OPINION
Words by Mark Orr
Opinion...
I read in the paper last week that the authorities were seeking to prevent a
singlehanded sailor from leaving port as in the last three weeks he had been rescued
five times. The ‘authorities’ justified their decision on the basis of cost to the public
purse. They did not mention danger to those undertaking the rescue. They did not
mention preservation of the life of the solo sailor. They did not mention the freedom to
choose what one does.
nderlying this is a difficult
ten, twenty years to pay the cost back?
Personally I am of the opinion
U
issue that is going to come
What is the premium – single event,
that the amateur sportsperson
to the fore more often as
multiple event, between January and
or sportspersons undertaking a
rescuing those in danger is
March or all year round – will it be sold
hazardous activity as an individual
expensive, places the rescuers lives
like travel insurance? What constitutes
or amateur team should not have
in danger and denies the individual
dangerous – when your feet cannot
to be insured. I have a sympathy for
being rescued the opportunity to
touch the ground? Out of sight of land?
the Corinthian nature of sport. I am
sort themselves out and make an
Above 300m? It is difficult to draw the
charmed by the amateur adventurer.
orderly passage home.
line but it would have to be drawn and it
Through adventure we stretch our
would inevitably be difficult to interpret.
minds and bodies and learn so much
Lets take those points in turn. There are about ourselves and what we are
those that argue that ANYONE engaged
in a hazardous activity should have an
insurance policy to cover the cost of
BROADBAND RADAR
being rescued. This would apply to the
climber, the hill walker, the sailor (power
SAILROCKET
and sail), the windsurfer, the diver, the
BOOK REVIEWS
offshore canoeist etc. If rescued the
emergency services would recover
DVD REVIEWS their costs through an insurance policy.
Sounds very simple, but what happens
BROKERAGE FEATURE
if you have no insurance, does the bailiff
come around and seize property to the
RACING NEWS
value of the rescue? Do you have five,
CLASSIFIEDS
Multihull Review - ISSN 1757 – 8388
Published by and editorial enquires to: Multihull Review, Regus House, Southampton International
Business Park, George Curl Way, Southampton, SO18 2RZ, UK.
Telephone: +44 (0) 2380 302028
“
If rescued the
emergency
services would
Editor:
recover their
costs through
your insurance Selsey RNLI all weather lifeboat 'Voluntary Worker' assisting a 70-foot Volvo
policy
ocean racing yacht Puma. The yacht was suffering with complete loss of power
”
and was drifting in a gale of wind approximately 8 miles south of the station
with 8 crew on board.
»
  JUNE 2009 : MULTIHULL REVIEW  3
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