As the summer sailing season is fast building, the note below is a timely reminder around the fundamental requirements of ensuring safety within the racing rules of sailing.
Whether you’re racing under the RRS – Racing Rules of Sailing or Cruising inshore or offshore, responsibilities are largely the same - one person is deemed responsible for the safety and welfare of the boat, the crew and sometimes of others before going to sea. Under the RRS the person or organisation, usually the boat owner, that entered the boat into the event will be or must designate a Person in Charge (RRS 46).
The owner of the boat has the primary responsibility for the boat being in conformity with all safety regulations. The Person in Charge takes responsibility once the boat is sailing.
The RRS incorporate many aspects of general maritime regulations and adapts them for the specific context of racing in sailing boats. These rules apply whenever RRS apply.
The most fundamental rule is RRS 1, Safety. This rule states:
Helping Those in Danger: A boat (defined as a sailboat and the crew on board, that are subject to the rules), competitor or support person shall give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger.
Also, on Life-Saving Equipment and Personal Flotation Devices: A boat shall carry adequate life-saving equipment for all persons on board, including one item ready for immediate use, unless her class rules make some other provision. Each competitor is individually responsible for wearing a personal flotation device adequate for the conditions.
When World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR), Appendix B, Special Regulations for Inshore Regulations applies, (as it does with most cruiser racing including ICRA and DBSC) every crew member MUST adhere to the key requirements outlined in Note 1 below.
In addition, OSR states:
The person in charge shall personally check that EACH lifejacket has been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation by an approved service station and that the next service date as marked on the lifejacket has not been exceeded.
For each boat, over and above the individual responsibility of every crew member, two persons have a special responsibility for safety; The boat owner and the designated person in charge.
In matter of safety, the key responsibility of a boat owner is to maintain the boat to comply with her class rules, including any safety regulations. For cruiser racing this means that the boat must comply with the relevant sections of World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations, which includes a specific section on Inshore Racing. The sections that apply will be indicated in the class rules and/or the Notice of Race.
If the boat owner fails to meet their obligations, then any other person in charge (especially the designated person in charge) is also responsible for ensuring compliance (see RRS 78.1).
Once a boat and crew are fully equipped, the key decision is whether the boat should participate in the race or event.
RRS 3, Decision to race states: The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.
As a boat in RRS is defined as a sailboat and her crew on board, this means that the decision to participate a race or continue racing should be made by the persons on board. It is their decision, despite pressure that may be exercised by a boat owner, sponsor or parent.
The designated person in charge has a particular responsibility which is best expressed in WS OSR 1.02, Responsibility of the Person in Charge: ( link here WS_Offshore_Special-Regulations_2026-2027_v1_wcover.pdf )
Under RRS 3 the responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or continue racing is hers alone. The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the person in charge who shall do his best to ensure that the boat is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy and manned by an experienced and appropriately trained crew who are physically fit to face all weather. The person in charge shall also assign a person to take over his responsibilities in the event of his incapacitation.
‘Appropriate training’ will vary according to the event. For inshore racing, it is recommended that the crew should have prepared to meet two common eventualities: going aground and recovering a man overboard. For offshore events, some or all of the crew will be required to undergo specialist training. Irish Sailing has introduced a one-day course for inshore crew and further details here PERSONAL SAFETY AND SEA SURVIVAL SCHEME
The designated replacement Person in Charge should be made aware of their responsibilities before setting sail.
Should any member require further detail, please contact stephen.oshaughnessy@sailing.ie
Note 1.
OSR 5.01.1
A gas inflatable lifejacket which shall comply with ISO 12402-3 (Level 150) and have been manufactured after 2011. It shall be fitted with the following, each complying with ISO 12402-3 or ISO 12402-8:
a) a manual or automatic gas inflation system,
b) a ride up prevention system (crotch strap or thigh straps),
It shall also:
g) be of the appropriate size range for the crewmember as marked on the
PFD, and
h) have been indelibly marked with the name of the owner or boat