Instructions for submitting changes to the US Safety Equipment Requirements

Please use this spreadsheet for all suggested changes, deletions, etc. that you wish to
submit. In your comments, please be clear as to whether you're suggesting a change to
the Nearshore, Coastal, or Offshore requirement.
Please include your name at the top of the sheet in cell H2.
Make your comments in teal columns G and H on the "Proposed USSER" worksheet.
Please provide a comment and suggested wording if appropriate.
Column I lists the ISAF Offshore Special Regulation that most closely matches to the
new regulation. This is provided for reference only.

6
7

Please return the completed spreadsheet as an attachment to

equipment_feedback@ussailing.org
Thank you for your participation and sharing of expertise.

1
2
3
4

Section

Offshore Text

US Ocean

1.0 General Requirements

Overall

1.1

Overall

1.2

Overall

1.3

The Minimum Equipment Requirements establish uniform minimum

equipment and training standards for Offshore (i.e. bigger boats capable of
safe overnight offshore passages) boats. These regulations do not replace,
but rather supplement, the requirements of the US Coast Guard, the
Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the rules of Class Associations and all
More than 20
applicable rating rules.
miles offshore.
The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility
of the "person in charge", as per RRS 46, who must ensure that the boat is
seaworthy and manned by an experienced crew with sufficient ability and
experience to face bad weather. S/he must be satisfied as to the
soundness of hull, spars, rigging, sails and all gear. S/he must ensure that
all safety equipment meet the Ocean Regulations, is at all times properly
maintained and safely stowed and that the crew knows where it is kept and
how it is to be used.
x
A boat may be inspected at any time by an inspector or measurer of the
Organizing Authority. If she does not comply with these regulations her
entry may be rejected, or will be liable to disqualification, or such other
penalty as may be prescribed by the race protest committee or
international jury.
x

Overall

1.4

All equipment required shall function properly, be regularly checked,

cleaned and serviced, and be of a type, size and capacity suitable for the
intended use and size of the boat and the crew will have practisedwith the
use of equipment. This equipment shall be readily accessible while
underway
and,
when
not in use,stoves,
such that
deterioration
is minimized.
Heavy items
such
as batteries,
toolboxes,
anchors
and chain shall

Overall

1.5

be secured.

1.6

A boat shall be strongly built, watertight and, particularly with regard to

hulls, decks and cabin trunks, capable of withstanding solid water and
knockdowns. They must be properly rigged and ballasted, be fully
seaworthy and must meet the standards set forth herein.

1.7

A hull, including, deck, coach roof, windows, hatches and all other parts,
shall form an integral watertight unit and any openings in it shall be
capable of being immediately secured to maintain this integrity.

Overall

Overall

Overall

1.8

Hull Construction Standards - Scantlings with plan review approval

US Coastal

US Nearshore

or in lakes or
protected
Not far
bays
removed from predominant
shorelines to ly during the
20nm offshore
day

Org Authority
details in an
appendix

2.0 A boat must meet the following construction and design guidelines:

Hull and Structure 2.1.1

A boat's hatch boards, whether or not in position in the hatchway, shall be

secured to the boat (e.g. by a lanyard) for the duration of the race to
prevent their being lost overboard due to the motion or heeling of the boat

Hull and Structure 2.1.2

A boat's companionway(s) must be capable of being blocked off to main

deck level, and be solid watertight and rigidly secured, if not permanent.

Hull and Structure 2.1.3

A boat's entire cockpit shall be solid, watertight, strongly fastened and/or

sealed. Weather-tight seat hatches are acceptable only if capable of being
secured when closed

ISAF Cat 1 reqs .

06 x LOA x Max
Freeboard aft

115 or 110 Org

decision or ISO
12217-1 A
x
x
x
x
x

Optional
Optional
Optional
Optional
Optional
Optional

x
x

x
x

Hull and Structure 2.1.4

Hull and Structure 2.1.5

Hull and Structure 2.2

Hull and Structure 2.3.1
Hull and Structure 2.3.2
Hull and Structure 2.3.3
Hull and Structure 2.3.4
Hull and Structure 2.3.5

Hull and Structure 2.4

Hull and Structure 2.5.1
Hull and Structure 2.5.2
Hull and Structure 2.5.3

Hull and Structure 2.5.4

Boat cockpit drains must be capable of draining six inches of water in 5

minutes. One square inch (645mm2) of effective drain per eight square
feet (0.743m2) of cockpit sole will meet this requirement.
The maximum cockpit volume for cockpits not open to the sea, including
any compartments capable of flooding, to lowest points of coaming over
which water can adequately escape, shall not exceed .08 x LOA x Max.
Beam x Freeboard aft. The cockpit sole shall be at least .02 x LWL above
LWL.

Stability Index = Limit if positive stability + capsize increment = size

increent
A boat
boat shall
shall be
be have
equipped
with
a head for
or ahalf
fitted
A
bunks
sufficient
thebucket.
crew to rest while offwatch.
A boat shall be equipped with a stove with a fuel shutoff.
A boat shall have a water tank and delivery system.
A boat shall have adequate hand holds below decks.
Permanently Installed Gear
A boat's through-hull openings below the waterline shall be equipped with
sea cocks or valves, except for integral deck scuppers, speed transducers,
depth finder transducers and the like; however a means of closing such
openings
be provided.
The
deck shall
including
the headstay shall be surrounded by a suitably strong
enclosure, typically consisting of lifelines and pulpits, meeting the
following requirements:
A boat's stanchion and pulpit bases must be within the working deck
Bow pulpits may be open, but the opening between the vertical portion of
stanchion pulpit and any part of the boat shall not exceed 14.2" (360mm).
Lifelines may be either uncoated stainless steel wire or high molecular
weight polyethylene (HMPE) line with spliced terminations. A multipart
lashing segment not to exceed 4" per end termination for the purpose of
tying lifelines to pulpits is allowed. Lifelines shall be taut. When HMPE is
used, the load-bearing portion (core) must meet or exceed minimum
diameter requirements.

Hull and Structure 2.5.6

The maximum spacing between the bases of lifeline supports (e.g.

stanchions and pulpits) shall be 87".
Boats 30' (9.14m) and under shall have at least one lifeline with 18"
(457mm) minimum height above deck, and a maximum vertical gap of 18"
(457mm). Taller heights will require a second lifeline. The minimum
diameter shall be 1/8" (3mm).

Hull and Structure 2.5.7

Boats over 30' (9.14m) shall have at least two lifelines with 24" (762mm)
minimum height above deck, and a maximum vertical gap of 15"
(381mm). The minimum diameter will be 5/32" (4mm) for boats to 43'
(13.1m) and 3/16" (5mm) for boats over 43' (13.1m).

Hull and Structure 2.5.5

Section

Offshore Text

US Ocean

US Coastal

US Nearshore

Hull and Structure 2.6.1

Toe rails must have a minimum height of 3/4" (18mm) around the
foredeck for boats under 30' (9.14m) and 1" (25mm) for boats over 30' or
an additional installed lifeline that is 1-2" (25-51mm) above the deck.
A boat shall have a permanently installed manual bilge pump which is
operable from ondeck with the cabin closed and the exhaust not
dependent on an open hatch. Unless permanently attached to the pump,
the bilge pump handle shall be securely attached to the boat via a lanyard
or catch. A bilge pump shall not be connected to a cockpit drain. A bilge
pump shall not discharge into a cockpit unless that cockpit opens aft to the
sea.

Hull and Structure 2.6.2

A boat shall have a second permanently installed manual bilge pump

operable from below deck,meeting the same criteria as above.

Hull and Structure 2.7

The heel of a keel stepped mast shall be securely fastened to the mast
step or adjoining structure.

Hull and Structure 2.8.1

A boat shall have a mechanical propulsion system that is instantly

available capable of driving the boat at 5.5 knots for 10 hours.

Hull and Structure 2.8.2

A boat shall have a mechanical propulsion system capable of driving the

boat at 4 knots for 4 hours.

Hull and Structure 2.8.3

A boat shall have a mechanical propulsion system capable of driving the

boat
at 4engine
knots for
1 hour. fill pipes, tanks, vents, carburetors, batteries,
A
boat's
installation,

Hull and Structure 2.8.4

etc. shall conform to U.S. Coast Guard or ABYC requirements or

manufacture's requirements.
Portable and Affixed Safety Gear must include:

Hull and Structure 2.5.8

CG

CG

Gear

x
Optional
x

3.1.1

Each crew member shall have a life jacket that provides at least 33.7lbs
(150N) of buoyancy, intended to be worn over the shoulders (no belt pack),
meeting either U.S. Coast Guard or ISO specifications. Life jackets shall be
equipped with crotch or leg straps, a whistle, a waterproof light, be fitted
with marine-grade retro-reflective material, and be clearly marked with the
boats or wearers name, and be compatible with the wearers safety
harness. If the life jacket is inflatable, it must be regularly checked for air
retention. Leg or crotch straps will be required starting 1/1/2014.
Optionally, yachts may carry a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type I life jacket
for each crew member.

3.1.2

Each crew member shall have a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type III or Type
V life jacket intended for small boat sailing or other active boating for each
crew member or an inflatable life jacket as described above.

3.1.2a

Life jackets and harnesses shall be worn when the vessel is reefed, in
conditions when overboard recovery would be difficult, or when the
captain or race committee requires it.

3.1.3

Each crew member shall have, a safety harness and compatible safety
tether not more than seven feet long. The tether shall have a snap hook at
one end and a means to quick disconnect at the chest end.

CG

3.2.1

CG

3.2.3

A boat shall carry navigation lights meeting U. S. Coast Guard

requirements and mounted so that they will not be obscured by a sail and
not mounted below deck level.
A boat will show navigation lights when conditions warrant, as required by
the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea: including
from sunset until sunrise and during periods of reduced visability.
Provisions shall be made to assure that proper navigation lights can be
shown in case of gear or electrical failure.

3.4

If required; a boat shall carry fire extinguisher(s) that meet U.S. Coast
Guard requirements.

CG

3.5

If required; a boat shall carry a sound making device will meet U.S. Coast
Guard requirements.

CG

3.6.1

A boat shall carry SOLAS orange smoke flares not older than the stamped
expiry date.

A boat shall carry SOLAS red parachute flares not older than the stamped
expiration
date.
A boat shall
carry SOLAS red hand flares not older than the stamped
expiration date.

6
4

2
2

x
x

x
x

CG

CG

3.6.2

CG

3.6.3

CG

3.6.4

CG

3.6.5

Gear

3.7

A boat shall carry U.S. Coast Guard flares meeting day-night requirements
not older
than
the inside
stamped
expiration
date.
Boat
flares
stored
of life
rafts may
not be used to satisfy the flare
requirement.
A boat shall carry a Lifesling equipped with a self igniting light.

3.8.1

A boat shall have a permanently installed 25-watt VHF radio with a

masthead mounted antenna of at least 15" (381mm) in length (required
after 1/1/2015) and co-axial feeder cable with no more than a 40% power
loss. After 1/1/2015 the radio must have DSC capability, connected to or
with an internal GPS, and an MMSI number registered to the boat.

3.8.2

A boat shall have a handheld VHF radio. After 1/1/2015, this radio shall
have
capability.
A
boatDSC/GPS
shall have
an emergency VHF antenna. After 1/1/2015, it shall be

3.8.3

equipped with sufficient coax to reach the deck, and have a minimum
length of 15" (381mm).

Electronics
Electronics
Electronics

Electronics

3.9

Electronics

3.10

Electronics

3.11

A boat shall have an AIS Class B transponder with externally mounted

antenna at least 15" long. The AIS can use the boat's VHF antenna if a low
power-loss cable splitter is used.
A boat shall have a cellular phone in a waterproof container.
A boat shall have a satellite telephone in a waterproof container.

Electronics

3.12

A boat shall have man overboard alarms for each crew member based on
AIS or other method as allowed by the Notice of Race.

Optional

A boat shall have a method of receiving weather information in addition to

the fixed mount and hand held VHF radio.
A boat shall be equipped with a GPS receiver.

x
x

Electronics

3.13

Electronics

3.14

Optional
Optional
Optional

Optional
Optional
Optional

Optional

Section
Electronics

Offshore Text

3.15

A boat shall be equipped with a means to record the position of a man

overboard within ten seconds.

Electronics

3.16.1

Electronics

3.16.2

Electronics

3.17

A boat shall be equipped with a 406MHz EPIRB which is properly registered

to the boat. This device shall either have an internal GPS (self-locating) or
be connected to a continuously functioning external GPS. After 1/1/2016,
this device must be equipped with an internal GPS.
A boat shall be equipped with either a 406MHz EPIRB which is properly
registered to the boat, or a floating 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon,
registered to the owner with a notation in the registration that it is aboard
the boat. This device shall be either self locating (have an internal GPS) or
be connected to a continuously functioning external GPS. After 1/1/2016,
this
device
be equipped
an internal
GPS.distance measuring
A
boat
shallmust
be equipped
with with
a knotmeter
and/or
instrument.

Electronics

3.18

Gear

3.19.1
3.19.2

Gear

3.20

US Ocean

US Coastal

US Nearshore

x
x

A boat must be equipped with a permanently installed depth sounder that

can register to a minimum depth of 200 ft.

A boat shall have a permanently-mounted magnetic compass independent

of boat
the boat's
electrical
system
suitable
for steering
yacht
at sea.a yacht at
A
shall have
a second
marine
compass
suitablea for
steering
sea.
A
A boat shall have non-electronic charts which are appropriate for the
race
area.
A
boat
shall have the ability to display sail numbers and letters of the size

x
x
x

Gear

3.21

Gear

3.22

carried on the mainsail by an alternative means when none of the

numbered
is soft
set. plugs of an appropriate material, tapered and of the
A boat shallsails
have
appropriate size, attached or stowed adjacent to every through-hull
opening.

3.23

A boat shall have jacklines with a breaking strength of at least 4500 lb.
(20kN) which allow the crew to reach all points on deck, connected to
similarly strong attachment points, in place while racing.

3.24

A boat shall have adequate clipping points or jacklines which allow the
crew to clip on before coming on deck and unclip after going below.

3.25

A boat shall have one anchor, meeting the anchor manufacturer's

suggested size, with a suitable combination of chain and line.

x
x

x
x

x
Two

x
Two

One

x
x

(Optional)

Gear
Gear
Gear
Gear

3.26.1

Gear

3.26.2

A A boat shall have a watertight, high-powered searchlight, suitable for

searching
forhave
a person
overboard
at nightwith
or for
collision
avoidance.
A boat shall
waterproof
flashlights
spare
batteries
in addition to
above.

3.27

A boat shall carry a first aid kit and first aid manual suitable for the likely
conditions of the passage and the number of crew aboard.

Gear
Gear

3.28

Gear

3.29

Gear

3.30
3.31

A boat shall have a 11.5" or greater octahedral radar reflector or one of

equivalent
performance.
A boat shall
carry a bucket(s) of at least two gallons capacity with lanyards
attached.
A boat shall post a durable, waterproof diagram or chart locating the
principal items of safety equipment and through hulls in the main
accommodation
area
where it cantiller,
be easily
seen.
A boat shall have
an emergency
capable
of being fitted to the
rudder stock.

Gear

3.32

Gear

3.33

Gear

3.34

A boat shall carry tools and spare parts, including an effective means to
quickly disconnect or sever the standing rigging from the hull.
A boat shall carry a man overboard pole and flag, with a lifebuoy, a selfigniting light, a whistle, and a drogue attached. A boat may carry a selfinflating MOB module to satisfy this requirement. Self-inflating MOB
modules must be tested and serviced in accordance with the
manufacturers specifications.These items shall be stored on deck, and
ready for instant use and affixed in a manner that allows for a quick
release.
The boat or wearer's name shall be printed on all life saving equipment
along with retro-reflective material. The exception would be for new
equipment (eg liferafts) which would require the unpacking of sealed
equipment in order to meet this requirement. The boat name shall be
stencled on during the first servicing.

3.35

A boat shall have a throwing sock-type heaving line of 50' (15m) or

greater of flotable polypropylene line readily accessible to the cockpit.

3.36

A boat shall carry a strong, sharp knife, sheathed and securely restrained
which is readily accessible from the deck and/or cockpit.

3.37.1

A boat shall be equipped with mainsail reefing capable of reducing the luff
length by at least 10%.

Gear
Gear
Rigging

Rigging

3.37.2

Rigging

3.37.3

A boat shall carry a trysail which is independent of the main boom, has an
area less than 17.5% of E x I, and which shall be capable of being attached
to the mast. Storm sails purchased manufactured after 01/01/2014 must
be constructed from a highly visible material.
A boat shall carry a storm jib not exceeding 5% of the yacht's I dimension
squared, and not entirely dependent on a head foil for attachment. Storm
sails purchased after 2014 must be constructed from a highly visible
material.

3.38

A boat's halyards shall be capable of quick release. All halyard locks shall
be capable of quick release from deck level.

A boat must have a means to prevent the boom from dropping if support
from the mainsail or halyard fails.
A boat must carry emergency drinking water of 2.5 US gallons (10 liters).

x
x

x
Optional

Optional

Optional

Optional

Optional

Rigging
Rigging

3.39

Supplies

3.40

Supplies

3.41

Gear

3.42

A boat must carry adequate food, energy bars, and snacks to maintain
crew stamina as described in the Notice of Race.
A boat shall carry adequate inflatable life raft(s) designed for saving life at
sea with designed capacity for containing entire crew. The raft must be
SOLAS, ISAF, ISO 9650, or ORC approved. The raft shall be stored in such a
way that it is capable of being of being launched within 15 seconds. The
life raft must hold a current certificate of inspection. All A boat built after
June 2001 shall have the liferaft stowed in a deck mounted rigid container
or stowed in watertight or self draining purpose built rigid compartment(s)
opening adjacent to the cockpit of working deck.

3.43

A boat shall have for each liferaft, a grab bag. The grab bag shall have
inherent flotation and be of a bright florcesent color containing at least an
EPIRB and a waterproof handheld VHF radio. These last two items need not
be in addition to the prior requirements.

Gear

1.03
1.03.1

AIS
CPR
Coaming
DSC
EPFS
EPIRB
FA Station
Foul-Weather Suit
GMDSS
GNSS
GPIRB
ITU
GPS
Hatch
INMARSAT
IMO
IMSO
ISO
Lifeline
LOA
LWL
Monohull
Moveable Ballast
ORC
OSR
Permanently Installed
PLB
RRS
SAR
SART
Series Date
SOLAS
Safety Line
Securely Fastened

Static Ballast
Static Safety Line
Variable Ballast

Notes and Guidelines

Definitions, Abbreviations, Word Usage
Definitions of Terms used in this document
TABLE 1
Age Date
Automatic Identification Systems
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation

includes the transverse after limit of the cockpit over which water would run in the event that when the yacht is floating level the
cockpit is flooded or filled to overflowing.
Digital Selective Calling
Electronic Position-Fixing System
Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon
The transverse station at which the upper corner of the transom meets the sheerline.
A foul weather suit is clothing designed to keep the wearer dry and maybe either a jacket and trousers worn together, or a
single garment comprising jacket and trousers.
Global Maritime Distress & Safety System
Global Navigation Satellite System
EPIRB, with integral GPS position-fixing
International Telecommunications Union
Global Positioning System
The term hatch includes the entire hatch assembly and also the lid or cover as part of that assembly (the part itself may be
described as a hatch).
This is Inmarsat Global Limited, the private company that provides GMDSS satellite distress and safety communications, plus
general communications via voice, fax and data
International Maritime Organisation
The International Mobile Satellite Organisation, the independent, intergovernmental organisation that oversees Inmarsats
performance of its Public Service Obligations for the GMDSS and reports on these to IMO
International Standard or International Organization for Standardization.
rope or wire line rigged as guardrail / guardline around the deck
Length overall not including pulpits, bowsprits, boomkins etc.
(Length of) loaded waterline
Yacht in which the hull depth in any section does not decrease towards the centre-line.
Lead or other material including water which has no practical function in the boat other than to increase weight and/or to
influence stability and/or trim and which may be moved transversely but not varied in weight while a boat is racing.
Offshore Racing Congress (formerly Offshore Racing Council)
Offshore Special Regulation(s)
Means the item is effectively built-in by eg bolting, welding, glassing etc. and may not be removed for or during racing.
Personal Locator Beacon
Racing Rules of Sailing
Search and Rescue
Search and Rescue Transponder
Month & Year of first launch of the first yacht of the production series
Safety of Life at Sea Convention
A tether used to connect a safety harness to a strong point
Held strongly in place by a method (eg rope lashings, wing-nuts) which will safely retain the fastened object in severe
conditions including a 180 degree capsize and allows for the item to be removed and replaced during racing

Lead or other material including water which has no practical function in the boat other than to increase weight and/or to
influence stability and/or trim and which may not be moved or varied in weight while a boat is racing.
A safety line (usually shorter than a safety line carried with a harness) kept clipped on at a work-station
Water carried for the sole purpose of influencing stability and/or trim and which may be varied in weight and/or moved while a
boat is racing.

Notes

C
Inshore

**

Hull Construction Standards (Scantlings)

3.03
3.03.1
a)
A yacht of less than 24m (78.74 feet) in hull length with the earliest of Age or Series
Date on or after 1 January 2010 shall have: (new in 2012)
been designed, built and maintained in accordance with the requirements of ISO
12215 Category A * (new in 2012)
on board a certificate of building plan review from a Notified Body recognized by
ISAF.
on board a declaration signed and dated by the builder to confirm the yacht is built
in accordance with the plans reviewed by the Notified Body.

http://www.sailing.org/classesandequipment/offshore/plan_review.p
hp
b)

A yacht of 24m (78.74 feet) in hull length and over with the earliest of Age or Series
Date on or after 1 January 2010 shall have: (new in 2012)
been designed, built and maintained in accordance with the requirements of a
Classification Society recognized by ISAF (new in 2012)
on board a certificate of building plan review from a Classification Society
recognized by ISAF (new in 2012)
on board a declaration signed and dated by the builder to confirm the yacht is built
in accordance with the plans reviewed by the Classification Society (new in 2012)

http://www.sailing.org/classesandequipment/offshore/plan_review.p
hp
3.03.2
a)
A yacht of less than 24m (78.74 feet) in hull length, with the earliest of Age or Series
Date on or after 1 January 2010, if subject to any significant repair or modification to
the hull, deck, coachroof, keel or appendages on or after the 1 January 2010, shall
have (new in 2012)
the repair or modification designed and built in accordance with ISO 12215
Category A*
on board a certificate of building plan review for the repair or modification from a
Notified Body recognized by ISAF
on board a declaration signed and dated by the builder to confirm that the repair or
modification is in accordance with the requirements of ISO 12215 Category A *
b)

A yacht of 24m (78.74 feet) in hull length and over, with the earliest of Age or Series
Date on or after 1 January 2010, if subject to any significant repair or modification to
the hull, deck, coachroof, keel or appendages on or after the 1 January 2010, shall
have (new in 2012)
the repair or modification designed and built in accordance with the requirements of
a Classification Society recognized by ISAF (new in 2012)
on board a certificate of building plan review for the repair or modification from a
Classification Society recognized by ISAF (new in 2012)
on board a declaration signed and dated by the builder to confirm that the repair or
modification is in accordance with the plans reviewed by the Classification Society.
(new in 2012)

3.03.3 A monohull with the earliest of Age or Series Date before the 1 January 2010 shall
comply with 3.03.1 and 3.03.2 and above or with 3.03.4

3.03. A monohull with the earliest of Age or Series Date before the 1
4
January 2010 not complying with OSR 3.03.1, 3.03.2 and 3.03.3
shall have been designed built, maintained, modified and repaired
in accordance with the requirements of one of the following:

a)

b)

c)

d)

the ABS Guide for Building and Classing Offshore Yachts in which
case the yacht shall have on board either a certificate of plan
approval issued by ABS, or written statements signed by the
designer and builder which confirm that they have respectively
designed and built the yacht in accordance with the ABS Guide,
ISO 12215 Category A, with written statements signed by the
designer and builder which confirm that they have respectively
designed and built the yacht in accordance with the ISO standard,
except that a race organizer or class rules may accept when those
standards described in (a) and (b) above is not available, the
signed statement by a naval architect or other person familiar with
the standards listed above that the yacht fulfills the requirements
of (a) or (b).
except that a race organizer, when that described in (a), (b) or c)
above is not available, may permit a boat to compete if there is
successful past race or passage making history for her.