Battle of the Bay 2012 OPA race canceled

[MMarsha]

RACE INFORMATION UPDATED 08-01-2012THANK YOU RACE FANS FOR YOUR ON-GOING SUPPORT!

We regret to inform you that this year's Battle on the Bay is canceled. We are sorry to say the Smiths Point Race has been canceled. After a years worth of work, with prior permit approval from Suffolk County, they pulled the permit siting traffic issues. All permits were approved including: U.S. Coast Guard, Town of Brookhaven (Regatta Permit), Use of DEC Property for the Environmental Groups, and Use of Mastic/Shirley Train Station park & ride shuttle parking (for overage parking if exceeded 5000+ cars in Smiths Point lot). The parks department police were concerned about our traffic plan, when we asked what he thought we could change to improve the plan, his reply was "I didn't read it" --this is only the tip of the iceberg. Safety was stated as a reason for these concerns, when we showed how our plan addressed the possibility of a traffic back up, they looked like they heard it for the first time when in fact they received all the information months prior. First being, we had contracted an ambulance company with 2 ambulances at the beach to respond to an emergency along with 2 roving EMT's, and a 4 wheel drive beach rescue vehicle. In the event of a life threatening injury, we had an airlift plan in place set up in conjuction with our helicopter. Last weekend they closed the bridge, trapping beach goers for hours to run a marathon. Doesn't make sense when all the local fans and businesses were ecstatic that there would be a race in the area. We want to hear YOUR opinion of what transpired, email us at greatsouthbayracing@yahoo.com. We'd love to hear from you!


http://www.greatsouthbayracing.com/

[Panther]

I feel really bad for Louie... So much work and heart he's put into scheduling these events only to run into what I think are political issues.