Issue date
The Safety Regulations of Sailing 2017 – 2020 (valid from 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2020 unless amended) are now available. Please click here to view.
The hard copies are with the printer as this is written & we hope to have them available as soon as possible.
Summary of key changes in the Safety Regulations of Sailing 2017 - 2020
- Deep reef main in place of try sail
Refer 15.15 (a). In summary, a yacht can elect to have a deep reef of no more than 35% of the luff length in place of a try sail if the main sail is properly constructed & the reefing gear is set up for the task. Organising authorities still might elect to require try sails.
2. Positive catches on lockers, freezer tops etc.
Refer 16.20. Previous rule amended to make it recommended for cat 3,4, & 5 rather than a catch all for all categories.
3. Servicing of life jackets
Refer 17.07. The requirement to have the life jackets serviced in accordance to manufacturers requirements is now clearly in the Regulations. Some yachts might have the crew bringing their own life jackets, if this is the case the skipper is still responsible for providing the service certificate to the Inspector.
4. Life Rafts.
We have moved to using the SOLAS or ISO 9650 standard rather than our own. If the raft is in service at the time of inspection with the cat 1, 2 or 3 YNZ pack it is still acceptable. For cat 1 it is a >24 hour pack & for cat 2 & 3 it is a 24 hour pack.
5. Flares
Refer 18.7. Cat 1 & 2 – 4 red hand & 2 orange smokes, cat 3,4 & 5 – 2 red hand & 2 orange smokes. The life rafts still have a complete range of flares.
6. Skipper & Crew Skills
Refer 21.00 & Appendix 6. There is a requirement for all cat 1 voyages to have 30% of the crew with a current Advanced Sea Survival qualification. If there are only 2 crew both will need to meet this requirement.
7. Sport Multihull Yachts
Refer Appendix 8. A light-weight, high performance multihull. They are often but not necessarily foiling, with little or no access into the hulls. These vessels are light weight and can be re-righted by their support vessel. It is suggested that entries for these vessels should only be accepted for Category 4 and 5 races as they are generally suitable for inshore and not open waters.
8. NZ Almanac
No longer required.
