I just read Paul Ullibari's comments on adequate powerboat coverage for a regatta in the most recent NAHCA news. He makes two main points:
He notes the need for marks boats to manage the race course effectively and he wrote about the implied contract between host clubs and the sailor with respect to quality racing.
I have a problem with his second point.
He goes on to set a standard of 1 patrol boat or support boat for every ten cats on the water specifically for safety concerns . He seems to state this as official Hobie policy.
I believe that this standard (which sounds like a regatta requirement) exposes RC's to unnecessary liability and leaves clubs negligent if they fail to meet this Hobie saftey standard.
Again, I refer to a conversation with a Myers Briggs representative a few years ago. He repeatedly stated the underlying principle is that RC's should do nothing to undercut the responsibility of the skipper to judge the prevailing conditions and continue to race or not race. He stated that RC’s job was to conduct a race if conditions permit and not to judge whether it was “Safe” for boats to be on the water. He warned that by declaring you had support boats on the water, you implied that you (RC) would assume some responsibility to rescue the sailor. Moreover, you would be grilled on the proper training for your rescue boat personal or why you did not have the proper equipment to stabilize an injured sailor, etc etc. If NAHCA set a policy of 1 support/rescue per 10 cats for safety reasons then RC's which fail to provide such a standard would be negligent (or have a tough time proving they were not negligent).
Rather, he suggested that Race Committees provide marks boats only! If the skipper of a mark boat was able to offer assistance to a sailor in trouble he would be acting just like the skipper of another cat or the skipper of a recreational boater passing by. His actions or (inability to offer assistance) would be covered under the good Samaritan laws.
Has NAHCA unintentionally raised the bar for fleets and made them responsible for an individual racers safety on the water?
Take Care
Mark
