2020 – 2021 Polar Bear Series Volunteers

Thank you to all of the volunteers, without whom the Polar Bear Series would be a much different event!

Vancouver Rowing Club is proud to be a volunteer-driven club that encourages members to participate in everything we do. New race committee volunteers are always welcome! Although the “Race Officer” role is restricted to persons who have taken the BC Sailing CRO course, we appreciate the help you can provide in other important Assistant Race Officer roles like handling flags, making sound signals, recording start and finish information and race timing—prior experience not required! Training is provided on the water, prior to the race.

The series takes place during the Fall and Winter, so all volunteers should be prepared to spend several hours out on a boat, often in the rain. Warm, waterproof layers are highly, highly recommended. Bringing your own PFD and water bottle is also encouraged.

The club’s racing program also relies upon the generosity of VRC members to perform important on-the-water Polar Bear Series roles with their personal boats (We reimburse vessel owners for fuel use!). Polar Bear events have two vessel requirements at every event:

• Race Committee Signal Vessel: The Race Committee Signal Vessel is where all the starting and finishing action happens.
   
  The Signal Vessel hosts the Race Officer and the majority of the race committee and is placed at the start/finish line for every race. The ideal Signal Vessel is over 35 feet and can comfortably and safely support the skipper and 4-5 other volunteers for several hours. VRC’s racing program will supply COVID-19 safety supplies like masks, hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes.
   
  The Signal Vessel is a great place to take start line and finish photos to share with racers and club members through our Facebook pages and Flickr account!
• Mark Set/Safety Vessel: Many more course options are available to the Race Committee when mark set boats are on the water to place and pull inflatable marks in English Bay. It also increases the race committee’s ability to bring safety supplies or assistance to racers in the event of an emergency.
   
  The ideal Mark Set/Safety Vessel is 18 feet or larger, with an open cockpit or “working” transom that can be used to set and pull the club’s inflatable marks (like a Boston Whaler or similar). This vessel requires at least two people; super if you can provide a team of two, as mark setting is a two person job—and with COVID-19, it would enable you to keep everyone on-board within your social bubble. We can help find a volunteer to help if needed.
   
  The Mark Set/Safety Vessel is a great place to take race photos to share with racers and club members through our Facebook pages and Flickr account!

We leave the VRC dock at 0900 hours and return between 1500 and 1600 hours. Snacks, Lunch and beverages are typically a pot-luck style, with the Racing Officer responsible for the main lunch item and beverages.

To volunteer in a Race Committee Signal Vessel role or to volunteer your boat and yourself in Race Committee roles, please contact the VRC Racing Officer by email at racing@vancouverrowingclub.ca

Technical Committee:

Jason Vandergaag, Chief Handicapper PHRF-BC (VRC Handicapper)
Ian Lloyd, PHRF-BC & ORC Canada Measurer (WVYC Handicapper)

Protest Committee:

Tom Sitar, NJ – Chief Judge – RVYC
Paul Martin, CJ – VRC/RVYC
Gord McKee, CJ – TCYC
Jennifer Ross, CJ/NRO – VRC
David Trigg, CJ – WVYC
Wm. (Bill) Lutz, CRO – HSC
Jim Allan – RVYC

Take me back to Polar Bear.