Hey Travis, California has a bunch of 50, 100 and 200 foot designations. The one that is associated with the rope is you have to maintain a safe distance for TWICE the length of the rope. It doesn't specifically state "even if the rope is dropped"
But I'm sure the intent of the legislature is to maintain a safe distance that would encompass a circle that had as it's circumference twice the distance between the rider and the boat...but feel free to test that in court and report back to me.
The other, more general provision states:
"Boat at a safe speed and keep a safe distance from other boats and obstacles."
http://www.publicaffairs.water.ca.gov/LakesWeek/boatsafety.cfm Safe, of course, varies by individual circumstance, but as I understand it wouldn't include running parallel within a few feet of each other. Even the rope rule would probably require a 30 foot distance between the boats.
There is ONE additional regulation that requires you to maintain a distance that would allow you to stop your boat (apply the brakes?
) withtin "X" distance from "X" speed, in order to avoid a collision.
I talked with some folks at the DBW...somewhere I have the details of that conversation and they basically said - you can't be that close above no wake speeds. If it's imperative, I can get those code sections and the details of that conversation. However, it appears that folks are just going to try it when the Sheriff isn't around, not try to beat a ticket.