RAID ERIE TERMS

• Participants acknowledge that RAID ERIE is organized strictly as a dry land event.  This includes - but is not limited to - organizing sponsors, group camping, docks, reception venue, keynote speaker, silent auction, beach party, and wrap up party.​  Any and all activities involving watercraft operation are explicitly excluded from the activities organized for the event.

• Participants who decide to operate a watercraft during the event, make that decision as private watercraft operators.  Participants assume all risks and responsibilities associated with watercraft operation.

• Registrants assume all risks and responsibilities for their personal property and guests, and for communicating these terms to their guests.

• Participants assume all risks and responsibilities associated with traveling to and from the event by all means including by vehicle, over water, or on ferries.  This includes: the choice and usage of any boat ramps, docks, or marinas, any 'crossings' made in watercraft to or from the event, as well as any and all private watercraft operation undertaken by the participant during the event.​

• As such, all registrants and participants agree to indemnify and to hold harmless RAID ERIE, its organizers, sponsors, vendors, volunteers and agents, from and against any and all liability claims, actions, causes of action, demands, rights, damages, cost, loss of service, expenses, and compensation for all negligence whether active or passive arising out of or in any way connected or related to the RAID ERIE event.

RAID ERIE participants who decide to operate a watercraft during the event agree to do so in accordance with the guidelines below, as well as marine best practices, and common sense.  If a failure to comply with one or more of these guidelines results in a need to utilize emergency services of any kind, the responsible participant agrees to bear any associated fees imposed by the emergency services provider.

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Participants agree to:

• Follow all published USCG regulations for their specific vessel

• Ensure all aboard are wearing a USCG approved personal flotation device (PFD) at all times when on the water

• Not operate watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Travel together in groups of 2 or more vessels

• Inform someone outside your group of your itinerary

• Carry a functional waterproof marine VHF radio, and monitor channel 16 and/or the event channel.

  • Know how to make a mayday call

  • Consider obtaining a radio with emergency DSC/AIS features

• Carry a functional cell phone in a waterproof bag, and maintain a current list onboard your vessel of emergency contact numbers: OHDNR, USCG, and towing services, etc.

• Carry the required equipment to keep safety related electronics (VHF, phone, etc) charged for the full duration of your itinerary.

• 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 give way when a ferry approaches. Do not expect or attempt to compel ferry captains to follow "sail vs. power" right-of-way rules.  As commercial working boats with limited maneuverability, ferries are almost always the 'stand on' vessel.

• Be vigilant of recreational power boats:

  • 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: EPIRB, and/or Personal Locator Beacon (SPOT, InReach, etc.), and/or a cell phone with emergency satellite communication features.  Ensure someone not traveling with you has your tracker information.