RAID
ERIE 2025

Plan to arrive at St. Hazards Campground on Middle Bass Island, by 1900 on Friday August 1st for the event kickoff/reception. That said, feel free to show up any time your schedule permits, including as late as Saturday morning. If you arrive early, there is a list of activities at the end of this article, you can use to kill some time until the reception. While there are many options, generally folks will decide to take one of two ways to arrive at Middle Bass Island: Sail/Row/Paddle your vessel from the Ohio mainland The passage is a little over 7 nautical miles, from Catawba Island State Park boat ramp, to Middle Bass Island State Park Marina. Individual boat captains and crew are responsible for all decisions related to this passage (see Safety in the FAQ). Those deciding to make the crossing together on Friday can meet at the boat ramp, at a predetermined time late Friday morning, before embarking for Middle Bass island together as a mixed fleet, with like boats staying together. Take the Ferry Miller Ferry will carry vehicles + boats on trailers from Catawba on mainland Ohio, to Middle Bass Island. Reservations are required, and are not accpted until two weeks out, so set a reminder to call on July 18th. Check their website for current schedule, but typically the ferries depart from the Ohio side at 9:15AM, 11:15AM, 1:15PM, 3:15PM, 5:15PM, and 7:15 PM. The ferry ride is about 30-40 minutes. Did you get here early, and have some time to kill before the Reception at 1900? No problem, here's some things to do to kill some time: check into your dock (if you have one). You check in at the Harbormaster building. check into your campsite at St. Hazards and set up your tent. You check in at the St. Hazards restaurant. grab lunch and a drink at J.F Walleyes check out the historic Lonz Winery walk up to theMBI General Store, and grab any supplies you need or may have forgotten..like bug spray.

Participants are responsible for all decisions related to the type of vessel they decide to take on the water (see Safety in the FAQ). Participants at a small boat RAID event expect to be in company with other 'sail/row/paddle' craft. There are no boat specific boat classes, but generally: Kayaks - with or without auxiliary sails Canoes - with our without auxiliary sails * Dinghies - sail & row Small Trailer Sailers - under 20' Here are some general guidelines you can use to decide if your vessel is appropriate for RAIDing. A typical RAID vessel: has a shoal draft, and is designed to be beached is positively buoyant even when swamped is easily righted and re-boarded by its crew in the event of a capsize is self-bailing once righted, and/or equipped with a hand pump, bucket bailer, or (on larger vessels) a bilge pump if the vessel has sails: all sails are reef-able all foils (rudder/dagger/center board) are retractable has at least one, or both, of the following additional methods of primary propulsion: human power - row or pedal (not paddle**) auxiliary gas/electric outboard (esp on trailer sailers) is often equipped for 'boat camping': sleeping and/or cooking aboard, or 'beach camping' - being hauled ashore to set up tents * An open deck canoe that is not positively buoyant when swamped is not suitable for offshore passage-making. Consider using the Ferry to get to Middle Bass, and sticking to Erie Islands Water Trails routes when cruising ** A boat designed primarily as a sail boat, does not have a second form of primary propulsion if it is just a paddle. On a sailboat, a paddle is an emergency form of propulsion. Lake Erie is not the place to learn that paddling your wide-beamed sailing dinghy several nautical miles when water turns to glass is actually a harrowing ordeal that will ruin your trip or worse. Consider rigging up some oarlocks and oars, carrying an auxiliary gas/electric outboard, or staying at home.

There exactly 3 things every participant needs to be aware of before making a decision to take a boat on the water: If a person decides to operate a watercraft of any kind, the they are expected to do so in accordance with USCG safety regulations Choosing to engage in activities on and/or around the water can result in property damage, personal injury and death. Lake Erie is particularly adept at these things. The usual dangers of weather and sea state are amplified by ferry boats, drunk pleasure boaters, and potentially other dangers not listed here. Lake Erie conditions are much more like that of an ocean than a lake. Offshore passages are not suitable for beginners. Captains and crew assume full responsibility for all decisions that could influence the safety of their vessels, their crew, themselves, and other boats/boaters around them. Individual boat captains decide: if to go out on the water at all, and when to do so if conditions are suitable what routes to take, or not to take if their vessel is adequate and appropriately outfitted to safely handle the intended route and conditions if they and their crew have sufficient skills, experience, and knowledge to safely operate their vessel in the conditions they decided to go out in Captains and crew assume full responsibility for these, and all other decisions related to watercraft safety, and the consequences of those decisions. The organizers of RAID ERIE do not presume to prescribe any rules beyond the 3 points above, because doing so would remove some of the responsibility from the participants, which violates point #3: Captains and crew assume full responsibility for all decisions related to safety on or near the water. Further, participants are specifically not compelled or even encouraged to engage in activities on or near the water as part of RAID ERIE. The organized parts of the event occur on dry land. Any decision made to go out on the water, where to go, who to go with, and what routes to take - those decisions lie completely with the individual boat captains and crew. In addition to the 3 safety points above, here are some additional safety topics for Captains and crew to consider when making the decisions - for which they remain completely responsible: Pay constant (at least hourly) attention to the weather forecast, and be prepared to adjust your plans on a moments notice if you decide weather conditions require it. When in doubt, don't go out. Stay well clear of ferry routes and ferry docks, and proactively get out of the way when a ferry approaches. Do not expect or attempt to compel ferry captains to follow right-of-way rules, you will be disappointed with the outcome. Be vigilant of recreational power boats, especially in and around Put-In-Bay wear bright clothing, and fly pennants to increase visibility keep USCG sound signals (horn, whistle, etc) close at hand, and do not hesitate to use them to get the attention of other boaters avoid 'blind points', where you can't see what's around the other side, and boaters on the other side can't see you. Take these points either very wide, or hugging the shore tightly where its too shallow for powerboats. Round these points with great caution. Be off the water (or at anchor/dock) well before sunset, and don't go out until well after sunrise. Use navigation lights in accordance with USCG regulations during periods of low light (dawn/dusk) and/or low visibility. Practice capsize and righting drills in a safe/controlled location with a spotter boat, before putting your vessel and crew in a situation where they might experience an actual capsize. Consider having at least one or more of the following: cell phone in waterproof case or bag, waterproof marine VHF radio (preferably with emergency DSC/AIS features), EPIRB, and/or Personal Locator Beacon (SPOT, InReach, ec). Monitor (and use) VHF 16 for emergencies, and know the MAYDAY/PAN-PAN/SECURITE protocols. Maintain a current list onboard your vessel of emergency contact numbers: OHDNR, USCG, and towing services.