List of Attendees

Glenn McCarthy opened meeting at 4:05pm.

Lake Michigan has dropped requirement for PFDs, but approx. 95% are still wearing them.

The following reports are accepted unread into the record:

1. Committee Make Up.
2. USCG Silver and Gold Project.
3. ABHRM approved since March 2000 meeting.
4. ISO STIX (Stability) Report.
5. SAS Seminar Overview.

Sheila McCurdy talked about information on COB issues. Of the 70 rescues in the ABHRM program, 58 of those used another successful method other than Quick Stop. Sheila is correct in pointing out that the other methods of recovery (figure 8, etc.) probably has practical value depending on displacement, wind speeds and skill level of the rescuers. Sheila recommended we start a study to fund further research into a COB study incorporating new ideas and other study findings. It was pointed out that on the level of priority: First, there are a number of recovery methods; Second, once the able vessel is in contact with the victim, the Life Sling makes the connection between victim and vessel; Third, the area that have no published alternatives is getting the victim from the water level up over the lifelines to the deck level. Sheila will put together a proposal for a study concerning getting victims back on board which she will disseminate that to the committee for review and comment.

Glenn gave a web site report, see attached.

Bruce Eissner gave an overview of the Australia Coroner’s Inquest, saying we should read the initial report by Ron Trossbach. It’s too soon to have any real discussion at this time.

Bruce Eissner discussed safety at sea training per ORC 6.01. Cat 0 and 1 require 30% participation in SAS training, approved by the national authority. There are presently several yacht clubs giving safety seminars that are not US SAILING approved. Bruce wants to amend the regulations that say they need to be US SAILING approved to be considered for ORC qualification. We also need to be prepared to give enough support to the sailors for this regulation. Potential audience is 4-5x greater than current demand. Bruce would like to get a working committee to address these issues. The committee leader will be Glenn McCarthy. Drew Axelrod will contact SOLAS SAS seminar people to inform them they do not meet USSA requirements.

Bruce Eissner recommends we put forward a Cat 5 for ORC to discuss. This will be condition specific like other ORC categories (and ISO Stability standards), not boat specific (like the present British proposal).

Bruce Eissner wants comments on the ISO Liferaft standard. Drew Axelrod will give a summary of the draft standard with comments from Bruce.

Jim O’Connor gave a talk about Liferafts and their servicing. US Marine Safety Association is taking steps to ensure quality rafts and repacking procedures. Primarily starting to service commercial interests, they are now working on developing standards for recreational liferafts (currently totally unregulated). There have been two incidents this year (both ending with Coast Guard alerts) which will likely result in some sort of official regulations. The USMSA would like to work with US SAILING SASC to develop these standards.

Drew Axelrod showed some new safety devices which could be used in lieu of present safety devices. Drew will prepare a report of new products which could prove of value to the recreational sailor. It was pointed out that each day new products are introduced to the market that are better mousetraps than the ones currently described in the ORC Regs. We should keep on top of the market and be adaptable to receive new product ideas.

Drew Axelrod agreed to give Bruce Eissner a comparative report between ISO 9650's "proposed" recreational life raft standards/testing and the current ORC raft regulations and will copy the SASC members on. Drew will solicit comments on ISO 9650 regulations from all the current US life raft suppliers as they pertains to the raft design needs of offshore sailors.

Matt Pedersen requested that any members with information on successes or failures of jacklines, or injuries suffered from falls below decks, please forward them to him for background research on the subject. Matt gave a brief discussion concerning the study that the Sailing Foundation is embarking in regards to jacklines.

Flares debate: Discussion on flare life tabled until spring meeting, pending resolution of shelf life issues. There is a possibility of getting a manufacturer’s rep to discuss flares at the spring meeting. Discussion on number of flares required followed, no resolution. We need some feedback from industry on how to hermetically seal individual pyrotechnics to maintain them.

Glenn suggested the committee reconsider the life jacket wording, to take into account the new CG approved lifejackets. The committee is requested to follow up on this issue offline.

Warren Mazanec requested that either the diagram of the ORC or used by the US SAILING Training Committee be used in the next printing of the US SAILING ORC book on the topic of Quick-Stop. All agreed to do so.

Bill Doelger discussed the ORC regulations for multihulls, and will write a proposal for the committee, to be distributed via e-mail, in time for Bruce Eissner to carry to the ORC meeting in November in Scotland.

Bill Doelger has suggested that all the references to outside standards that are currently in the ORC regs be minimized and put into plain language so the average skipper can read and interpret them without a translator or the need to purchase additional volumes of other standards.

Discussion about a requirement of nonskid for all areas of the deck to be handled via e-mail.

Ellyn Osmond volunteers to handle the CG incident database, any others?

Discussion of Category 5 was brought forward by David . The idea behind them was to prevent a lot of cheap protests on the last day of the regatta. Discussion revolved around why should a boat that violates category 4 sail with boats that do? Class rules take care of this when sailing one design, but not in mixed fleets. No motion, discussion tabled.