Future of RIB racing?

[Brambles]

This is very interesting & I hope something comes from all these positive ideas.

A few months ago a mate & I had a chat in the pub about organising a Cannon Ball Run "run what you brung" type race around the Isle of Wight.

The main aim was to have a properly organised event that was great fun & safe.

From memory the main points were as follows:

Select a weekend where the tides were favourable & there is not another organised event taking place in the Solent.

Liaise with all the necessary authorities to let them know what is happening, seek permission where necessary and take advice.

Create basic classes for boats, based on length & power.

Have all the correct insurance in place, with the cost divided by the number of competitors and included in the entry fee.

Have a passage plan, together with safety & emergency procedures, prepared & laminated for each competitor. This would be issued in advance and gone through in detail at a safety briefing before the start.

Now, here is the potentially difficult part. Put on the goodwill of some of the many instructors on this form to act as safety boats. I thought that perhaps five or six marshall boats strategically placed around the course would be sufficient. They would have a list of competitors and see tham all safely past their point. What's in it for them? Well once the last boat is safely past their point, they can then join the race

Finally, once the last competitor is safely back at the finish, a debrief over a pint with prize giving ceremony. And hopefully a few requests do do another one.

Unfortunately business commitments this year have meant that this remains just an idea at this stage. However, if someone fancies working with me to get it moving, or can make suggestions for improvements, please get in touch.

Cheers.

Ian.

[Cookee]

Bramble - I think the big deterrant in the past has been insurance - it is often by far the biggest expense, and for 1 event may be prohibitive, nevertheless all the best with your plans, and if it gets going and you want to do a Devon event I'd be happy to help!

[Brambles]

Hi Cookie,

Agree with you about the insurance being the largest hurdle. Do you have any contacts, through your racing, who can point me in the direction of a specialist insurance broker? At least I can then run the numbers and see if it is viable.

Thanks for the offer of help with a Devon leg A racing weekend based in Salcombe sounds like heaven to me.

Cheers.

Ian.

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Brambles

Hi Cookie,

Agree with you about the insurance being the largest hurdle. Do you have any contacts, through your racing, who can point me in the direction of a specialist insurance broker? At least I can then run the numbers and see if it is viable.

Thanks for the offer of help with a Devon leg A racing weekend based in Salcombe sounds like heaven to me.

Cheers.

Ian.

Ian / Brambles

The only broker I know that might be able to help is Unicover, they reckon they can insure everything! 01903 877177 Ask for Richard Armitage, and tell him John Cooke sent you!

Good luck!

[Brambles]

Originally Posted by Cookee

Ian / Brambles

The only broker I know that might be able to help is Unicover, they reckon they can insure everything! 01903 877177 Ask for Richard Armitage, and tell him John Cooke sent you!

Good luck!

Thanks Cookie,

I will call him on Tuesday.

Ian.

[slimtim]

I would like to get involved in organisation or support somehow

[bogib]

Perhaps we should try one race this summer and form a committe with people from RIB.net and RIBSTERS.net, two members from each forum and if we have one strong sponsor he could nominate one member of the committe.

Bogi

[ribraff]

From Alan Priddy's post of earlier would i be right in saying that insurance would not be necessary if we were to organise a cruise say from one point to another? ....would this be too risky?

[bogib]

Ribraff I think we can not go away with not to have insurance I am afraid, the question I believe is to set up a simple format of race construction to put forward to the insurance broker and I think Cookee has given contact.

I personally hope we can set up a committe to organise one race this summer so we can work out comprehensive plans for 2006 season, like I have said we should go back to the basics like we had in early 1990´s

Bogi

[Brambles]

Originally Posted by ribraff

From Alan Priddy's post of earlier would i be right in saying that insurance would not be necessary if we were to organise a cruise say from one point to another? ....would this be too risky?

Alan could well be right, but I think in this day & age it is too risky. If something did go wrong the lawyers would have a field day trying to define what constitutes an organised cruise or a competitive race.

If the insurance costs are not too prohibitive I think the idea of a race is a goer. At least the organising team will be able to sleep at night

Ian.

[paul tilley]

looking at the previous classes bogib has posted i would suggest that power should also be related to size in order to to prevent money taking over ie people building 300 hp 5mtr specialist race boats the main object should be to keep it cheap and safe hence insurance is a must as is the help of people to supply safety boats . The most important ingredients when i raced motorbikes were organizers ,marshals , st johns ambulance us racers and FUN

[bogib]

Absalutely Paul Tilley the idea is to have it basic race based on standard production boats perhaps with few extra additions.

As I have written before I have here the BIBOA rules from Jan. 1994 which could be sort of basics to us and I have approached both BIBOA and RYA.

Bogi

[DepSol]

Insurance is a must these days. Even a club who holds an event which then encouters an accident or fatality if the club itself is not limited in liability or has the correct insurance then each club member can be partly responcible for the amount the club is being sued for.

Be very careful with events and make sure they are insured even if disclaimers are signed.

Dom

[bogib]

Good point Dom, surely we have to look at all aspects.

Bogi

[ribraff]

Ok, i have a suggestion...... if we were to do one race this season, insurance permitting i would like to put forward the idea of organising it from here in Dartmouth.
I can provide suitable amenities in the way of secure storage for trailers and equipment at my factory along with facilities for race preparation less than 2 minutes from the slipway, exposure of the event in the local newspaper and i would look at the possibility of sponsoring the event by getting a spread done in an appropriate magazine.... Sportsboat and Rib? Boat Mart?

We could also lay on the hospitality in the way of a barbecue at my place on the embankment after which is right next door to the yacht club!

...all just a suggestion

[bogib]

Great offer Ribraff, on ribsters.net we have set up under the racing section list where people can put their names if they are interested in racing and we are working on having a joint committe of rib.net and ribsters.net people to set up one or two race events this year to gather experiance and response to work things out for 2006 season.

So please those who are interested in back to basic racing sign up.

Bogi

[paul tilley]

i dont mind helping Ed but i definitely would NOT want to race .racing should be done on tarmac with two wheels ,water should be taken with copious amounts of alcohol

[Alan Priddy]

Looks like the clockis about to be turned back! It is a bit late for this year, maybe something in September subject to insurance regulations but I will get on the case. Cheers guys. PS There will be NO Blue blazers and white slacks, lets leave this to the "profesional organisers"
Alan P

[rubberjoey]

I may be able to help on the insurance front, could even take part in the south west leg I will investigate next week.

[Cookee]

Hi Rubberjoey - do you live in Salcombe or visit? Do I know you? Maybe we can meet up for a beer sometime for a beer?