NYCkayaker 2007 Poker Run Saturday June 16th

[Leonhardt, William J]

Dan,

I too have been a volunteer for MIMS for several years and have never
been bashfull to critize Morty, however my perspective has evolved to
the following:

1.   The MIMS has to be held when the water temperatures and tide cycles
are appropriate.  I imagine that every weekend appropriate for the race
has many other water events either being held or planned without the MIF
knowing enough in advance to change. 
2.   It most likely has to be held on a Saturday to get the many many
volunteers necessary to make it happen.
3.  If experienced kayakers pullout, the race will go on anyway and will
rely on small numbers of inexperienced paddlers.
 
I have experienced the cigarette boat races during a few of the swims.
Yes, it is unpleasant.  Yes, it impacts the overall safety of the swim,
but that impact is just another consideration like strong westerly winds
blowing swimmers into piers.

Bitchin' about things we don't like is one of the things us kayakers do
best (well, me anyway).  Still, for me, the overall goal is to use my
ability to assist a swimmer(s) to accomplish the monumental feat of
swimming around Manhattan.  I'll be there Saturday and future Saturdays
with or without cigarette boats.

Hope you and I can drink a beer or too post race,

Bill 


 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nyckayaker-bounces at rockandwater.net 
> [mailto:nyckayaker-bounces at rockandwater.net] On Behalf Of Dan Starer
> Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 11:29 AM
> To: nyckayaker at rockandwater.net
> Subject: Re: NYCkayaker 2007 Poker Run Saturday June 16th
> 
> I am one of the kayak volunteers for MIMS on Saturday, as I 
> have been for 
> several years.  Despite my concerns for safety and my huge personal 
> revulsion at having to listen to even one cigarette boat--let 
> alone a whole 
> race of them--I will participate again this year because I 
> promised to so 
> (before learning about the boat race).  But I think kayakers 
> should warn 
> Manhattan Island Foundation ( http://www.nycswim.org/ ) that 
> if in future 
> years they schedule MIMS to coincide with the boat race, they 
> will lose many 
> kayak volunteers.
> 
> Dan
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Richard Clifford" <RichardClifford at earthlink.net>
> To: <nyckayaker at rockandwater.net>
> Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:39 AM
> Subject: NYCkayaker 2007 Poker Run Saturday June 16th
> 
> 
> > NYCKayaker,
> >    I know that Lee is participating as a kayaker in the Manhattan
> > Island swim on Saturday. Is anyone else involved in this discussion
> > participating as a kayaker?
> >
> >    I ask because I believe there are two distinct threads that have
> > merged.
> >
> >    One thread concerns the Poker Run and all of the noise, pollution
> > and danger that it creates.  This issue will remain with us after
> > Saturday, particularly for anyone who, while remaining 
> seated in their
> > kayak, has had to resolve the issue of a Water Taxi bearing 
> down on them.
> >
> >    The other thread concerns Saturday, June 16 and the hazard for
> > swimmers and kayakers participating in the swim race. This 
> issue can be
> > expected to pass after the successful and safe completion 
> of Saturday's
> > swim. Also, I point out that Earl Sandvic is in charge of 
> the swim event
> > on the water. I have absolute faith in the man as a mariner. And, I
> > believe that neither he nor Morty Berger will allow anyone 
> to be placed
> > in harms way.  One solution for the swim event planners is 
> to recognize
> > that the Poker Run takes place each year on the same Saturday (Kate
> > Cahill) and to include that information in their 
> calculations for future
> > events.
> >
> >    Both threads seem to be blending. Maybe we could attempt 
> to clarify
> > some specific solutions. Richard Clifford
> >
> > 
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