The Northbrook Canoe Challenge taking place on May 3rd on Pennsylvania’s Brandywine River is actually three challenges in one. The first challenge is to help support the Cerebral Palsy Association of Chester County. The second is for the boaters to enjoy navigating the at-times challenging 9.5 miles of waterway, taking special care around a dam that they encounter midway through the course.
The third challenge is the one that will be facing amateur radio operators from the Chester County ARES/RACES group - to help ensure everyone's safety. The hams have provided communications for this charitable event for 23 of its 47 years. Like oars guiding the canoes through the challenging waters, the radio operators are guided by a net control station as they check in with real-time reports throughout the two-hour challenge using a system of four linked UHF repeaters with simplex backup.
While the hams pass traffic from the shore, the Chester County Dive Team keeps closer watch from the water itself. Jim Harris, WA3NOA, the hams’ technical lead and coordinator, is in touch with the head of the dive team, who communicates with him and the divers using the county’s extra rugged handheld P25 radios.
Jim told Newsline that it's not over until the final canoe - piloted by someone from the canoe company itself - comes by. Then everyone can be certain that no one has been left behind. He said that canoeing is popular in the county -- and on May 3rd, canoeing to raise funds is certain to keep the local Cerebral Palsy Association buoyant too.