2016-17 World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations Published

(December 18, 2015) – The 2016-17 World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) have been published on the World Sailing website. The purpose of the OSR is to establish uniform minimum equipment, accommodation and training standards for monohull and multihull boats racing offshore.

In the new 2016-2017 edition of the OSR, the regulations have been simplified and shortened to improve their clarity for all sailors, inspectors and race organizers. The categories of events remain unchanged and the intent of each clause is not changed except for the changes agreed at the 2015 World Sailing Annual Conference. The OSR are accompanied by a safety training manual where the relevant guidelines and recommendations from the OSR will be located in the next edition of the, “World Sailing Guide to Personal Offshore Safety”.

A number of changes made at the 2015 World Sailing Annual Conference affect the new 2016-17 edition of the regulations. Unless otherwise specified, the amendments are effective on 1 January 2016. It should be noted that national prescriptions may take priority over the World Sailing text and you should check with your relevant authority.

A summary of the major changes for 2016 are as follows:
• The Appendices have been re-ordered and some re-named.
• Category 5 has been re-named ‘Special Regulations for Inshore Racing.
• Category 6 is now: ‘Special Regulations for Inshore Dinghy Racing.
• Some Category 4 requirements have been reduced or removed: heavy weather jib, lifejacket requirements, lights, sail number display.
• Monohull Stability requirements have been aligned with changes to the ISO 12217-2 Stability standard.
• Section 4.22 has been re-worked and is now called ‘Crew Overboard Recovery’ including a change to use the term ‘recovery sling’ and a set of minimum requirements.
• OSR 4.23 Pyrotechnic signals (Distress flares) has been amended to remove the requirement for the carriage of parachute distress flares.
• For Category 0 and 1 races each member of the crew shall have an AIS personal crew overboard beacon.
• For category 3 races sail Double-handed, at least one of the crew shall have undertaken training.

Links to recommendations and helpful information will be added to the online OSR in the coming weeks.

Source: World Sailing