What a JOKE! Hard to see why one can have the same and the other could not. Losing the faith BCB!!! MEMO ADDED by BCB: BASSCAT76, this was inserted on another post and was a quote from Rick on the situation as to why the event was cancelled. They are actually weighing in this event at Cranfield, and taking off from Panther Bay, which is an approximate 7 to 8 mile run from the take off to weigh in. The situation is similar for the Owners Invitational and had we used two locations for weigh in and take off, that would work. Though the crowd would have been different as the bank parking in minimal at any location. Not enough other than perhaps Cranfield, with not enough weigh in room and parking for vehicles there for a 450 to 600 boat event. The event would probably have been around 500 boats by estimates. This has all settled down some and you have spoken. The possibility for a smaller event on May 20 & 21 was discussed, though cancellation of the large event had to be the first step in any case. The final factor in the decision to cancel the OI was the only potential site for the event. Which was Quarry Marina area and the Lake Norfork Dam pavilion parkingOur only suitable site was Quarry Marina, and use the gravel lot along Highway 5 to the Dam Pavilion for the weigh in. The site the Cystic Fibrosis is going to use is the Henderson Marina for take off, and the Panther Bay Park point for Weigh In. That area is not suitable for the Owners Invitational and boat damages are a concern there as well as wind. It is several feet higher up than when the CF event weighed in there in 2008. Though it was looked at also.A concern there is only one road to use for launching at the dam area, and the distance of 20 to 25 miles by road for most participants. This would have put probably 300+ boats launching out of the bridges area and driving by water to the dam area for Take Off out of Quarry Marina. The concern we had finally was those driving to the marina in early morning and facing oncoming traffic in the area of the S bends around Point 2, Georges Bluff, Tracy Bluff, Blind Island past Point 3 on to the area across from Five Fingers. And potential fog on the lower end with the dam and lower river that has a potential to fog. That 2 mile area of an S bend around Points 2 & 3 was a potential for an accident, with high traffic coming and those going out to compete at higher speeds in that area. About 75 to 80% of the field would have gone this direction by history. It was felt that an accident was very possible in that area under those conditions.RickLast edited by BASSCAT76 on May 18th, 2011, 7:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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