SAMM Racing
MEETING WITH THE FEDERATION DE VELA DE LA REGION DE MURCIA (FVRM) – 09.08.2010 – Version 2
Present: Raul Ramos*, Technical Manager FVRM, Terry Chapman, John Down, Bob Miles
Pedro Hortelano, Translator
*Raul Ramos was a member of the Spanish Olympic Sailing Team in Athens and Training Manager for the Murcian Disabled Sailing Federation for two years.
The meeting was to clarify the Rules/Regulation governing Sailboat Racing at Club level in Murcia.
It was appreciated that all the answers to our questions were likely to be biased to their view that being an FVRM member is essential.
This report, the observations and notes are solely concerned with the facts and situation in respect of Racing.
The first clarification is that Club racing, where all competitors are club members, is not recognized in Spain. Every event is an “Open” event and anybody can participate. Therefore there is no need for a “Temporary Membership” scheme for SAMM just to avoid problems if non-members participate in racing.
Such local racing is Class 4 racing and an entry fee can be charged.
For every Regatta (race day) the following is required.
1. Approval of the Regatta from the Port Captain of the area.
This is needed for every event held in Spanish Territorial Waters and, although the wording of the law is not known, is required by Spanish Law “Real Decreto 62/2008, articulo 11”. A separate application must be made for each regatta, you cannot apply for a series under one application, and must include if applicable.
Name of organizing body.
List of other entities involved (other bodies, Red Cross etc).
Details of security, support boats etc.
Map of proposed course and location.
For a full list of the requirements see the copy of the application form document “Solicitude de Regatta” and the sample regatta announcement “Trofo de Infanta Christina”
If non-licensed people were found to be competing the Capitania Maratimo can issue a penalty to the organizers.
The FVRM can make the applications for its members which usually results in instant response. Direct applications can take some time.
2. Organizing Association Registration with FVRM
This can be by direct annual registration, currently 600€ per annum.
By registration for the day of the regatta only. We have asked FVRM for a guide to the cost. Incorrect annual only.
Through an existing Registered body (CAR, Club Nauticas etc).
3. Civil Liability Insurance for the Regatta.
FVRM can help with contacts. We have asked the insurers for a guide to the premium.
4. License to Compete for all Competitors
This is available from the FVRM and is needed by every person in a boat. The cost is 57€ per annum which includes Civil Liability Insurance of 1.5 million Euros per casualty and per year, see copy policy document “Responsibilidad Civil. An English sailing qualification or the Titular is not a requirement for helms when racing is overseen by the FVRM.
The organizers must keep a record of the competitor’s license details. If non-licensed people were found to be competing they could not make a claim under the organizers insurance policy if there was an accident.
Visitors could compete provided they had a similar “License” from their national body and Civil Liability/Personal Accident Insurance up to 350,000.00 Euro.
5. Support Boats for the Regatta
One boat is needed for every six boats competing. We need to check if there is an upper limit.
One RIB is available free of charge from FVRM, without driver if not already booked for another event. One is permanently moored at CAR. We need details of the length and engine size
Other support boats can be any type of power boat.
The only requirement is that support boat helms must be suitably qualified for the boat (ie, under six meters and 50HP engine only requires Titular or suitable UK qualification).No medical or first aid qualifications are required.
For member Associations the FVRM will also provide, free of charge, for every Regatta (if requested and subject to availability), Applications for Approval, Buoys, Flags, Advertising Posters, event listing on their web site and Technical Support.
Observation
With the free loan of a RIB from FVRM, the need for SAMM to purchase a RIB for Race Rescue use may not be necessary.
The support boat requirement (1 boat per six competing boats) means that with the free RIB for rescue and Bob Miles boat a max of twelve boats can compete.
If SAMM were to proceed with the purchase of a “Work Boat”, provided we had use of the FVRM RIB as a Race Rescue Boat, a rigid vessel should be acceptable and would permit entries of up to 18 boats.
Notes
We were advised that if racing was organized/undertaken without these requirements in place everybody involved would have no legal protection whatsoever. We would be racing in Spanish waters without any kind of permission from Spanish authorities.
All organizers and participants should ask themselves if failure to comply with local requirements will invalidate their insurance.
There are no additional benefits for SAMM as a consequence of membership of the FVRM but we are told that Third Party Insurance premiums will be more expensive and the Capitania Maratima will probable not approve the request to hold a regatta.
Alan of Pro-Vela spoke to some of the Shoestring Group members, including the Chairman and Secretary last week and told them he was conducting an identical investigation into the organization of racing. He had not yet spoken to the FVRM, only Snr. Montoya, and wished to know if the Shoestring group would be interested in taking part. We will initiate a discussion with him about this subject as there may be some advantages in a joint operation.
On Wednesday 1st September between 5 and 8pm Shoestring members and boats attended and took part in a Race Training session run by Alan which they all enjoyed. This consisted of a brief talk about basic rules and then a series of races consisting of a start, beats to a windward buoy and a straight run back. The only other people involved were 5 or 6 staff from CAR who sailed using the Pro-Vela RS Q-Bar single seaters.
However on speaking to him, Alan made it clear that he had no plans to develop this further and will not be running a regular series but just the odd event as his other commitments permit.
Neither did he seem very keen to work with SAMM to help develop our racing program on past lines.
He was interested in perhaps using SAMM’s membership of the FVRM to run his planned “Moth Feste” event as a legal regatta.