RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Convention regatta

[Alec Smyth <Asmyth@changepoint.com>]

Ray, if we were to ask the government these questions, I think we'll never
get an answer (unless its a fast NO). Better figure it out internally and
then propose as our voluntary safety precautions. Would one even need
permission to dive if each sub is legally licensed? I seem to recall we have
someone in the group with a regulatory background on issues like this.

Suggestion... if each sub had a buoy, they'd probably just get all tangled
up in each others'lines. Perhaps we can just have a central "marshall"
keeping records on dive plans, such as "sub X going down now and with plan
to surface in 20 minutes". As for diving in pairs, I imagine that might only
work if visibility were terrific. 

What about some "sporting events"? There could be a timed race around a
course, or a search and recovery competition, or a precision navigation
test. This could really be fun. Damn, I wish my sub were finished!

- Alec

-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Keefer [mailto:Ray.Keefer@Sun.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 12:42 PM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Convention regatta


Hi,

Dale asked a good question regarding the regatta:

	I still have not decided about bringing the sub or not.. Let me 
	know what might be planned for them...(a chance to dive them, 
	or display them, etc..  I have not heard of any plans yet..or 
	did I miss them...)
	
Well until now I haven't given any details simply because there aren't any.
I have some thoughts. One might say possibilities. The scope of what we
finally do depends on what the authorities will let us get away with.

Meeting
1. Subs parked outside of meeting for show and tell would be wonderful.
   I am planning on this one and want a parking lot space for cars with
   sub trailers.

Regatta
1. Certainly get subs into the water. 
2. Actually diving the subs is the ultimate goal. This is where it will
   get tricky and the authority thing comes in. What limits will they
   impose, assuming they let us dive at all. For instance I am thinking 
   of using Hagg Lake   
 
(http://www.co.washington.or.us/deptmts/sup_serv/fac_mgt/parks/hagglake.htm)

   which is a few miles from my home, about 30 miles west of Portland.  
   
   a. Can all subs dive at will?
   b. Can only a fixed number dive at will?
   c. Can only two, or one dive at a time? I would prefer subs to dive 
      in pairs. More fun then just my yourself and you are going with a
      buddy.
   d. Do we have to have buoys attached to each sub?
   e. Does each sub have to have voice communications to the surface?
   f. Do we have to have a chase boat? One per diving sub?
   g. Do we have to have divers? Buddied up of course. One pair per diving
      sub?
   h. How to organize the event? Whom says who can dive when? Need regatta
      captain.
      
The details really depends on how well the contacts with Government
departments 
that control access to the water go.

Regards,
Ray