Hi Mark

First let me say that I I certainly want lots of marks boats around!
They are a greatly appreciated service provided by the sponsoring club.

The questions are why do you want them around (Saftey or towing marks and boats around)
What you think they will be able to do. (Save your life or watch helplessly)

Most importantly as Sam noted... What message are the next of kin, judge and jury going to think you mean.

You wrote.
I'm only addressing how best to save a boat in a tight spot.

Obviously You and PU's expectation is that they are around for saftey and a rate of one crash boat for every 10 cats matches your comfort level. Just in case....

I think this is well intentioned but paradoxically irresponsible.

You have shifted responsiblity from the skipper to some one else with this standard of the more (pick a rate) patrol boats the safer.
AND you pretend that this other "saftey person" will actually have the skill, training and opportunity to do somthing about the emergency.

My position is that everyone (cats + powerboats) is around for saftey...That its the captains job to ensure saftey and his alone

Clubs who manage a regatta with one powerboat are not more or less responsible then a club that manages the same size regatta with 10 powerboats. They are identical! You just get a lot more service at the club with 10 power boats on the water. (I remember a Statue of LIberty race where the RC tossed cold drinks to us while we drifted...Greatly appreciated
at the time)

The reason they are equally responsible and must be identical is that saftey is the individual skippers responsiblity.

As soon as you say... OH... the club with 10 powerboats is running a 10 X safer event or even just a safer event... I think you have cooked your own goose. You have shifted the saftey onus to the club and away from the captain.

Besides.... How do you prove that the club with more powerboats is safer? How do you measure this kind of thing?

you wrote:
So you had NO safety boats Mr. RC?"
" That is correct"
I would then re-phrase the question four or five times to make sure it stuck with the jury. Either you have to repeat that you didn't make an effort to get safety boats over and over, or you attempt to change the story. (DROOL)
Then I would provide evidence of past regattas that had "safety" boats. SLAM DUNK.

And Paul Ulibari's directive would make your plight even worse as RC. The national authority TOLD YOU to have X number of boats and because you don't my clien'ts Wife is dead!

Fortunately, the law is on the side of the RC... The law clearly states that the skipper is responsible for saftey and NO ONE ELSE. However... once you imply or promise something else... you have a contract and you are screwed.

So long as you are clear in all of your actions and documents that Saftey is SOLELY the responsiblity of the Skipper you are doing the responsible thing and in my opinion the right thing.

you wrote:
Hence the opinion that to not seek as many assist boats as possible simply to make it look better in court is cowardly.

Hopefully we agree that I am not arguing this point.

To not seek them feeling that they will not be needed is misguided.

I am arguing with you about this notion.
They are not needed for saftey!...

Skippers who fudge on saftey items like a whistle on your life jacket and don't take full and total responsiblity for their boat's upkeep and the crew's saftey are the misguided ones.

Take care
Mark S



















.