Note: This was supposed to be published in the November issue of The SPARC, the Boston Amateur Radio Club newsletter, however, due to unforeseen circumstances, it was never published, so here it is for the first time in print!
It was a busy public service month for
me. First off was MassJam 2023, the multi-state scout jamboree that
is held every five years at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in Falmouth.
While the communication staff was made
up of entirely of hams, the event did not use amateur radio for its
operation as obviously, while there are hams in Scouting, not
everyone is a ham and therefore, commercial band radio was a must for
the event. Using radios provided by DC Rentals (who seem to provide
the commercial radios for practically every large event in Boston)
MassJam got underway. Net control was a 24/7 operation with shifts
scheduled in blocks and food for the net controllers was cooked on
site. Despite some hiccups, the event itself was mostly successful,
including exodus from the campground was went really well and
finished practically on schedule.
After a week and a half off, it was
time for the next major public service event, the 2023 Head of the
Charles Regatta. I was stationed all 3 days at the Attager (which is
Regatta spelled backwards) Row First Aid tent. A ham’s job at the
regatta is to be the primary link for the first aid tents to net
control and from there to the event’s roving bike teams on
commercial radio (again, provided by DC Rentals) and if needed to our
public safety partners such as the Massachusetts State Police (who
provide their command post for the weekend where a ham is stationed
as a link between net control and them), Boston EMS and Cambridge
Fire. Joined by a rotating motley crew of hams, including our very
own public service chair, Ethan KC1OIP, we made the best of it
despite pouring rain on Saturday and cold winds on Sunday.
All in all, a good month of public
service. I recommend the Regatta as a good place to start if you’re
interested in the public service side of this great hobby. Now to
look forward to next year’s public service season with the Boston
Marathon!
On Saturday, October 19th, 2019 and Sunday, October 20th, 2019, I participated as a volunteer in my first ever Head of the Charles Regatta, I visited the Regatta a few years prior to becoming a ham, but this was my first time being there long term.
This was the fifty-fifth edition of the Head of the Charles, which first began in 1965. The Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) is the world's largest two day regatta. Outside of the major league team sports and the Boston Marathon, the Head of the Charles is probably one of the biggest sporting events in Boston.
To quote rowing coach Susan Saint Sing:
Regattas such as the Head of the Charles in Boston and the Head of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia are to the rowing world what the New York Marathon and the Boston Marathon are to running.
Myself and two volunteers on a walking team.
The job of the amateur radio operators at the HOCR is to be the radio communications for the volunteer first aid teams on shore and on the safety launches on the Charles River. There are various things that can happen during the regatta such as boat collisions, oars to the face, distressed rowers and even spectator injuries. Thankfully, the first aid teams are well equipped and well trained to deal with it, from Red Cross volunteers to EMTs to actual doctors of varying experience.
Generally, one ham and some first aid members will remain on station at a first aid tent while other hams will proceed out with a walk team to do a patrol along a designated section of the course looking for anyone who needs assistance or to respond quicker to medical incidents.
The regatta is officially two days since the races take place on Saturday and Sunday, however, practices do take place on Friday also, so there are some hams and first aid members on site, but at reduced coverage.
Net control's trailer
The call sign for event and net control is W1R and has been since at least 2012 according to the 1X1 callsigns website. Net control runs a hybrid net similar to the Marathon, which means that locations can call each other direct if needed and not need permission from net control.
Also on site are rented commercial radios for HOCR staff to use. However, unlike the Marathon, the first aid stations do not have a commercial radio assigned to them, it is strictly amateur radio. Just make sure you don't lose them to the "dirty water" of the Charles River, as happened twice over the weekend.
Of course, just like the Marathon and any large event, public safety radio is also on hand for obvious reasons and since the Charles River is the city line between Boston and Cambridge, their public safety is on hand, along with the State Police as the majority of the Charles River basin is state parkland controlled by the Department of Conservation & Recreation. For any major medical emergencies, public safety is on standby.
All in all, the Head of the Charles Regatta is a great two to three-day event for any ham to participate in. I'd say it's a more relaxed environment compared to say the Boston Marathon and a great way to get your feet wet (literally in some cases, although, we really don't want that to happen) in amateur radio public service.
Just make sure your radio is programmed properly please. Unless you want to see an angry tweet from me about it.
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