Mark L.,
I NEVER said you shouldn't have as many "marks boats" as possible. To read that from my statements is ludicrous.
On the contrary, I have never been to a regatta where I felt there were enough "marks boats".
I have been to regattas where I felt it was more dangerous to rely on the "marks boats" rather than each other.
I have been to regattas where there were these large power boats riding around with ONE PERSON in them who pretended to help.
I have been to regattas where a power boat stayed tied to the committe boat all day except when it moved marks.
I have been to regattas where power boats circled the committe boat, chatting with the committee DURING the prestart.
I have been to regattas where a power boat was tied to the committe boat on the STARTING side.
I have been to regattas where power boats parked on a nearby beach to watch the race from shore.

I realize how hard it is to get people to volunteer as "marks boats".
Unfortunately when a person knowingly volunteers to assist people who may be in a life threatening situation, you MUST be able to depend on that person. And conversely the organizers of the regatta MUST protect that person from possible liabilities.

An important concept in our court system is "expectation". The expectation of privacy, of performance, of safety, of rescuing us from our own stupidity. If you don't say "can't" or "will not" you may leave an expectation of "can" or "will". Sad but true.
If the regatta organizers don't do everything in their power to put the safety onus on the competitors, they may be liable.

Let me repeat, the more "marks boats" the better. Any kind of "marks boat" is better than none. Anybody on a "marks boat" is better than none.