NYCkayaker 5 Boro: Now we need four motor boats

[TomBrooklyn]

> > From: Erik Baard <erik at baard.com>

> I did question the officer who communicated this order about 
> the thought process underlying it. His answers were unsatisfactory.

I don't think the Coast Guard has the authority to require you to provide any motorboats.  I think
they are just making a recommendation based on their assessment of the situation. 

Of course, if they find the group creates some kind of hazard to navigation or something like that
they could step in.    

> I also noted that the potential pool of volunteer motorboaters was 
> smaller than usual due to a concurrent Manhattan Island Foundation 
> swim event. 

Unless I'm mistaken, those vessels recieve a rather generous stipend for coming out.  (At least it
was generous a couple of years ago before the gas went to $3/gal.  I don't know if they upped the
stipend since.)