....

That video looks amazingly like the view from my boat in the last APBA race I participated in. When the Pace Boat dropped the flag, the field dropped the hammer. Again - just like a race. The big difference here was that I was on a closed course with full safety equipment that had passed a Technical Inspection just prior to the race and there were emergency medical crews everywhere.

To your point, it is a well organized event. At some point, we all must take the blinders off our eyes and understand that some operators push it to the limit.

I thought this and thought of ScarFace and the entire montague of walking "the razors edge".

I was at the mouth of Harmon and saw countless patrol boats pass my way. I was impressed at their efforts and the seamless crossing to ensure spectators were out of there. It doesn't matter how many times you watch which video on YouTube. At what point do we begin to accept personal responsibility as operators that we own how we handle our vessels on the water? I have great respect for both Brad and Jeff despite never having a 1:1 conversation with either of them.

However, despite which cruisers crossed where, when do we acknowledge that the operation of a craft exceeded water conditions? Ban me, hate me, or flame my comments but there are several distinct areas of concern when we look at the fact this was an open course:
- Speed likely exceeded appropriate operation for the water conditions
- Speed exceeded the operators ability to account for navigational traffic

The tragic event was largely due to the evasive maneuver that took place. I don't own a cat. I've operated one and did so on only one occasion. However, I understand how a cat maintains control. The evasive maneuver caused a deficiency in hull dynamics which caused a loss of control.

Speed kills. The lack of knowledge of how to safely operate high HP devices kills.

I love the poker run at Cumberland. I enjoy the people and the boats. I respect what this event does for the community. I also understand that while I can pin the throttle to the floor this isn't the safest way to operate. Operate within control. Operate with respect. Operate knowing you have enough time to respond and react to your surroundings while also taking into account the water conditions.

This venue provides the space and water to accomadate the boats that were running.

With respect to prior posts; the simple fact of the matter is that the operators need to slow down when conditions and environment are not complimentary to the running speeds of a vessel.

Odd isn't, we want them to slow down now. But do a search on Poker Runs past, the day after the event. Usually one of the first posts is "Who was 1st to the 1st card stop ?".
ed

I didn't see all the vids, but I watched this one. I raced back in the days, done a bunch of PR. and I thought I was watching a race start, not a "run" for fun. But that's ok, I don't mind the balls out thing, go like bat out of hell and take in the adrenaline that goes with it, AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND TIME. This wasn't it. At the early stages, there were 4-5 boats aside, pretty close, I would say pretty safe, until you count and see the time lapse. NO way could ANY one of them make a maneuver to avoid a broken steering rod, or a broken drive/prop shaft, lost prop if one of the boats would make a sudden turn due to some mechanical issues. And any one telling me I'm full of BS, than you were lucky enough never happen to you. I am willing to bet very few know what happens when you loose a prop or you motor stops at 80+. It's like dropping an anchor on one side. 4-5 abreast in a relatively narrow area, I would gladly forfeit the bragging rights who's first, SLOW DOWN and be happy with my cocktails later the evening, not worry about someone's or mine funeral arrangements.

Fixed it for ya!

As an occasional spectator at the Jax Poker run, I've been ?fortunate? enough to be in the right place at the right time to have PP pass by at 150 plus within a few feet. Close enough to have the mist from the rooster tail bring some cooling relief from the morning heat. Close enough that the Cumberland video isn't all that close. That right place happened to be in between the shoreline and the idle speed to shore buoys right off of the runway at NAS Jax. You would think that would be a safe place to stay out of the way?? It's pretty much standard operating procedure for PP after the start of the Jax run to stay with the pack for the first third of the run to the Buckman Bridge (the "it's not a race" 's finish line). It then peels out of the pack towards the west about 30 degrees to run the straightest line to the bridge. Right through the spectators. Sometimes through the no wake zone. Unlike Cumberland's dense crowd, this viewing spot might only have 20 spectator boats give or take, but you can pretty much guarantee PP is going to blow through close.

That may seem scary, but the scary part is all of the big cats behind PP, whose goal at Jax is to get there before PP does, having moments of indecision at 150ish. Do we follow the channel or do we follow the boat with local knowledge toward the west shoreline through the spectators?? For a few moments after PP makes the break away, confusion in the big cat clique make it seem that big speed bumper boats are a real possibility.

After a quick search, here is a thread consisting of those involved during the 2010 Jax PR that I was buzzed at.. ScarabJ was the PP wheelman. You decide who's best interest they have in mind...

I'll quote all of the applicable posts... And hopefully the Mod in the PP pocket doesn't poof it.


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...ax-2010-a.html

It does not matter if the spectators were cheering when the flybys happened 10' from them and didn't think a thing about it. Others will/do see it differently. And those will be the ones that matter.

The accident itself won't be the reason for any changes or what ever happens, the flybys will be the biggest reason.

I too received a nice little PM from GATORONE. And he pretty much defended himself as well. As I read the above PM from GATORONE, is he now denying being the driver now? "Have you ever seen a pic or videos of me driving". In the PM he sent me he stated he wasn't even going that fast. Well yes he was, and if he wasn't driving the boat, then why would he PM me to tell me he wasn't going fast. I can caulk up the "fly by" as an error in judgement if I got the feeling there was a genuine apology or a feeling or remorse. But not only is he defending himself in some PMs, it now appears he may be trying to deny it was even him...... So I really am now really beginning to question this guys character....... This right here is the problem with poker runs... The mentality of "I didn't do anything wrong" and then the complete total denial after no one buys the "I didn't do anything wrong" bit... The attitudes and egos are what needs to be fixed, not the boats, the equipment, the spectators, pace boats, etc.

That's 100% true! I have never seen Bill "drive" his boat in a poker run and I have probably been at over 40 runs that he also attended.