Rescue Boat Liability?

I think you're pushing your luck on that one Jamie - If your sail had been cut to ribbons by the prop or something like that then you'd have a case, but a small hole caused by them trying to rescue you is something any sailing club committee will throw out.

The club's answer will be along the lines of 'Part of being a good sailor is knowing when not to go out'.

You must have big cojones for going out in that wind on Sunday though - I looked out of my bedroom window, considered the fact that Pennine is about 200 foot higher up than home and went back to bed!

The rescue boat is there to save your poor little life, not your boat - he'd have been perfectly justified in pulling you out of the water and letting your boat smash itself to bits on the wall. In fact I bet he wishes he had.

Yea, i agree that it should come out your own insurance, i had an instance in hayling island where the rescue boat that was towing me back in with a broken mast had the two rope a bit short so coming down the wave my boat was forced to hit the rescue boat resulting in  a cracked front on my boat, i just claimed it off my own insurance.

My 2p....

1) If sailing in 40kts then you have to expect damage. It is nigh on impossible to control and kind of boat in that breeze.

My attitude (depending on how many other boats were out) would have been to get you out and sod your boat. It is insured, thats the reason why. Harsh I know but I have dragged people out before (against their will). We have a club rule which states something like 'When instructed to get in the rescue boat by the rescue crew you get in'.

FWIW we are now changing the term rescue boat to assist boat to specifically get round any liability issues.

Regards,

Paul

Jamie,

Remember you always sail at your own risk. You cannot and should not blame the guys in the rescue/assist boat if they damage your boat whilst try to help you.

As mentioned has they come planing up to you at 20kts and smashed in to your boat that is a different matter. But because it was while they were rescuing you I would say you dont have any complaint.

Just remember next time it is your turn to drive the boat in nasty conditions...

We seem to live in a compensation culture where there is always the feeling that someone is at fault. Fair enough if someone is negligent but we have to accept that accidents happen and sometimes it is no ones fault!

As I said just my 2p....

Hope you get your boat fixed and get back out there quickly!

Paul