[EAR]

A look at the last couple runs and you can see the canoes are polling well. 7 canoes vs. 6 kayaks. The canoes can win the boat count if the turn out is low. Now, I would never want to discourage turnout, but it got me thinking.
So I talked to club President and canoe owner Mike about how we could make it "more fair" for canoes in the count. A few new by-laws may be in order.
First up: A strict new BOATER I.D. BY-LAW. It will say that the name on your photo I.D. must match the name on the boat registration that you are padding or..... YOUR BOAT WILL NOT COUNT!
Kayakers always seem to have several boats laying around and they hand them out to friends, relatives and passers-by with no other purpose than to pad the kayak count.
Canoes on the other hand are rarely lent or borrowed.

Secondly: AN END TO EARLY BOAT COUNTING.
The "official" count won't take place until after the run, subject to the following:
If you or your kayak have to be rescued by a canoe, YOUR BOAT WILL NOT COUNT!
You have technicality sunk and did not finish.

If you have to have a canoe carry any of your gear, YOUR BOAT WILL NOT COUNT. You have become part of that canoe, therefore not a separate boat.

If you finish BEHIND the last canoe on the run, YOUR BOAT WILL NOT COUNT!
If you can't out-paddle old folks in a canoe, you don't deserve to be counted.

We will be discussing these by-laws at the next secret meeting of the canoe faction of the TCT. At this time we will also be forming a PAC (paddling action committee) whose purpose will be to promote the canoe and canoe usage and to convert those from the darkside.

Mike and I are looking forward to many more canoe wins in the future.
Ed " Mad River" Rigby