US off shore sailing regulations

[hellosailor]

US Sailing (US Sailing Ass'n, aka USSA, formerly USYRU) is simply a volunteer organization with no authority beyond that of being the olympic regulatory body for sailing in the US, if I remember correctly.

They are responsible for no "regulations" that anyone has to follow, except for private rules that govern their own events, i.e. "sanctioned" races by members and member clubs.

Basically, if you are not into formally organized racing, the USSA doesn't exist. Although if you are visiting, it may pay to ask them about reciprocal yacht clubs, which often offer each other's members substantial discounts on guest moorings.

[dana-tenacity]

YNZ is roughly similar, with the exception that the NZ govt want NZ boats leaving NZ to meet the Cat 1 regs. They asked YNZ to supply the inspectors and inspections and YNZ said yes. (YNZ isn't interested in upsetting the Gov't, even more so now that they get huge funding from gov't for Olympic campaigns)
So now to leave you must clear Customs and Immigration, they won't give you clearance until you show a Cat 1 cert which you can only get by having a YNZ inspector inspect your boat.

Generally speaking the inspectors are nice, intelligent, well informed people. For the most part the Cat 1 regs are pretty sensible. I object to them being compulsory.

[cal40john]

So does YNZ have its own set of cat 1 rules, or do they use RYA or USSail rules? The only set I have found online so far is PIYA, the Pacific Northwest association.



PIYA Category Certificate :: Pacific International Yachting Association

John

[Catamount]

The "Offshore Special Regulations" are managed by the International Sailing Federation, ISAF. There are 6 different "categories" recognized in these rules:

Category 0
Trans-oceanic races, including races which pass
through areas in which air or sea temperatures are
likely to be less than 5 degrees Celsius other than
temporarily, where yachts must be completely selfsufficient
for very extended periods of time, capable of
withstanding heavy storms and prepared to meet
serious emergencies without the expectation of
outside assistance.

Category 1
Races of long distance and well offshore, where
yachts must be completely self-sufficient for extended
periods of time, capable of withstanding heavy storms
and prepared to meet serious emergencies without
the expectation of outside assistance.

Category 2
Races of extended duration along or not far removed
from shorelines or in large unprotected bays or lakes,
where a high degree of self-sufficiency is required of
the yachts.

Category 3
Races across open water, most of which is relatively
protected or close to shorelines.

Category 4
Short races, close to shore in relatively warm or
protected waters normally held in daylight.

Category 5 - for inshore racing

Substitute the word "cruises" or "voyages" for the word "races" and these guidelines work just as well for non-racing sailors. The Regulations specify standards for the design and construction of yachts, the safety equipment that should be carried, and training programs for the crew. They cover both mono and multi-hull boats.

ISAF : Offshore Special Regulations

[Alan Wheeler]

In NZ, Cat 4 & 5 are voluntary.

[Weyalan]

For what it is worth, I think that the ISAF regulations are actually a pretty good guideline for the minimum requirements for safe sailing. i.e. if you sail long distances offshore then aim for Cat 1 compliance , if you sail mostly coastal, Cat 2, entirely coastal, Cat3, etc.

[Alan Wheeler]

Both Cat1 and Cat0 are one time recognitions. As soon as you leave, the Cat 1 & 2 automaticaly revert to Cat2. So just because you reached a Cat1 cert, then went for a 3 week sail to the Islands and back, you don't retain the Cat1 rating.

[dana-tenacity]

YNZ have their own, based on the ISAF ones, but there are differences.