In the case of the incident that led to the reassessment in this case, I think that's exactly what it was - an accident waiting to happen. 50+ swimmers, 50+ power boats, all jostling for position in the same space... ugh. What's surprising is that it happened at the end of the race, not the leadoff leg when everyone is bunched together.
The level of risk in a large OW relay race with individual power boat escorts seems categorically different than just about any other situation in OWS. It raises the question of how this event was ever sanctioned in the first place? Somebody wasn't doing their homework. Too bad now all the other, safer categories of OW events are suffering as a result.
I find it interesting that the event directors eliminated the solo category from the Maui channel race after this accident. What is the logic behind that? Was this at the request of their insurance provider?
In the case of the incident that led to the reassessment in this case, I think that's exactly what it was - an accident waiting to happen. 50+ swimmers, 50+ power boats, all jostling for position in the same space... ugh. What's surprising is that it happened at the end of the race, not the leadoff leg when everyone is bunched together.
The level of risk in a large OW relay race with individual power boat escorts seems categorically different than just about any other situation in OWS. It raises the question of how this event was ever sanctioned in the first place? Somebody wasn't doing their homework. Too bad now all the other, safer categories of OW events are suffering as a result.
I find it interesting that the event directors eliminated the solo category from the Maui channel race after this accident. What is the logic behind that? Was this at the request of their insurance provider?
