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Woodbridge Wireless Crew Race Support

When/where: April, May, and June high school and college regattas at Sandy Run Park in Fairfax County. (North on Rte 123 past the prison, Hooes Rd., and Furnace Rd. About one more mile and turn left on Henderson Rd. toward Fountainhead. One mile west and turn left on Van Thompson to entrance of Sandy Run Park. Park as directed. WWI volunteers do not have to pay for parking. Check at Regatta Headquarters (the "Head Shed") directly across from the three boathouses. Talk-in on the WWI 2 meter repeater (147.24/84). Regatta frequency: 145.24 MHz simplex.
What to bring (optional, but recommended):

2 meter handheld, extra batteries, (speaker mike)
Pens, paper, (clipboard, plastic cover)
In April, layers of clothing, hat/cap...[rain, snow, wind, and coooold are not unusual]
Plastic bag/freezer bag to protect radio from rain
Sun block

Regatta program with race schedule. Available at or near the Head Shed but free to WWI volunteers. [Needed for tracking races and late boats.]
Electric power at Head Shed and Finish Line
Lunch
Portapotties
Free Parking [Identify yourself as a Woodbridge Wireless volunteer or show parking pass]

Start Line (1 ham on the moored platform near the dam with the starting official. Wire J-Pole on PVC pipe is stored at the Head Shed). Tactical call sign is "Start Line."

Advise Finish Line when each event (race) starts. "Finish Line this is Start Line. Event number 3 is on the course."
Advise when starts are called back. "Finish Line, Start Line. False start.
Relay requests for information to/from the Starting Official. E.g., "Headquarters, Start Line. Please ask the Dockmaster if West Potomac has launched for Event 14 yet." or "Finish Line, Start Line. Event 17 will be delayed for a few minutes; one of the boats has an equipment problem."

Finish Line (1 or 2 hams at the left corner table as you enter the W4ADM Memorial finish line shack from the shore side. Power is available if you want to bring a power supply. A permanent J-pole antenna is mounted on the finish line shack. Tactical call sign is "Finish Line."

Advise the Finish Line official when each event starts or is called back. "Event number 3 is on the course." (Wait if he or she is busy with the finish of another race.)
Once the race results are ready, the official will give them to the PA announcer to announce. Get the cards from the announcer and radio the results to the Headquarters when they are ready to copy. Read the results slowly in place order with the place, school name, and time. Short pause after each name. Get confirmation/request for fills after all boats are reported. (E.g., "Event number 7. First place, Jefferson - six, oh two, seven four [6 minutes, 2.74 seconds]; second place, TC Williams - six, oh three, oh nine;...sixth place, ... QSL?) Keep the results cards stacked in event order throughout the day. (A rubber band helps.) Give the cards to the Finish Line official at the end. They are the official regatta records.
Relay information to/from the Finish Line official about late boats, start line delays, weather, protests, need for coaches to report somewhere, need for medical assistance, concession stand problems, Park Ranger assistance, cards with lights on, whereabouts of lunch, etc.
Help with the PA announcements, timing, boat identification, whatever. Often, you hear, "Oh, Woodbridge Wireless, could you...?"

Headquarters (Head Shed) (1 or 2 hams; a base station is helpful but not necessary. There is a permanent J-pole antenna on the Head Shed. WWI position is at the second table on the left side inside the Head Shed next to the PA system.) Tactical call sign is "Headquarters."

Receive race results from the Finish Line. Record results on form at the WWI position. [This form will be faxed or read to the Sunday papers.]
Write race results on the form posted outside to the left of the door. The are UNOFFICIAL results posted for coaches and rowers. [If anyone has a complaint or problem, refer him/her to the Regatta Chairman (Lee West or Hal Johnson, at first desk on left inside the Head Shed).]
Relay information to/from the Regatta Chairman, Park Ranger (Smokey Jacobs/John Bolland), Dockmaster (on or near the wooden dock; usually has a bullhorn and a clipboard), Referees, boat drivers, medics, etc.
If asked, make the PA announcements for calling boats to launch. (E.g., "First call for Event number 4, Men's Four with Cox.")
Store any of the WWI antennas used at Start/Finish Line.

All positions: have fun and enjoy the hubbub of a good regatta. Be aware that all of the judges, officials, holders, boat drivers, medical personnel, dockmasters, timers, etc., are unpaid volunteers, just like you.