NYCkayaker Captains & Paddlers Day, Saturday May 17

[Bill Bergeron]

Dear NYCKayakers,

Back in September there was a thread here about interactions with the Coast
Guard and other vessels. A post suggesting that it might be good to have a
face-to-face with the CG and others which was favorably received, and now,
the Hudson River Paddlers Guild is pleased to announce the first annual
"Captains & Paddlers Day", on Saturday May 17 (Rain Date May 18th).

Background, over the recent months HRPG, working with the United States
Coast Guard, New York Water Taxi and other local maritime commercial and
safety enforcement organizations, along with a number of local paddling
orgs, has been seeking a way to improve safe interaction between paddlers,
rowers and commercial traffic on the Hudson and surrounding waters.

The idea is to create a forum for quality face time between people from our
various boating communities and the local maritime commercial and safety
enforcement folk, including the USCG, NYPD Harbor, FDNY, New York Water
Taxi, NY Waterway, Circle Line, and many others. We'll introduce them to our
safety procedures and protocols, and discuss topics such as visibility,
ferry crossings, and  issues that concern us all.  We'll demonstrate
recovery and rescue drills in the afternoon, and invite some captains into
kayaks.

Please see below for a draft outline of day.

Invites have been sent to local paddling orgs and the confirmed participants
so far include:

Downtown Boathouse
Sebago Canoe Club
Red Hook Boaters
Harlem River Boat Club
LIC Boathouse
Manhattan Kayak Company
New York Kayak Company
New York Harbor Sailing
New York River Sports
NY Watertrail

If we missed your org, please let us know.

Due to the strong organizational support of Tom Fox at New York Water Taxi
and the USCG's Harbor Safety, Navigation and Operations Committee, Passenger
Vessel Sub-committee, we anticipate that most of the local commercial and
safety enforcement agencies will be represented, including  the USCG, NYPD
Harbor, FDNY, HRPT Park Marine Enforcement, NY Waterway Ferry, Spirit
Cruises, Statue Cruises, Port Authority NYNJ, Circle Line, Seastreak, and
other passenger and working vessels.

If you row or paddle these waters and want to be part of the dialogue,
please attend!

For insurance and logistical reasons this event is by invitation only.
Please RSVP to "CaptainsAndPaddlers at HRPG.net²

Best,

Jeff Folmsbee 
Hudson River Paddlers Guild
Jeff at HRPG.net


C&P DAY SCHEDULE (Draft)
Location, pending: Pier 66 (26th St. & Hudson River)
Saturday, May 17th (Rain date Sunday, May 18th)

10:00 am ­ 10:30 am  Breakfast, Registration
10:30 am ­ 12:30 pm  Moderated Discussion

DISCUSSION TOPICS TO INCLUDE:
Basic Kayak and Gig Safety Equipment
Who We Are Out There
Rules of the Road
Ferry Terminal Crossings
Visibility Issues, Day and Night
Radios: General Protocol ­ ship to ship, Local Channels, Emergency Protocol
What Captains Should Know About Paddlers
What Paddlers Should Know About Captains

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Light Lunch, Prep for Demos
1:30 pm - 2:30pm Recovery & Rescue Demos, Captains in Kayaks