On the same line, I'm planning to come. I'm planning to race. I will be taking a GPS, VHF Radio, and Cell phone on the boat with me. If you have rules against them then perhaps we can seal them somehow so that I am DSQ'd only if I use them for a non-emergency purpose, or I will race "for exhibition only". But anymore I would not consider doing a "offshore" race without what I consider to be reasonable safety gear.

I look at this in much the same way as I look at RRS Fundamental Rule number 4 - Decision to Race "The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone"

And finally, just some food for thought... At my club we used to have similar rules about electronics. They used to be expensive to the point that they were not generally available. Now that they are "generally available" to the average competitor, we would not consider taking on the responsibility as a club of discouraging sailors from carrying equipment that could be construed as reasonable safety equipment.

Jamie Diamond