I had hoped to someday participate in one of your swims. But if your only two options for safety watercraft are some guy in a Boston Whaler who refuses to show he is insured or a teenager going 50 on a jet ski; then I’ll take a pass. And stick with my swims in secluded puddles with trained water-front lifeguards in kayaks and Fire & Rescue on jet skis with rescue boards.
In my 30+ years of being an open water swimmer and race director, I’ve never seen an instance where a one of my safety or escort boats needed to be traveling anywhere near 34 MPH. In my opinion, anyone going that fast on an active race course is reckless and dangerous. That’s input from a race director.
Hypothetical.... but of course you knew that; and still it doesn't make it less true. You misrepresent the issue of insurance by failing to mention the $ 1,000,000 limit for hired boaters which BTW I have invited you to provide a link to any such agency that offers such a policy to non-commercial vessels, so if it does actually exist please post it here that we all may benefit.
There are only 2 reasons for high speeds during an event.
Emergency evacuation, and to protect swimmers from recreational traffic. I'm glad you have never had the need for either in your 30+ years of OW participation, but I'm sure you know such possibilities exist. We're ready and able to deal with them.
I had hoped to someday participate in one of your swims. But if your only two options for safety watercraft are some guy in a Boston Whaler who refuses to show he is insured or a teenager going 50 on a jet ski; then I’ll take a pass. And stick with my swims in secluded puddles with trained water-front lifeguards in kayaks and Fire & Rescue on jet skis with rescue boards.
In my 30+ years of being an open water swimmer and race director, I’ve never seen an instance where a one of my safety or escort boats needed to be traveling anywhere near 34 MPH. In my opinion, anyone going that fast on an active race course is reckless and dangerous. That’s input from a race director.
Hypothetical.... but of course you knew that; and still it doesn't make it less true. You misrepresent the issue of insurance by failing to mention the $ 1,000,000 limit for hired boaters which BTW I have invited you to provide a link to any such agency that offers such a policy to non-commercial vessels, so if it does actually exist please post it here that we all may benefit.
There are only 2 reasons for high speeds during an event.
Emergency evacuation, and to protect swimmers from recreational traffic. I'm glad you have never had the need for either in your 30+ years of OW participation, but I'm sure you know such possibilities exist. We're ready and able to deal with them.
