For the 2016 Solar Splash competition, the American Power Boat Association (APBA) is sanctioning the Solar Splash as one of their ‘Special Events’. The Solar Splash is interested in partnering with the APBA for several reasons: the insurance coverage is affordable, the nationwide publicity and attention via the APBA is wanted, and the APBA has operating and safety methods and organization which the Solar staff can learn from and improve the overall Solar Splash event.
As a result of Solar Splash being a sanctioned APBA event, the following NEW rules must be followed this year:
- All participants that go out on the water in a boat must be APBA members. This means that all skippers for all teams must join the APBA before you will be allowed onto the water. Skippers can go to the APBA website and join at the $25 level before the competition, or you can join at the competition by paying $25 (cash or check only). If you join before the competition, be sure to bring your APBA membership number with you.
- The paddock area, the on-deck area, and the launching area and docks will be considered a ‘restricted area’. A construction-type fence will enclose all the above areas. Movement in and out of the restricted area will be through a monitored gate area, and wrist-bands must worn to get in. These wrist-bands will be given when the APBA waiver is signed.
- No boat can run its motor with the propeller attached to the shaft within the restricted area when the boat is on land. Motor and prop can only be run together when the boat is in the water.
- If a boat is taken out of the restricted area, the propeller must first be removed from the shaft.
The above rules 2, 3 and 4 are directly associated with propeller safety for team members, staff, and spectators.