Is your fleet incorporated?

Or do you run the finances through your checking account with the fleet name tacked on? (You report the fleet finance interest as income to the IRS).

IF the Sht hit the fan.... the corporation would go down. OR... if it's the latter... You go down.

Now you can go purchase insurance. If you are incorporated, you need your own policy for the corportaton to insure your corporation The rules are that you can't use one of the umbrella's polices of Namsa or Hobie. Your options are purchase through Meyers Brigss, (old guys) or the US Sailing sanctoned guys Gowery Barden Bret. Your corporation and all of the volunteers that you get to run the event are now insured and you and your volunterers were never personally liable. The cost is 350 to 400.

If you are an unincorporated fleet, you as an individual can run the regatta and you can use the Hobie Umbrella policy for hobie events... or now the NAMSA umbrella policy for NAMSA events. They (Hobie class or Namsa class) are incorporated and they buy one of the same two policies. So as long as you and the other volunteees are a members of the class (Hobie or Namsa) ... you can run your event with insurance coverage. Everybody has to be a class member though.

So... when the Sht hits the fan... You still get sued personally ... but you now have insurance.... Once the insurance is payed out... You get to cover any difference personally (homeowners... umbrella policy).

So, its a matter of what comfort level you have with the risk.

Sailors are cheap... but the cost of running the event could be explained to them as 20 bucks for insurance... 20 bucks for the power boats per day. 5 bucks for the trophy... and so on.

One other point, Your PRO was probably trained by US Sailing through one of their programs. These individuals are individually protected with a US Sailing policy BECAUSE they have had the training. (this allows PRO's to volunteer for a club and not have to ask... what is my insurance coverage).

This is one of those things that your US Sailing dues pays for..... Important stuff don't you think!!!

You might say... OK... that's all the coverage that my fleet needs. However, Your PRO and volunteers are only covered for the actions on the water.

If Sailor X, draws a drink from the fleet keg, drops a stick on the head of Kid A and permantly injures Kid A. The parents are suing Sailor X and you and all of your fleet members and the property owner because you failed to manage a dangerous area leading to the kids's injury.

So, often the property owner doesn't want to take on this risk for a sailboat race. SO... your corporation can purchase more insurance for the beach property and if necessary actually list the property owner as insured. (I don't think the Hobie or NAMSA policy covers the beach)

Obviously it costs you more.

Good luck.

Mark