Section 15-121-A6 - Marine parades, regattas, races, tournaments and exhibitions(a) No marine parade, regatta, race, tournament, exhibition or other activity requiring exclusive use of a specified portion of a water body, use of a state boating access area, or modification or suspension of the statutory and regulatory requirements and restrictions set forth in subsection (c) of this section, shall be permitted on state waters except as authorized by a permit issued by the commissioner. A permit shall not be required, however, for a tournament authorized by a permit issued by the commissioner under section 26-112-42 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. The discharge of pyrotechnic displays where any part of the shooting platform or the spent shell safety fallout zone is over state waters shall be considered an exhibition.(b) In accordance with 33 CFR Part 100, the commissioner may issue a permit for a marine parade, regatta, race, tournament, exhibition or other activity identified in subsection (a) of this section on federal waters, provided the United States Coast Guard has not approved or denied an application for such marine parade, regatta, race, tournament, exhibition or other activity identified in subsection (a) of this section. A marine parade, regatta, race, tournament, exhibition or other activity identified in subsection (a) of this section on federal waters requiring use of a state boating access area shall require a permit issued by the commissioner for authorization for such use.(c) The commissioner may modify or suspend during a marine parade, regatta, race, tournament, exhibition or other activity identified in subsection (a) of this section the following statutory and regulatory requirements and restrictions: (1) Numbering requirements may be modified or suspended pursuant to subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 15-143 of the Connecticut General Statutes.(2) Safety devices and equipment requirements may be modified or suspended pursuant to section 15-130 of the Connecticut General Statutes.(3) Waterskiing requirements may be modified or suspended pursuant to subsection (e) of section 15-134 of the Connecticut General Statutes.(4) Speed and use restrictions may be suspended or modified pursuant to subsection (b) of section 15-121-B18 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(d) The person requesting permission to hold a marine parade, regatta, race, tournament, exhibition or other activity identified in subsection (a) of this section shall make application in duplicate on forms provided by the commissioner at least forty-five days prior to the date of the proposed event and shall provide the following information on the application: (1) The name and address of organization holding the event;(2) the nature and purpose of the event;(3) information as to general public interest;(4) the estimated number and types of spectator watercraft;(5) the time schedule and a description of events, with times that nonparticipating craft will be allowed to enter the area;(6) a chart or drawing showing the boundaries of the event and various watercourses or areas to be utilized by participants, officials, and spectator craft;(7) an explanation of the system used to mark off the area;(8) approval of the town official in charge of enforcement or the town official's designee who shall provide the event with patrols as he deems necessary; and(9) any desired modification or suspension of regulations mentioned above with the reasons for the request.(e) The person obtaining permission to hold such event shall be responsible for safety in the event area and shall display during the event such warning flags or other marine event warning devices as specified in the permit so that at least one will be seen by all the nonparticipating watercraft. Marine event warning devices shall meet the following specifications:(1)Marine event warning flags: Each warning flag shall be orange in color and shall measure 24 inches by 24 inches. Each flag shall be made of nylon, plastic, or other waterproof material and shall be supported by a fiberglass mast not less than 48 inches nor more than 72 inches in length. Each mast shall be fixed to a float of styrofoam or similar flotation material orange in color and of sufficient size and stability to support the masted flag in a vertical upright position. Such marker shall be placed and held in its authorized location by the use of an anchor and line. Such anchor shall be made of concrete or metal and the anchor line shall be of sufficient length and tensile strength to insure restricted marker movement and retrieval of the anchor.(2)Marine event warning buoys: Each warning buoy shall be orange in color and cylindrical in shape. The minimum dimensions for each buoy shall be 9 inches in diameter and 60 inches in height with at least 36 inches exposure above the surface of the water. Each buoy shall be constructed of foam filled plastic or air inflated rubber or vinyl material sufficiently strong to resist puncture and abrasion during normal use. Anchoring of each buoy shall be by the same method and materials as specified in subdivision (1) of this subsection.(3)Marine event fixed warning signs: Fixed warning signs may be substituted for floating marine event warning devices during marine events such as canoe races, kayak races, raft races, and similar events when such events are held on a river or stream not more than 100 feet wide or when the use of floating warning devices described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection is not practicable, provided that no such fixed warning signs shall be placed in the water but must be placed on shore or securely suspended on a line at least 15 feet above the water at midstream. Fixed warning signs shall be not less than 2 feet square nor more than 3 feet square, shall be constructed of 3/8 inch exterior grade plywood and shall be painted orange on both sides with the words "MARINE EVENT IN PROGRESS" in block style black letters at least 3 inches in height on the side which faces water traffic entering the event area.(4)Night Events: Marine event warning devices authorized for night events shall be the same as described in subdivisions (1), (2) and (3) of this subsection, except that they shall incorporate reflectorized materials as follows: (A) Warning flags. A 2 inch wide orange reflectorized band along the entire perimeter of the flag on both sides of the flag.(B) Warning buoys. A 2 inch wide orange reflectorized band around the buoy at its top and a second 2 inch wide orange reflectorized band around the buoy 12 inches below the top band.(C) Fixed warning signs. A 2 inch wide orange reflectorized band along the entire perimeter of the sign on both sides of the sign.(f) Nonparticipating watercraft shall not enter the event area while the marine event warning devices described in subsection (e) of this section are displayed except that the official in charge of the event may allow nonparticipating watercraft to enter the event area at such times that will not interfere with the progress of the event or its participants.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 15-121-A6
Effective June 23, 1988; Amended March 9, 2004; Amended January 3, 2007