2015 AOTY & DOTY!!!

Thinking of this for 2015. Any problems with it?

No rod holders. 

My .02...and it doesn't matter:

Wall art over pint glass.
Sails...meh...but gets a 'no' vote from me ( not human powered)
SUPs...yes vote.
Catch a fish, enter the fish, shut up about the fish. Let the committee do its thang.

I feel the same. Sails= not human powered... Torqedo= not human powered... sup's human powered. Canoes= human powered

As a participant, that's where I am at... this is a human powered competition, Could you imagine what kind of sail powered kayak I could build. Waterworld style... 20' super light, 2day trip capable. Trailered... Advantage? Not even slightly happy with this change and I will never probably be able to put enough time in to win AOTY. Open it to motorized too if sails are permitted...

Pat, you forgot to list the "no whiners" rule.

-Allen

Thinking of this for 2015. Any problems with it?

where's the paddle?

Being discussed in the committee.

Thank you for considering. It really isn't a deal breaker for me, a balanced lifestyle prevents me from being a true competitor anyway. If I end up participating here in 2015, I thought that I might contribute $ to the cause and maybe get a big fish in one of the categories. I plan on spending more time fishing from a board this year and was just curious if those fish could be entered. If I am the only one interested in SUP or if there will be hurt feelers, Im good with a NO vote.

Well I hope the committee gives me some brownie points for being the only one to, so far, get behind their decision to allow kayaks with sails in 2015. 
 Now I'm hoping someone like Scott or Hai will step up & crush all those who spoke in fear of sails. Principle my ass. I smell FEAR!       just kidding fellas   

I have been out on power boats so many times this year and it doesn't necessarily give you better odds.  You still have to be a go getter and learn species and practice to get better at fishing different areas.  A sail, or a motor just doesn't make it easier and you are not guaranteed to catch more fish or have an advantage over others. 

I am sure decisions have all been made and nothing I say would change a thing but please let me give you a different perspective for those that are so against anything but man power. 

I have been to HOW events and met others who have disabilities like I do or worse.  Being limited in any capacity is a hard thing to come to grips with when previously someone was healthy enough to tackle any challenge. 

This was my first year kayaking and I fell in love with it.  Because of my injuries and a screwed up surgery I just can't always take a kayak out.  And a few times I was only able to go out to the end of a cove when others can keep going.  I would love to use a motor or a sail on days my body just can't handle it but still want to go hang with the crew.  That would help me get out and not feel bad about not being able to keep up with the boys.  I have learned how to work with limitations, but if I have to stay close to shore to play in AOTY then so be it.  I know this group is all about teaching safety for kayakers and bringing all kinds together because they love to fish and kayak.  So not isolating injured Vets, disabled members or the ones that just can't get around like they used to is not the best for this group.  I am not offended and will try to have fun either way. 

So most likely I will just dive more that fish because it is easier for me.  I am going to get a pedal hobie this coming year so hopefully that changes things for me.  Even though I had never wanted a sail I am sure some would be able to get out more with one and I am all for that.  Water therapy works. 

Pat, you forgot to list the "no whiners" rule.

-Allen

FWIW from a non competitor,
 
The people who are against sails seem to be giving specific valid (IMO) reasons for their position so I wouldn't call it whining,

Also with the line that it's not an advantage who are you (the collective you) trying to convince, the sail generally gives the kayak the ability to move farther and faster than a non sail kayak, cover more water, get to fishing grounds quicker, etc,  How is that not an advantage.

In practice maybe not very often but still it's there, 

I have been out on power boats so many times this year and it doesn't necessarily give you better odds.  You still have to be a go getter and learn species and practice to get better at fishing different areas.  A sail, or a motor just doesn't make it easier and you are not guaranteed to catch more fish or have an advantage over others. 

I am sure decisions have all been made and nothing I say would change a thing but please let me give you a different perspective for those that are so against anything but man power. 

I have been to HOW events and met others who have disabilities like I do or worse.  Being limited in any capacity is a hard thing to come to grips with when previously someone was healthy enough to tackle any challenge. 

This was my first year kayaking and I fell in love with it.  Because of my injuries and a screwed up surgery I just can't always take a kayak out.  And a few times I was only able to go out to the end of a cove when others can keep going.  I would love to use a motor or a sail on days my body just can't handle it but still want to go hang with the crew.  That would help me get out and not feel bad about not being able to keep up with the boys.  I have learned how to work with limitations, but if I have to stay close to shore to play in AOTY then so be it.  I know this group is all about teaching safety for kayakers and bringing all kinds together because they love to fish and kayak.  So not isolating injured Vets, disabled members or the ones that just can't get around like they used to is not the best for this group.  I am not offended and will try to have fun either way. 

So most likely I will just dive more that fish because it is easier for me.  I am going to get a pedal hobie this coming year so hopefully that changes things for me.  Even though I had never wanted a sail I am sure some would be able to get out more with one and I am all for that.  Water therapy works.

The disability concern is a valid one, but challenging to implement in an practical way. My being deaf doesn't necessarily affect me in a physically limiting sense (as in, my challenges are not physical ones, but social).

I have two thoughts on that matter. One of them I don't think a lot in this group would be willing to accept because a lot of people have some very odd hang-ups regarding the disabled, so I'm not going to mention it here for it to get argued over. The other is maybe making an non-AOTY/DOTY competition version of the software used to run them, however remove all limitations (i.e. anything caught in powerboats within the NCKA region among the approved species list) for that version. That way, people can still enter their fish from non-AOTY approved methods and get all the benefits of being able to track their catches and show them off to others?

I feel that a lot of people would like to use this. Since it's not a competition, people can use it for whatever purpose they have in mind. Just throwing a thought out there, I didn't quite think it through so I'm sure someone would gladly poke holes in my idea! 

Also with the line that it's not an advantage who are you (the collective you) trying to convince, the sail generally gives the kayak the ability to move farther and faster than a non sail kayak, cover more water, get to fishing grounds quicker, etc,  How is that not an advantage.

In practice maybe not very often but still it's there,

True, you can cover more ground quicker, but everyone has the same amount of daylight.  I would definitely think one day tournaments would have a good argument against sails, but a competition that lasts the whole year not so much.  On a non windy day a sail could make it harder to get to a certain location. Also just because you get there doesn't mean you will get the fish.  How many Trolled for Salmon and got skunked.  You just try again on a different day or different location.

Next people will say you can't be in the tournament if you live where a tournament is being held or close to a body of water that you fish a lot.  That could be an advantage. 

I am good with whatever changes the group decides.  Can't please everyone.  If I have to use a motor in my hobie for any reason then I just won't count my fish that day.  I won't pass up on hanging out with some good guys on the water just because I can't enter a fish. 

But then again I am not a super competitor.  The AOTY/DOTY is helping me fish different locations and for different species.  It also is great to meet new guys and enjoy the outdoors with a friendly competition. 

I am done talking about it.  Hope to have a great 2015 along with the rest of you guys.

RBark, just saw your idea and think it is a good one to have a non compete page to post up all catches regardless of how you got it. 

Pat, you forgot to list the "no whiners" rule.

-Allen

FWIW from a non competitor,
 
The people who are against sails seem to be giving specific valid (IMO) reasons for their position so I wouldn't call it whining,

Also with the line that it's not an advantage who are you (the collective you) trying to convince, the sail generally gives the kayak the ability to move farther and faster than a non sail kayak, cover more water, get to fishing grounds quicker, etc,  How is that not an advantage.

In practice maybe not very often but still it's there,

When people start posting up straight up sailboats as their argument against sail powered kayaks, that's whining in my book.  That's not to say there aren't valid arguments for or against, but keep it real.  Otherwise, it IS just whining.  But yeah, keep it real.  The committee does listen to any and all constructive feedback.

-Allen

I don't know what you're talking about, Craig never whines!  I do plan to fish a little more this year, and while I have an AI, I surely won't deploy it for AOTY.  Its a significant advantage for certain situations, the speed and distance can be a significant help, and yes, they're not human powered.

As for the disability thing, I don't think any AOTY competitors would have a problem with an individual using a kayak with certain enhancements if there's a true impairment where the fisherman can't paddle or pedal. But most of the impaired paddlers even in HOW can do one or the other.

After all, I'd be pretty surprised if we found someone who could sail an AI without being able to pedal (or paddle). 

Well I hope the committee gives me some brownie points for being the only one to, so far, get behind their decision to allow kayaks with sails in 2015.

Oh yeah, we have some special brownies for you haha...

Pat, you forgot to list the "no whiners" rule.

-Allen

FWIW from a non competitor,
 
Most of the people who are against sails seem to be giving specific valid (IMO) reasons for their position so I wouldn't call it whining,

Also with the line that it's not an advantage who are you (the collective you) trying to convince, the sail generally gives the kayak the ability to move farther and faster than a non sail kayak, cover more water, get to fishing grounds quicker, etc,  How is that not an advantage.

In practice maybe not very often but still it's there,

When people start posting up straight up sailboats as their argument against sail powered kayaks, that's whining in my book.  That's not to say there aren't valid arguments for or against, but keep it real.  Otherwise, it IS just whining.  But yeah, keep it real.  The committee does listen to any and all constructive feedback.

-Allen

You have a point, 2 things then I'll bow out since I shouldn't be in this conversation anyhow,

First I honestly did leave a couple words out of my comment above so I fixed it,

Second I may be a bit dense at times, but I took the reference to actual sailboats as an honest attempt at humor and not so much as further complaining.

Anyone who steps up to run a contest like AOTY has my respect even if I don't agree with their ideas it's kind of a thankless job and the contest would die if there weren't members willing to run it.

Pat, you forgot to list the "no whiners" rule.

-Allen

FWIW from a non competitor,
 
Most of the people who are against sails seem to be giving specific valid (IMO) reasons for their position so I wouldn't call it whining,

Also with the line that it's not an advantage who are you (the collective you) trying to convince, the sail generally gives the kayak the ability to move farther and faster than a non sail kayak, cover more water, get to fishing grounds quicker, etc,  How is that not an advantage.

In practice maybe not very often but still it's there,

When people start posting up straight up sailboats as their argument against sail powered kayaks, that's whining in my book.  That's not to say there aren't valid arguments for or against, but keep it real.  Otherwise, it IS just whining.  But yeah, keep it real.  The committee does listen to any and all constructive feedback.

-Allen

You have a point, 2 things then I'll bow out since I shouldn't be in this conversation anyhow,

First I honestly did leave a couple words out of my comment above so I fixed it,

Second I may be a bit dense at times, but I took the reference to actual sailboats as an honest attempt at humor and not so much as further complaining.

Anyone who steps up to run a contest like AOTY has my respect even if I don't agree with their ideas it's kind of a thankless job and the contest would die if there weren't members willing to run it.

Yeah, it was humorous whining!   

-Allen