[PSUBS-MAILIST] Events

[Ray Keefer <Ray.Keefer@ebay.sun.com>]

Hi,

>From the various mails I kind of see two different reasons or events to meet
for. In the past some suggestions have been bandied about for meeting.
Maybe if there is any REAL interest we can put something together.
Here are some thoughts:

1. Conference/convention
	Who:
		PSUBers. Maybe we could get Phil and Vance to speak. Perhaps
		some commercial submersible manufactures might come to speak
		and/or show their wares.
	What:
		Where a bunch of PSUBers can come together and meet, discuss,
		have seminars, visit manufacturers (or have them come and
		visit us), review designs, do designs...
	Where:
		Once this event gets big we could rent a convention center
		somewhere. Until then at someone's house. I would suggest
		Vancouver area due to having so many Commercial submarine
		manufacturers there.
	Why:
		So we can party.... er, meet and trade ideas.
	When:
		When? Big question. Depends on the interest and arrangement.
		Best time of year would be Spring to Fall. Since we are 
		starting from humble beginnings I would suggest Saturday
		morning for the meeting concluding with a lunch.
		
		After lunch we could just gawk as all the neat PSUBS people
		have towed to the site.
		
		Once this event gets popular we could go for a whole weekend.
	
		

2. Competition
	Who:
		Participants will be owners of PSUBS.
		Helpers can be any PSUBer with scuba certification.
		Audiance can be anybody but they won't see much. :)
	What:
		Race/Performance compition.
		
		I see several possible events.
			Timed 100 meters
				Start from dead stop and time to 100m.
			Timed obstacle course
				Start from a dead stop and maneuver through
				a course. Through a series of hoops at 
				different heights.
			Timed launching and recovering
				How fast can it get into the water from
				a boat ramp and go around a bouy 30m out and
				return and get pulled back out of the water.
			Rescue
				Some object is dropped in a random place
				within a 100m x 100m area. The sub must start
				outside this area. How fast can the sub
				locate the item and pick it up. The object
				will have a beacon to aid in location.
				The sub can have a manipulator.
			Torpedoes away
				Nerf torpedoes on surface craft
			Hunter-Killer
				Nerf torpedoes on another PSUB
		Classes of competition
			Battery powered only
			Diesel-Electric
			Other
			Wet
			Dry
			<1ton
			1-2ton
			??? need some suggestions on typical classes
			
			Unlimited class until enough PSUBs show up for
			to be able to divide into classes.
			
	Where:
		Somewhere where the water is clear. Southern California or
		Florida. 
		Bottom depth of where we compete should be no deeper then
		100' for safely.
	Why:
		To show off our stuff.
	When:
		Any time of the year. Should take a whole weekend.
	How:
		The timed courses can use gates much like the human powered
		events.
		
		Supprt craft with scuba divers for rescue a must.
		
		All PSUBS will need some kind of rescue beacon and releasable
		bouy.
		
		All PSUBS need some kind of acoustic communications and
		surface radio.
		
Regards,
Ray