NYCkayaker 2007 Poker Run Saturday June 16th

[john mcgarvey]

I'm with sandy on this one, my swimmer and I were abandoned as well  
in the middle of the river when the cigarettte boats who were  
"supposed to stay on the Jersey side" came barreling up.  Finding out  
later that the organizers knew about this and didn't tell us was par  
for the course.

Doing swim escorts used to be one of my favorite things and I rarely  
missed one.  I loved getting to hang out with the other bad ass  
kayakers in the area, often it was the only time we could all paddle  
together, albeit like crazy people, doing rescues, etc.  Eventually  
our ranks kept dwindling, at one point it was only Bonnie and I for  
several hundred swimmers in a rainstorm.  But, eventually like the  
bulk of everyone else, I became part of the kayak boycott, it is just  
not safe nor are we respected.  Oh well.


John McGarvey
917-572-0206
http://meatspacegallery.com/
http://licboathouse.org/
http://metropolisinmotion.org/






On Jun 14, 2007, at 12:47 PM, sandy sobanski wrote:

> Well    I won't be there...maybe ...
> because of powerboats all over the river with small boats and  
> swimmers.
> And  maybe.... because my swimmer and I almost got totally mowed  
> down like coleslaw by those poker run guys-(my swimmer kind of  
> bonded with me for a year after her breakdown because I took her  
> behind a stray fishing boat to stop us from getting killed by  
> them)...or  maybe because I got sick on carbon monoxide from the  
> swimmer's powerboats fumes ...and then there's the time Morty asked  
> us-(just 3 kayakers)-to do the whole huge kayak support in a deadly  
> storm... and I hope you guys have worked out a way back...that was  
> always a top priority.  I'm sure that is atleast corrected.      
> Smirk?  I'm just glad I'm not involved.
>
>
> Richard Clifford <RichardClifford at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Sandy,
>     So, that is it. I post my "sorting" suggestion and all that I  
> get back is another personal swipe at the event organizers as not  
> caring about kayaker safety? The insinuation that they simply do  
> not care is mistaken. There is extensive planning for the swim  
> event including close work with NYC officials and the US Coast  
> Guard. They do not take "safety" of any participants, including  
> kayakers, to be of incidental importance.
>
>     Specifically, I believe the answer to Sandy's (smirking)  
> question is "yes."  And even more specifically I will be out there  
> on Saturday kayaking for a young woman who has trained extensively  
> and come from Washington state to do the swim for a third time.  
> Last night the swim organizers had a meeting for kayakers and boat  
> captains. I did see Lee Goldsmith and Bill Leonhardt among others,  
> but I don't think I saw folks at the meeting who are grousing about  
> this.
>
>     There is a distinct line between complaining about things like  
> this (poor scheduling) and doing something to improve and change  
> the event. - Richard Clifford
>
>
>
> sandy sobanski wrote:
>> So....You're kidding about the swims caring about the safety or  
>> well being of kayakers ..right?
>
>
> Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see  
> what's on, when.
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