Dear Observers,

For many years, observers have played a valuable part in our tournaments.  This year, we have decided to employ a camera-based system to validate catches.

There have been many discussions about observers versus cameras.  Our tournament committee has weighed the options of each method and decided that a camera system will best suit the needs of the tournament and the future of the tournament.  Unfortunately, this era has come to an end. The potential exposure for me, the board members, and the tournament far outweighs the benefits of having observers. Now that a legal precedent has been set, it really would have made things very difficult. I even heard of some captains that would refuse to carry observer due to the increased liability.

The camera system may meet with some resistance from older more seasoned teams, but overall I truly believe that it will be a better long term solution. The same way that touching a leader is part of an “official release,” now taking a photo will also be part of the “official release” process.

Although we will not have “observers” as they were once known, we are seeking volunteers with technical know-how to be part of our “Photo Review Team.”  These volunteers will help in reviewing the photos and videos submitted by the teams.  They will still be an integral part of the process.

If you are interested in being part of the Photo Review Team, please fill out the short form below.

Thank you for your continued support,

Tony Albelo