Q&A

RE: Even Minor Boating Accidents Can Require a State Report (Feb. 13, 2026)

Question:

“Hi, regarding Ms. Clements’ article “Even Minor Boating Accidents Can Require a State Report,” my takeaway is not straightforward: does the State of California hold that the BAR reporting requirements apply to sailboats that collide while racing?”

–Russell

Answer:

“The relevant regulations for written boating accident reports are outlined in California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 6504 (as provided):

(a) The operator(s) or owner(s) of the boat(s) shall, in addition to the report required by section 6502, submit a written report(s) on forms provided by the Department of Boating and Waterways, directly to the State of California, Department of Boating and Waterways, to the address shown on the forms when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment:

(1) A person dies;

(2) A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid;

(3) Damage to the vessel and other property damage totals more than $500, or there is a complete loss of a vessel;

or

(4) A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury.

(b) A report required by this section must be made within forty-eight hours of the occurrence if:

(1) A person dies within twenty-four hours of the occurrence;

(2) A person disappears;

(3) A person is injured and receives medical treatment beyond first aid.

(c) A report required by this section must be made within ten days of the occurrence if an earlier report is not required by this section if:

(1) A person dies more than twenty-four hours after the occurrence;

(2) Damage to the vessel and other property damage totals more than $500, or there is a complete loss of a vessel.

Additional information can be found here: dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28776

Regarding exceptions, particularly for racing:

The following occurrences typically do not require reporting under reference:

• Occurrences meeting vessel-use exceptions, including non-propelled residential platforms;
• vessels used for solely governmental or criminal activities; and
• vessels engaged in sanctioned-activity events that are exempted from being state numbered since they are used exclusively for racing.

This provision indicates that sailboats (or other vessels) engaged in sanctioned racing events, where they are exempted from state numbering requirements because they are used exclusively for racing, are generally not reportable under the standard BAR requirements (and any submitted reports would be excluded from certain statistical compilations). Therefore, for a collision involving sailboats while racing in such a sanctioned event, the State of California does not require a BAR report in most cases, provided the vessels qualify under this vessel-use exception.

Specific circumstances could affect applicability. (e.g., if the event does not meet the “sanctioned” criteria, if numbering exemptions do not apply, or if serious injury/death occurs).”

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