With thanks to Backward Rowing, the point below is too important to be buried in an unrelated thread:

"as for life-jacket exemption, there is. on page 45 of the safe boating guide, your guide to regulations and responsible recreational boating (fisheries and oceans canada - coat guard, 2003, isbn 0-662-31933-8) says:

"ALTERNATIVE EQUIPMENT FOR RACING-TYPE PLEASURE CRAFT"
Any racing-type pleasure craft (other than a racing canoe, kayaks or rowing shells mentioned above) that is engaged in formal training, in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition and that is operated under conditions of clear visibility and attended by a safety craft may carry, instead of the mandatory equipment described on the previous pages of this section, the safety equipment that is required under the rules of the applicable governing body.

Governing body (DBC) has decided we fit as a racing canoe, kayak or rowing shell.

So why the hell are we still wearing one in practices and races? Is it really only about insurance now?

man...who gives a living f*ck about life jackets being on or off...just as long as the team can pull water and be fast with it either on or off and be comfortable


end of discussion.

agreed.

We could easily be practicing with them in the boat instead of having to wear them. But imagine how disgusting a PFD would get sitting in the bottom of the boat every practice. And then you'd go to festivals with nervous insurers and have to race in your toxic vest...

Thanks for making my point about Coast Guard or anyone sane.
I don't wear one in practice or races (only one race this year forced us to wear PFDs) and I paddle small boats without one all the time.

To August 8 2007, 11:11 PM and the person who somehow managed to post an agreement to August 8 2007, 11:11 PM at the exact same time.

Being comfortable with wearing one is not the point. It's the bullsh!t mandating us to wear one.

I think the name of this thread is misleading, the CG is not allowing no PFDs, they are saying that if you are in a racing boat, under certian circumstances, your safety boat can carry your safety equipment. That means if you have a coaches boat, it must carry (in addition to the safety boats own requirements)22 PFD/lifejackets for the DB crew. I don't know what they have to say about span of control for the coaches boat (is it legit for instance to have one coaches boat for say 1 DB, 2 War Canoes and 20 small boats?). If you are out on your own (small boat), without a PFD, they will fine you (past experience).
In our practices we only have to have a PFD with us (your choice on wearing it)and at those festivals that have made wearing PFDs optional(ie sport division)there is still a requirement to have one in the boat. When we are leading up to a festival where it is mandatory to wear your PFD, the coach makes everyone wear one (train like you race).

There is also some rule that the safety boat has to be within X feet of the canoe. Most Dragon Boats would not qualify unless they have a coach boat following them.

PFD's being mandatory makes sense in such situations as: practices in very cold water, practices where allot of teams are on the water at the same time with only one boat watching all the teams at one time & where non-swimmers are involved. Where PFD's do not make sense is in races where chase boats are present and where the water is calm and warm. But if insurance companies require PFD's to insure a festival what can a festival organizer do?

"PFD's being mandatory makes sense in such situations as: practices in very cold water, practices where allot of teams are on the water at the same time with only one boat watching all the teams at one time & where non-swimmers are involved. Where PFD's do not make sense is in races where chase boats are present and where the water is calm and warm. But if insurance companies require PFD's to insure a festival what can a festival organizer do?"

Just to be clear, PFDs are mandatory by law to be available (either in the boat or in a support boat) in all circumstances. The wearing of PFDs has only been made mandatory by the organizers of some (most) festivals. This is not a legal requirement. The assumption is that it is because of insurance. It would be nice to hear from an organizer on this point.

Even if the wearing of a PFD is optional at a festival, I would suggest that it makes sense to have them carried in the DB vs a support boat because:

a) there is lots of room in a DB to put a PFD without it interfering
b) reduces the chance of confusion as to who is carrying the DBs PFDs