I believe that it was an insurance requirement if I remember our last LMSC meeting correctly (our chair was a member of the OW task force, but possibly I am mis-remembering). I think they did shop around and this was the best they could do. I'm sure that USMS would welcome input from race directors, but maybe insuring 150 events across the nation is a more complicated thing than insuring one event or event series.
Of course it is about liability, but that isn't as completely divorced from safety as you claim. You don't have a lawsuit without an incident.
We received notice that there were going to be some changes to the sanctioning process... listed were such new requirements as recommended by the OW task force and were pending approval by the OW committee.
I immediately contacted my insurance provider to see exactly what sort of $$$’s it would take for boaters to obtain the “proposed” $1,000,000 policy. Conclusion; this policy is not available for non commercial vessels. Thats research by a race director.
I have run my boat both with and without a prop-guard. Top speed without is 34 mph, top speed with is 30% less.... an unacceptable loss of performance. Thats input from a race director.
The OW committee voted to approve the recommendations by the OW task force (any surprises?). I’m curious as to how much input from race directors was actually weighed as there doesn’t seem like there was a whole lot of time for directors to absorb this info, do all the research, and provide an informed opinion to the OW committee before the adoption of said recommendations.
A 16 year old volunteer on a jet ski zipping through the race course at 50 mph would be in compliance with the new regulations, but a boston whaler with a 4’ dive door and a pilot with 1000 hours of swimmer escort experience would not....
Tell me again about safety and liability.....
I believe that it was an insurance requirement if I remember our last LMSC meeting correctly (our chair was a member of the OW task force, but possibly I am mis-remembering). I think they did shop around and this was the best they could do. I'm sure that USMS would welcome input from race directors, but maybe insuring 150 events across the nation is a more complicated thing than insuring one event or event series.
Of course it is about liability, but that isn't as completely divorced from safety as you claim. You don't have a lawsuit without an incident.
We received notice that there were going to be some changes to the sanctioning process... listed were such new requirements as recommended by the OW task force and were pending approval by the OW committee.
I immediately contacted my insurance provider to see exactly what sort of $$$’s it would take for boaters to obtain the “proposed” $1,000,000 policy. Conclusion; this policy is not available for non commercial vessels. Thats research by a race director.
I have run my boat both with and without a prop-guard. Top speed without is 34 mph, top speed with is 30% less.... an unacceptable loss of performance. Thats input from a race director.
The OW committee voted to approve the recommendations by the OW task force (any surprises?). I’m curious as to how much input from race directors was actually weighed as there doesn’t seem like there was a whole lot of time for directors to absorb this info, do all the research, and provide an informed opinion to the OW committee before the adoption of said recommendations.
A 16 year old volunteer on a jet ski zipping through the race course at 50 mph would be in compliance with the new regulations, but a boston whaler with a 4’ dive door and a pilot with 1000 hours of swimmer escort experience would not....
Tell me again about safety and liability.....
