GS Team Aspect - Needs Overhaul Regarding Partnering Requirements

I stuck around my teammates of  kiel,   dustin, and Ben most of the tourney.  when one moved, we all moved.  I decided to peel away from them the last hour to hunt for Salmon but not without letting them know first.  When the fog moved in I made the decision to abort the salmon hunt and head for shore. kiel was kind enough to check on me through the radio when the blanket moved in.  I think the buddy system is great and keeping each others close by gives a little security and peace of mind when things happen.

On further reflection however you want to organize it (group wise) is OK. I would say only two thinks have to be mandatory for EVERY person. A VHF and a compass. A GPS is not a substitute for a compass as the batteries can go dead. When that fog was rolling in on Saturday, I was repeatedly checking my bearings.
No compass, no VHF
No Launchy, no fishy 

On further reflection however you want to organize it (group wise) is OK. I would say only two thinks have to be mandatory for EVERY person. A VHF and a compass. A GPS is not a substitute for a compass as the batteries can go dead. When that fog was rolling in on Saturday, I was repeatedly checking my bearings.
No compass, no VHF
No Launchy, no fishy 

I agree.

7.WE MUST ALL INDIVIDUALLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN SAFETY AND ACTIONS
   ON AND OFF THE WATER OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.

That says it all, right there.  On my first day in the ocean I learned just that, the hard way, (some of you may remember my story).  And it was awesome! 

IMO if you babysit people you are essentially killing what's great about kayaking.

Every one of us is the captain of his own ship and needs to act and prepare accordingly.

Disclaimer:  Never been to GS, and probably never will.  No offense... I just don't care for large crowds... 

7.WE MUST ALL INDIVIDUALLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN SAFETY AND ACTIONS
   ON AND OFF THE WATER OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.

That says it all, right there.  On my first day in the ocean I learned just that, the hard way, (some of you may remember my story).  And it was awesome! 

IMO if you babysit people you are essentially killing what's great about kayaking.

Every one of us is the captain of his own ship and needs to act and prepare accordingly.

Disclaimer:  Never been to GS, and probably never will.  No offense... I just don't care for large crowds...

I agree. 

and a compass.

About 75% of the people I have met do not know how to properly use a compass (outdoor people and military), on land little own the ocean. If a fog rolls in what good would a compass do if someone does not know how to dead-reckon their position in order to find their way back? Or shoot azimuths off of land marks to get a bearing back to the launch site? You would need a good map as well.

Granted most fish relatively close and a heading is better then nothing. But a bad fog and drift will through your heading way off if you don't know how to use your compass.

You should get some professional legal advise on how to limit your liability. 

My guess is you have one of two choices.

1) go whole hog on safety.  This would include strict gear requirements and inspections, briefings, radio checks, radio monitors, safety monitors, designated rescue crews, blah, blah, blah

2) a completely bullet-proof waiver that says you will likely die or be a quadriplegic if you enter.  No one will ever think of helping you and no one is allowed to conduct water rescues.  In event of emergency, the CG is the only approved responder, etc, etc.

It seems to me that as soon as the organization takes any responsibility for setting any local or event safety standard, than the organization becomes responsible for any stupid acts perpetrated by any participant.

If you want to reduce your liability, you need to get appropriate legal advise.  You might also want to consider insurance, but that would most certainly limit you to option #1

http://www.sportsinsurance.com/

Entry form:

- must have VHF, dress for immersion, compass;
- must have partner stated up front;
- must commit to not drinking heavily during event weekend;
- must commit to not fishing in too close to shore;
- must have competed in three previous tournaments in the ocean; or
- must submit an application explaining qualifications.

These are just some ideas.  I'll likely get the same insurance I got this year.

I think our safety record as a club speaks for itself.  I'm more worried about someone crashing on the road coming to or from the tournament than I am about someone biffing seriously in the water.

Another consideration:  we've been lucky to not be blown off the water or prevented from fishing by big swells for the past 4 years.  I may build in a contingency for delaying the tournament a day if the forecast forces that.

I have lots of time to consider all of this.  Keep the ideas coming.

Just my two cents.  That may be all this is worth.

Participants enter at their own risk. 

Participants are solely responsible for their own safety during the entire event,  both on and off the water. 

Participants are solely responsible for providing and knowing how to properly use all safety related equipment.

As soon as you take responsibility for ensuring qualifications, sobriety, etc., you take on some responsibility.  How far do you go?  Do you require that participants be sponsored by another member in good standing?  I don't know if that's a good idea or not.

Good point, Gabe. This is getting confusing!

How about this: 

You're disqualified if

- you dump your yak due to being in too close
- you get drunk and cause trouble
- you place your entire stringer of fish on the scoring table instead of just the ones you're scoring!   

Don't feel bad if any of you did that - lots did, and I'll make it clearer next year

Good point, Gabe. This is getting confusing!

How about this: 

You're disqualified if

- you dump your yak due to being in too close
- you get drunk and cause trouble
- you place your entire stringer of fish on the scoring table instead of just the ones you're scoring!   

Don't feel bad if any of you did that - lots did, and I'll make it clearer next tears

Of course I did that.  I was so tired that I don't think I had the ability to think any more.   

I agree keep it simple.

Everyone must abide by California DFG rules.

Everyone must abide by California DWB rules/guidelines (Department of Boating and Waterways).

VHF's are mandatory for tournament updates OTW (it just so happens they are also a safety device).

And whatever you deem DQ worthy.

- you place your entire stringer of fish on the scoring table instead of just the ones you're scoring!   

Luckily mine was a small stringer 

Every GS it seems that I'm always the first one back to shore due to being seasick. Again when I started turning green, I made sure that everybody knew that I was heading in. I could not have done that on my own if I did not have a radio on me. IMHO, if you don't have all the CG requirements to be on the water, you should not be allowed to participate in the tourney. FYI, Sonny is spoken for for next year if this will end up as a pairing tourney.

Jedmo

Eric,

I think you're actually starting to deal with the real issue, and not just the symptoms when you begin to think along these lines:

- must have competed in three previous tournaments in the ocean; or
- must submit an application explaining qualifications.

Though I'd make it tournaments that took place north of the SF bay, and if the contestant were to go the C.V. route, then they'd need to commit to an equipment check and skills demonstration on the Friday prior to the tourney.

It might possibly open up a big old can of liability, but maybe there could be a certification program that's part of NCKA? Perhaps if the certification took the form of a class put on by one of the local kayaking instruction facilities? Skills and knowledge would be tested...


Regards,
Scott

Good suggestions, Scott, thx.

How about this:  I'll go through the rosters of GS3-GS6, identify the couple dozen people who have been to all of the events, and offer those club members a spot on the committee. It'll be up to the committee to determine whether someones application is accepted, and having a sponsor ON the committee would be an automatic berth. Applications by unsponsored NCKA Community members would include all the aforementioned safety issues plus a demonstration of an understanding of the values of our community including safety, individual responsibility, and "no one is left behind."

Those who have been to some but not all of the last 4 GS's would of course easily get in based on demonstrated past behavior and readiness.