Gin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2012
- Messages
- 874
- Fluid Motion Model
- R-31 S
- Vessel Name
- Echo II (2019)
For those of you in the Portland-Vancouver area . . . here is a volunteer opportunity if you are interested and able.
The annual Portland Bridge Swim will be this coming Sunday, July 12. They estimate a total of maybe 80 people who have signed up to swim the 12 mile (or so) distance under Portland's 13 bridges (Sellwood Bridge to Saint Johns) on the Willamette River.
For the swim, they recruit power boats (no more than 30 ft) to patrol the swim zone to help both monitor the swim and keep other power boats away from the swimmers. It is a long day -- starts at 7 a.m. and can go until about 3 or 4. But it is fun and easy duty. They pay a flat $150 to cover gas and any other expenses you might incur. Other than being at the race site as needed and patrolling your particular zone as designated, the primary thing you would need to do is attend a safety meeting that will run 5 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (held in downtown Portland).
Last year, the race had to be called about an hour after the swimmers started, because of lightning and thunder. The power boats proved invaluable. We picked up swimmers and kayakers (who monitor the swimmers) in droves and transported them back to the start of the race. While it was disappointing for everyone connected with the race, it established the importance of the power boats not only to help with the race, but to help with emergencies.
If you are in the area with your Ranger Tug, available all day Sunday, and would like to volunteer, PM me and I will get you in touch with the safety boat coordinator. At this point, they are looking for two more safety boat volunteers.
Thanks!
- Gini
The annual Portland Bridge Swim will be this coming Sunday, July 12. They estimate a total of maybe 80 people who have signed up to swim the 12 mile (or so) distance under Portland's 13 bridges (Sellwood Bridge to Saint Johns) on the Willamette River.
For the swim, they recruit power boats (no more than 30 ft) to patrol the swim zone to help both monitor the swim and keep other power boats away from the swimmers. It is a long day -- starts at 7 a.m. and can go until about 3 or 4. But it is fun and easy duty. They pay a flat $150 to cover gas and any other expenses you might incur. Other than being at the race site as needed and patrolling your particular zone as designated, the primary thing you would need to do is attend a safety meeting that will run 5 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (held in downtown Portland).
Last year, the race had to be called about an hour after the swimmers started, because of lightning and thunder. The power boats proved invaluable. We picked up swimmers and kayakers (who monitor the swimmers) in droves and transported them back to the start of the race. While it was disappointing for everyone connected with the race, it established the importance of the power boats not only to help with the race, but to help with emergencies.
If you are in the area with your Ranger Tug, available all day Sunday, and would like to volunteer, PM me and I will get you in touch with the safety boat coordinator. At this point, they are looking for two more safety boat volunteers.
Thanks!
- Gini