World Sailing clarifies storm sail purpose

Competitive people are clever and will exploit any unintended loophole. This appears to have happened in offshore racing as World Sailing has issued this update:

Following recommendation from the Special Regulations Sub-Committee, the Oceanic and Offshore Committee approved changes to the requirements of storm sails, aiming to clarify the primary role as essential safety equipment.

“The Oceanic and Offshore Committee have made the decision to not allow a storm jib to be flown with any other sail forward of the mast,” said Matt Allen, Chair of the Oceanic and Offshore Committee. “The regulation was in response to some yachts using storm sails as a staysail and in some instances compromising the ability to be used in storm conditions”

The following urgent change, that is the addition of OSR 4.27.1 g), will be effective immediately:

4.27.1 Design

a) The material of the body of a storm sail purchased after 2013 shall have a highly visible color (e.g. day-glo pink, orange, or yellow).

b) Aromatic polyamides, carbon, and similar fibers shall not be used in a trysail or storm jib, but HMPE and similar materials are permitted.

c) Sheeting positions on deck for each storm and heavy-weather sail.

d) Sheeting positions for the trysail independent of the boom.

e) The maximum area of storm and heavy weather sails shall be lesser of the areas below or as specified by the boat designer or sailmaker.

f) The primary purpose of any storm sail or heavy weather sail shall be to provide propulsion and steerage in storm and heavy weather conditions, and they shall be designed, manufactured, and maintained as such. Storm sails shall be designed to provide propulsion and steerage in Beaufort scale 8 and on all points of sail. Heavy weather sails shall be designed to provide propulsion and steerage in Beaufort scale 6 and on all points of sail.

g) A storm jib may not be set in conjunction with any other sail set forwards of the forward mast spar.

The proposal was approved as an urgent change as possible under Regulation 22.3 (b).

To read the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations, click here.