Q - Under what circumstances should you change course in a distance race to check whether you should render assistance?
A - Whenever required by the RRS and/or the Rules of the Road (international treaty for safety at sea that all local laws and regulations must follow).
Q - Is it automatic if you see a flip or stuff to assume you must go and check on the boat?
A -No. You are required to change course only if assistance is required. It's the skipper's call.
Q - Does it matter how radically you have to change course? (Sail back up wind)
A - Only if your course change puts your boat in danger.
Q - Can you assume that boats behind will see the crashed boat and stop and render assistance?
A - No.
Q - Do you keep checking to see if anyone did stop or the boat is upright before you turn around or heave to and wait until the boat is up and moving again and ask for redress?
A - Yes.
Q - Does it matter if its a buoy race and there are mark boats on the course. Would no mark boats change your point of view? Does this change your perspective and give you a pass?
A - The presence of other vessels in the vicinity obviously affect a skipper's decision to render assistance. If you see another boat approaching the troubled one and consider that it will suffice, you are free to go.
Note, however, that if conditions are bad enough to put one boat in trouble, they are likely to be (or become) bad enough to put more boats in trouble, possibly more than the RC and support boats can handle.
Besides, if you make a bad judgement, you are liable. Legally and moraly.
Q - Should distance racers keep their hand held radio's on their person and listen for a distress call?
A - A hand held is mandatory when required by the sailing instructions. If there are no explicit instructions regarding its use, the decision to turn it on depends on battery charge availability and weather conditions. Each skipper must decide what to do. Rule of thumb: if you would feel better knowing that others are listening at a given time, then turn yours on as well.
Q - Should any of this be spelled out in the Sailing Instructions or is the general rule 1 good enough?
A - Except for the hand held, everything else is covered by the RRS and international treaty.
Q - Should the PRO bring this protocol up at the Skip meeting?
A - Maybe as an additional safety measure.
Luiz, good recap. Depending on the venue and conditions, the PRO should always cover safety and assistance. When we race on the Columbia River, home of the Gorge, and other areas with high wind and ship traffic, it is always covered. Large ships and barge traffic is the main hazzard. The normal instructions are automatic DSQ if you venture too close to ship or try to cross in their path. Also the reminder that the tug and barge may be several hundred feet apart, but the tow cable, under water is still there. Another automatic DSQ if you try to go between them.
Our safety boats try to herd the Cats away on an approaching tow, but accidents still happen. Several years ago, we had a H-16 that had turned over eaten up by a barge and tow. The crew had been rescued, but the tow could not stop. They can not alter course, and it takes several miles for them to stop.
Safety first, better to let them pass first, then cross behind.
Caleb Tarleton