting the team scenario right; but I thought that the "main" purpose of the team thing was to promote the buddy fishing system, and the scoring thing was just for fun...

I was fortunate last year to be picked up on the LS Team on my first ocean kayak event, and my first time on the ocean in a kayak. I didn't pay too much attention to the team scores.... I was more glad I made it back to land safely....

If stragglers choose to run late and/or solo, shame on them; but I don't think that you should be responsible for mandating they launch and stay with there teams....

I agree that there should be atleast a minimum safety gear requirement, similiar to what the Coast Guards requires; and yes... a safety seminary too...

Eric,

If you need more help next year I would be glad to help out (not fish) the day of the tourney.

IMHO the team thing just involves too many people..some are early launchers some sleep in and some never hit the water and just sleep the day away in a white van

I'd argue that
1. ALL should have WORKING VHF's AND KEEP THEM ON!
2. You need one buddy. Its much simpler to say on the radio. "Hey buddy. I am 1/4 mile away you doing OK?" (assuming you are not in direct eye sight)

Its really hard to physically stay in contact with someone (let alone a team on 6+) while on the water. With the pairs you can, checkin with you buddy. if one of the pair as to go in that remaining person can hook up with someone else (in all likely hood it will be someone they have been fishing with most of the day).

It may even make sense to ask people to pair at the launch. Assuming both people have roughly the same plan. Which can be sorted with a quick pre launch conversation.

As a data point I had no clue where my team was other than...the red can or abalone point. But I ended up fishing most of the day near BigJim and O2B. So it may have made sense for us to buddy up.

Yeah...I agree with EWB, I think pairs work best.

I was with cnew83 all day, he didn't have a radio and I did so we both kept an eye on each other and made sure we were together....TBH he's much better at keeping an eye on me cuz I usually am ahead of him when I'm in the T15 and he is in the Mini-X 

EWB was with us most of the time as well, which was killer. 

Later on in the day I noticed my radio running low on batteries (STUPID mistake on my part  ) so I turned it off to save enough of a charge in case Chris or I needed to call in an emergency.

I would say pairs, and EVERYONE has working VHF and PFD. At a minimum...

The VHF is worth its weight in gold...the new one I got for my birthday died 2 days before leaving for Shelter, and even though I couldn't afford it, I went out that night and bought a new one from West Marine because I did NOT want me and Chris to be out there together without a VHF.

When we were diving on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I would keep in radio contact with zilla (he was either up at camp or out trolling) and I would let him know where we were, when we were diving, when we were back on the yaks etc.

Worth every single penny IMO.

Eric, like folks have said...if yiou need help, let us know. I'm willing to do whatever I can to take stuff off your plate.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

yeah I was aware Jim was playing host to Chris AND his radio was low on batts so I kinda stayed in the hood. Oh and Jim based on the dive the day before knew where the fish were NOT
 

It might be a major PITA but have you thought about doing a full on tech inspection. Bring your kayak, gear and what ever suit your wearing turnny day. Quick visual inspection of the yak, measuring device, safety check list, radio, is suite approiate, ect. Then wrist band & sticker on the hull. Do this the day before the event, then a quick check at the launch before the green flag. I also liked how we did it down south where you can't launch before a set time, line up and launch all together makes for a good photo op and fun sprint to your spot. I know this sounds like a major pain in the a** but insurance for your event might be eaiser to get with all the requirements and safety checks

I never even met half the people in my team at GS6. Couldn't locate them during the safety briefing, never saw them on the water. Everybody wants to launch at a different time, target different species at different times, etc.
I think smaller groups or pairs are easier to manage.