(a) A person may not hold or sponsor any scheduled or public race, regatta, tournament or other competition or exhibition, or trial race on water or ice, whether or not involving watercraft, without first having obtained a written permit from the sheriff of the county where the event is to originate.
(b) The sheriff, in the permit, may exempt watercraft from any of the provisions of this chapter relating to the licensing, operation, and equipment of watercraft while participating in the event authorized.
(c) The county's issuance of a permit under this section does not make the county liable for any injury occurring at the event.