"It is impossible to make anything foolproof, because fools are so ingenious." --Robert Heinlein
Perhaps I'm the only one, but I have to share that I'm beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable by what seem to be an attempt to "idiot-proof" the EC. As if, by adding enough requirements, qualifications and demonstrations of skills, that it can somehow ensure that no one ever has a problem that they can't solve, fix, recover from with or without outside assistance.
The EC already had what I consider a very comprehensive set of requirements including no end of verbage which essentially said in so many words: "If you are an idiot, then before you enter, stop and fix that, or else, this event is not for you." Although I felt comfortable with my experience, qualifications and preparation for the past two ECs, I still half-expected to fail in each attempt. Frankly, for me, that is part of the attraction of entering such an "extreme" event--to test myself and my boat in situations and conditions that I might not encounter otherwise. However, if it reaches the point where I have to jump through too many hoops, obtain ever more 3rd party certifications, attend purposely ardous boot-camps, and/or demonstrate in a plethora of ways that I have already encountered and survived every possible senario that I might encounter, then I begin to question why I would even bother with the EC. If I've already, "been there, done that and got the t-shirt", then I may as well go an do something else.
So that's it. Just sharing the concern. I guess that I'll see how this year plays out. In the meantime, I'll continue to fiddle with my boat, test gear, test myself and enjoy the mental challenge of figuring out what I would do in response to every possible EC senario that I can imagine. And when the time comes to either "put up or shut up", I guess that I'll make a decision as to whether the requirements for that future EC are still "reasonable precautions" or whether it's all become an overly burdensome yoke of oppression that must be born simply to prevent "idiots" from slipping into the game and ruining the fun for everyone else.
Hoping the K.I.S.S. principle still applies,
Fair Winds,
Lawless
