OK, I am getting ready to head north for the OFC and OFUM so this is going to be brief.
Regarding new rules and such. There aren't any new rules. The points about weight limits on boats is merely discussing the seaworthiness as it applies to an "Expedition-Style Adventure Race for Small Boats."
Expedition-Style means carry a full load of camping equipment and being ready for anything.
Adventure Race means it is expected to challenge you physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Small boats means exactly that: kayaks, canoes, and small sailboats that are seaworthy while carrying the required load with food and water.
What has happened as we grew so fast is that some people came into the events overloaded and not prepared. The new procedures are nothing more than tightening up the inspections for newbies. No rule changed. The 80% of the load limit of a boat is nothing more than common sense that a newbie can use to make sure his or her boat is not overloaded.
Anyone with a sailboat like a Core Sound or most other monohulls shouldn't need to even do the calculation because the load limit is way above what is needed to satisfy the required equipment.
Another problem is people coming into the events with boats that are really not up to this event. Although some really tough experts who are in the top 1% of the top 1% can do the EC in a surf ski or a SUP, most can't. So get a different boat. How do you know if your boat is up to the event without worrying about a sneaky and low down DQ?
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Read the rules
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Read the warning
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Get the required equipment
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Study the Skills Assessment
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Do the Skills Assessment with your loaded boat
Evaluate your results and make appropriate changes, get some training, keep working out and getting on the water. When you are ready, do it.
None of this is that hard. It's all basic survival skills on the water. My daughter was about 7 years old when we had her in her first sailing class in 8 foot prams. They did just about everything that is listed in the skills assessment for class 4.
When I took my BCU 3 Star classes, we did all the skills and more that is listed for class 2 and class 1 (except the sail stuff). The only difference is we didn't do it in fully loaded kayaks.
There has been an awful lot of crap being said in other forums. All I can say is that newbies shouldn't worry, just do it. If it scares you off, then it is probably best not to enter these events anyway. And WT veterans don't need to worry about surprise skill assessments either. The only way a skills assessment could be required is if you had a very long absence and were doing a different class. Even then, that probably would not be done.
Also, in future events like the BBC and EC we will be doing skill assessments the day before inspections. We will have a full day to test and practice. If something is not 100%, we will work with you. Depending on how that turns out you could avoid a DQ. But I'm guessing that with this much time, anyone who is serious will be ready.
We will be offering both free and paid meetups to practice these skills as well. Look for the first announcement on a free meetup right after the OFC.
One final thing on this. If a skill assessment is required, you will be notified when you get your invoice. If you haven't mastered the skills by then, simply don't pay.
