The 30th Sea Otter Classic will be held on October 7-10, 2021. Help from amateur radio operators has been a vital resource for communication in the Fort Ord National Monument backcountry and the Gran Fondo (“Great Endurance”) Carmel Valley Route. Thank you to those of you who have volunteered in the past.
The Sea Otter Classic attracts thousands of athletes and spectators and is now regarded as the world’s premiere cycling festival. The areas where we assist have little or no cellular or repeater coverage. It is an excellent opportunity for demonstration and practice of emergency communications and help build readiness for a real disaster.
This year help will be needed for the following times:
Thursday 10/07 – Radio/Communication Support – Morning through early afternoon
Saturday 10/09 – Gran Fondo Carmelo (Carmel Valley Route) Support – Very Early Morning to Early Evening
Saturday 10/09 – Backcountry Support – Early Morning to Mid Afternoon
Sunday 10/10 – Backcountry Support – Very Early Morning to Mid Afternoon
Camping is available directly from the event or we have the option of camping for no charge in the Laguna Seca paddock.
Ham radio operators will be primarily working radios including ham radios and/or commercial/public safety radios (i.e. You may be asked to coordinate on a public safety frequency to guide in an ambulance while the medic provides care). We’ll always try to pair experienced hams with new hams as needed. First aid and course marshal support will be provided by Fort Friends and National Ski Patrol as in the past.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you’re interested in volunteering. We’ll need a volunteer waiver signed and we will have more details available soon.
Volunteers receive a volunteer T-Shirt, a pass to the Sea Otter Classic Festival (a $50 value), and a lunch. There will be surprise items for the volunteers.
Please note that the times and details are subject to change, but we will keep you updated if you volunteer. Please keep in mind that end times are estimates. In most cases the event will end earlier, but if we have a significant incident, demobilization may go much later and especially in the backcountry, exit routes are closed to vehicle traffic during the event. Updates will be available at http://sbcara.org/otter (It is still early and this page is still being updated for this year – 2019’s information is here for reference).
To sign up please go to this link https://forms.gle/wtcH1BrCwsiPGVq97 or if this doesn’t work for you, feel free to just reply to [email protected] via e-mail.
Please pass this email along to anyone you think might be interested. We’re going to have challenges since some of our regular volunteers aren’t available this year due to the change of date this year.
Thanks & 73,
– Timothy S. Takeuchi – sbcares.org
San Benito County (XBE) COM-L: Communication Unit Leader – W6TST
Chief ACS/RACES Officer / ARES DEC: District Emergency Coordinator / ARRL PIO
Sea Otter Classic Volunteer Communications Leader
