The Bay Area Boat System (BABS) started in September of 2004, but the idea of it started well before the group formed, or any towers were placed. Thoughts of a tour group in constant motion, taking members new and veteran on a conversational tour of There, brainstormed and finally came to a virtual realization when There joined forces and placed the towers as part of the world. The first ever member created content project. 

The members of BABS are boat captains. As it stands now, it is a regional system of airports on the Tiki Islands and connecting points. Once BABS has enough pilots and tour guides, it will encompass more parts of There.  If you are interested in joining this group of pilots and tour guides, we’d love to have you on board!  Casual boat captain skill is required to join :-)

I too am a founding member of BABS and hoped along with LossAngeles for the idea to become a virtual reality.  I worked with Hula and Loss to attend to what the idea needed, and when I was hired to replace Hula, I approached the team at Makena to find a way for this to work, as a part of our world. I know it is still a work in process but with the help of more pilots and tour guides, the BABS group  perhaps someday be manned enough on Tiki to spout off to more islands!  Just imagine the possibilities!

The Bay Area Boat System means a lot to the members of this group, they are active in their group forums, so I have asked them to be a part of this interview along with the founder, LossAngeles,  and current group leader; TeriG.           

Extracted from club forums:

Matttt                           “BABS is great! The best thing about it is the BABS run. WOOT!”

Francis_7                   “BABS is a wonderful idea brought to fruition thanks to There and with the help and support of the membership. What a fun way to spend time! I get on my boat and fly from station to station. I often start with a load of new arrivals at the Piaz BABS station and take them on a tour stopping at BAB’s stations along the way. Check out a BAB’s station today and give it a try!

Pilots wanted! “

Superbear2   “maybe we could point BABS out opening the new terminal on Zona?“           

Shaeri                         “I think the coolest part about the BABS is that it is an EXCELLENT training ground for new pilots on the Hairier Legion Flight Team. Its sort-of required knowledge to have those BABS terminals memorized forwards and backwards. I sometimes do a pop-quiz on naming all of the terminals when I get a new pilot over in the Firefox Flight. It gives us (on the Legion) the opportunity to train pilots in how to fly in formation, gives new pilots a great opportunity to practice speed control and sharpen up their navigation skills.

I don't think the terminals are nearly as utilized as they should be. They are a fantastic way to get around Caldera and Ootay. It's a great way to meet people and take in the scenery. You never know if you're going to see something new on a BABS run.

I'm looking forward to the day that the terminal system gets expanded to the other islands, like Cangrejo, Motu Motu and Malahini. So for now, when I want to take in what's happening over on the Tiki Islands, I just go for a BABS run. It's relaxing and fun to do!”

navarre722                “And I fly the BABS route just about every other night. “   

Basya                         “The BABS Run is always a terrific way to see and explore There! I have found it also to be an excellent way to hone my pilot skills for the Hairier Legion Flight Team.”

Galahad                     “A large and hearty WOOT to those who founded BABS: a great concept and certainly fun for all. “

Kitte                            “Mackie thank you so much for making the BABS a featured club. It does so much for the community as well as being so much fun for the BABS pilots and their passengers.

It has been great fun planning the "monthly" events for the BABS terminals. They have been met with great success. The biggest event so far was the "April Fools" which cause great havoc with the pilots as they tried to figure out which terminals was the next one to descend down on. TeriG and I believe the event that embraced the essence of the BABS was the last one called "Call a Friend" where the pilot needs to land one terminal at a time and call one friend per terminal who will ride with them to the end for the prize. There was actually a "to the second" race between Nema (winner) and Naverra (who came in 2nd).

The Hairier Legion has flown the BABS terminal to integrate the new cadets into the flight team. No better way is there than to "fun fly" along with explaining how to fly in formation. The BABS stations have been used by the Yacht Club for their monthly event as well as other clubs. It really has not stopped there as I know personally a number of individuals who run the BABS when there is nothing else going on or late at night.

It of course is the dream and anticipation of TeriG and myself that the BABS station expand to other islands. Whether this expansion happens all at once or one island at a time, we will rejoice no matter what.  Until then, the monthly events continue with the upcoming one called "The Madd Hatter". This event is not for the weak of heart or mind as it takes the pilot into the world of Alice in Wonderland and more. Check out dates, times and further explanation on the BABS and general forums.Thanks again Mackie”

From the forums, I headed straight to email where I interviewed both the current and the original leader of the BABS group:

Mackie:                      How did you come up with the idea to have a boat touring system?                 

LossAngeles:            I was riding with a group of other people one night for about 3 hours. During that time some passengers had to leave (including the pilot) and when they did we'd land some place and invite another passenger on board. Our landings were very random and as the evening progressed it just hit me: "We don't have any permanent airports in world... how strange is that. It would be neat if we had some places we could go to for passengers, which were always present in world."

Mackie:                      How do you see BABS now?

TeriG:                         as a growing, expanding entity

LossAngeles:            I'm extremely happy at how it has turned into so much more than just a pick / drop off point for boats and passengers. Other hoverboat groups are using the ports for their own themed events and a few small communities of PAZ's have formed about some of them as well.

Mackie:                      How do you see BABS in a year?

TeriG:                         I'm hoping for inter-Island travel to BABS terminals.  Many members have been asking for it since the beginning.

LossAngeles:              Well, now that we have the large BABS billboards in world I finally see the possibility of sub-ports and growth of the system outside the 6 core ports on the Tiki Islands. Right now I'm working on a small sub-system on Motu Motu which includes Loaners4U at the present time. I believe URU Island and the Harrier League also have ports. I'm really excited about that; the more the merrier!

Mackie:                      Do you feel it is a successful venture as the first Member Created Content project in There?

TeriG:                         yes, because even after almost a year and a half it is still being utilized by not only the BABS group but the Harrier Legion and the Yacht Club for their activities as well as individual members of these groups are flying them, on their own and picking up other members and taking them for cruises around the islands. 

LossAngeles:              Oh absolutely; no doubt. It wasn't an easy sell at the time and on a few occasions I didn't think the project would become a reality. I'd like to commend the folks at There (including some that have left such as Hula) for having an open mind and listening to the idea. It would not have been completed if not for There's support of the member community.

Mackie:                     How did you come to be the leader of BABS?

TeriG:                         I have been involved with the project since they were being built and put in world. I had a lot of ideas coming my way for the BABS and LossAngeles and I discussed it and he asked me if I would just take the group and lead it for him.  I was willing to do what I was without being leader, but it definitely makes it easier this way. :     

Mackie:                      What inspires you to keep a club with so much upkeep going?

TeriG:                         The member participation and excitement I hear when we have get together’s at the monthly events Kitte and I have been planning for the BABS group and members in There.

Mackie:                      What types of events do you have?

TeriG:                         Right now we have monthly events that are either just “fun flys” to get everyone together or recently we have been having some races where there are monetary prizes handed out at the end. So far they have been a hit.  We have several more planned for this summer. Stay tuned in your inbox and the online magazines for further information. ;)

Mackie:                      When do you sleep?

TeriG:                         hehe...sometime between midnight and 7am if I'm lucky. ;)

Mackie:                      Anything you'd like to add:

TeriG:                         I'd like to say thank you for talking with me and that there are more exciting things in store for the BABS terminals and group. Kitte and Tbone are getting together a "Hotel" for newbies to have a home as their first experience in There.  A place to call their own. It is in a neighborhood lot and so tours can be scheduled and the BABS pilots are welcome to schedule tours to take the new avies around to see the Tiki Islands and BABS terminals.  It's very excitiing idea to me.

LossAngeles:            Yes. This would not have been a success without the enthusiasm and participation many members of community put into the project, from the early stages of development up through today. I'd like to take this time to thank them all, especially Francis_7 and Michaelflya for donating their design work for the project. It's truly a community project made up of many different people and that is what makes it so rewarding for me.

I would like to take this time to thank not only TeriG and LossAngeles, but also Icedoll, who led the group as well.  The members of this group are a family, if you don’t believe me, join, and feel the community spirit that abounds.