[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by flyingwelshman

I was speaking of the fleets that were in the area and had the SAR capabilities. Why would Peru mount a rescue? The race doesn't go anywhere near them?

What fleet would that have been???

Perhaps the competitors or the organizers should post a bond, or be financially responsible for rescue efforts. This, I think, might put too much of a financial burden on them and could lead to the demise of the race. I would not like to see that.

As to the point of 'maritime law', I can't think of any other sporting event in which laws or standards are not adhered to.

This is a reasonable cost of doing business. Posting a bond or getting insurance to cover the cost of a rescue could easily be incorporated into the structure, given the budgets involved.

Oh, wait a sec: almost all of them: rules of the road in auto racing and cycling; laws regarding common assault (almost any team sport); laws regarding assault with a weapon (hockey) etc. etc. etc. It is the nature of these sporting events that participants can function outside of the laws. How great would NASCAR be if there were pedestrian crossings, traffic lights and school buses on the track? The Tour de France would be a blast if the cyclists had to stick to the cycling lanes and signal their turns. Not to mention no more hockey fights!

Last I checked, NASCAR ran on closed tracks, where normal street driving laws do not apply.