MetLife Boat Safety Tips

Getting a Permit for a Regatta or Marine Event

Your yacht club has decided to sponsor a small competition between your club and the next town's yacht club. The anticipated number of boats competing is 15. The course will be in an area which normally has no traffic. What do you, as regatta coordinator, need to do? What is the time frame? The answer to these questions can be found on this page.

Step One

According to federal law, an application for a regatta must be forwarded to the Coast Guard District Commander at least 30 days in advance of the event. The Coast Guard requests that the application be submitted in triplicate. The application requests the following information:

• Name of event
• Name and address of sponsoring organization.
• Name, address, and telephone of person or persons in charge of the event.
• Nature and purpose of the event. Information as to general public interest.
• Estimated number and types of watercraft participating in the event.
• Estimated number and types of spectator watercraft.
• Number of boats being furnished by sponsoring organizations to patrol the event.
• A time schedule and description of events.
• A section of a chart or scale drawing showing the boundaries of the event, various water courses or areas to be utilized by participants, officials, and spectator craft.

In addition to the application, a person must supply a copy of a chart with the effected area marked with the course, boundaries and any markers. If a chart is not available, then a scale drawing is required.

Step Two

Once the Coast Guard receives the application, a decision will be made as to jurisdiction. If the regatta falls under the State's authority to regulate, then the application is forwarded to the State's Boating Law Administrator's office.

If the regatta does not fall under the State's jurisdiction, the Coast Guard will determine if the regatta may have significant impact on the environment; substantial controversy because of effects on the human environment or inconsistencies with any Federal, State or local law and/or administrative determination relating to the environment. If the regatta has any of the above conditions, the Coast Guard will ask the sponsor(s) for additional information in order to complete an Environmental Analysis Checklist. (See Environmental Analysis Checklist on next page.)

Step Three

You will be notified that the Coast Guard has approved the application. Now your organization can carry out the regatta or boating event. However, sometimes the Coast Guard must disapprove an application. A few possible reasons for disapproval are the following:

• Will the event create a significant increase in the population of the community?
• Will the event have significant effect on the economic activities of the area?
• Will the event have any significant effects on any parks or recreation areas?
• Will the event increase the normal noise level in the area during normal working hours?
• Will the event require rerouting of traffic?
• Will the event adversely effect ambient air quality?
• Will there be any dredging or construction in the waterway?
• Is the event site within the range of any known threatened or endangered species?
• Is the event located near wetlands?
• Is the event located inside or near a wildlife refuge or wildlife conservation area?
• Does the event restrict any access to any public park or recreation area?

A "rule of thumb" should be to submit the paperwork as early as possible because the application will not be approved until all required studies have been conducted.

If the Coast Guard cannot complete the studies in 30 days, then the event cannot be held. To give your organization a little cushion, submit the paperwork while still in the planning stage even if the date is only tentative. Put the date down as "on or about." When the exact date is known, send that information to the Coast Guard so the application can be updated.

What Information Is Needed For The Environmental Analysis Checklist?

• Will the event create a significant increase in the population of the community?
• Will the event have significant effect on the economic activities of the area?
• Will the event have any significant effects on any parks or recreation areas?
• Will the event increase the normal noise level in the area during normal working hours?
• Will the event require rerouting of traffic?
• Will the event adversely effect ambient air quality?
• Will there be any dredging or construction in the waterway?
• Is the event site within the range of any known threatened or endangered species?
• Is the event located near wetlands?
• Is the event located inside or near a wildlife refuge or wildlife conservation area?
• Does the event restrict any access to any public park or recreation area?

These are a few of the questions from the Environmental Checklist. If the event is large or in an environmentally sensitive area, more work must be done. For additional information, click on the map below to contact the nearest Coast Guard District Office.