Surely BOP racing is about meeting the challenge of racing in the Ocean, which means taking on whatever the Ocean dishes up?
It is up to the organisers to make a call on safety and individual competitors to asses their own skills in light of the conditions.
It was the rocks popping up in the vid that shocked me but I am told that they were to one side and were not a major issue as there was a marshall directing competitors.
Most people I have spoken to said that you are only seeing the carnage (clean up sets) and everyone had the option to pull out.
I am yet to speak with an Aussie paddler who wasn't stoked to be taking part in this event.
I know at the paddle to Battle MS a few years ago everyone was stoked to take in heavy conditions.
If you have the skills to handle these conditions why dumb down the event to the lowest common denominator?
