Coaching and Support Vessels
All championships shall state in their Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions as to which Grade(s) that event will be governed by.
Grade 1: Private coaching is permitted; coach and support boats permitted.
Grade 2: US SAILING-supplied coaching; support boats permitted. No private coaching.
Grade 3: No private coaching nor US SAILING-supplied coaches; support boats only if permitted in the NOR .
Definitions:
A support boat is defined as a vessel in which interested party (parties ) reside(s) while on the water and who have direct ties to a competitor or group of competitors.
A coach boat is defined as a vessel in which a coach (or coaches) reside(s) while on the water and who have direct ties to a competitor or group of competitors.
A platform is defined as a stationary flotation area which has been provided by the Organizing Authority located near to the racing area.
1. Except when rendering assistance to a boat in danger at that boat’s request, or at the request of the race committee, authorized coaches and other support personnel shall stay at least 100 meters outside areas where boats are racing, from the time of the preparatory signal for the first fleet to start until all boats have finished or the race committee signals an abandonment.
a. All coach and support boats must have a working VHF radio and monitor the RC channel.
b. The PRO may release the coach boats onto the race course at his/her discretion i.e. after a general recall, postponement or if safety needs dictate it.
c. Support boats are not allowed on the race course until all boats have finished or unless released by the PRO.
d. If the PRO, RC or Judges see that a coach or support boat (as defined to include all on board) violate this policy, the following actions will occur:
i. Violation #1: The coach/ support boat will be given a warning by the RC/PRO.
ii. Violation #2: The coach/support boat occupants without exception will be restricted to being on the authorized platform. In the event there is not an authorized platform, the coach/ support boat will be required to anchor at a specific location and not move from it during each race.
iii. Violation #3: The coach/support boat occupants without exception will be banned from the racing area for the duration of the event and must turn in the identification flag.
e. The RC may lodge a protest against all of the boats identified as being associated with this support boat. A penalty given to an associated boat will be considered a breach of Rule 2, Fair Sailing and the penalty will be at the discretion of the Protest Committee.
2. Authorized coach/ support boats shall be marked with a numbered or colored identification flag, provided by the organizing authority at registration.
3. Where private coaching is permitted:
a. All coaches, and/or support personnel shall register before 1700hrs on the day of registration at the host venue. Proof of current First Aid, CPR and US SAILING Level 2 certification or its equivalent from another NGB or proof of current First Aid, CPR and a certificate of liability insurance for $1 million (US) will be required.
b. Any coach and/or support personnel who does not have current First Aid and CPR and/or has neither US SAILING Level 2 certification (or its equivalent from another National Governing Body) nor has provided proof of $1 million dollars (US) liability insurance may be provided a fixed venue on the water. Competitors are free to sail up to the venue between races but must be out of the coaching box (to be defined by the event SI’s) from the time of the preparatory signal for the first fleet to start until all boats have finished or the race committee signals an abandonment.