The Safety at  Sea Committee conducts it business continuously, on the Compuserve SailRace Forum.  Consequently, the spring and fall meetings consist primarily of reports of continuing activity.  A few issues were discussed, and one resolution is proposed for Board action.

Reports:
Ralph Naranjo of USNA reported on the Lifeline strength testing which is on-going.  Salient finding so far is that the supporting structures of the lifeline system contain the weak points; initial tautness of lifelines are an important element in ultimate strength ; and pulpit and pushpit continuity are also important elements in the strength and resiliency of the lifeline system.

Eric Wallischeck, USMMA, reported on the development of a syllabus for a hands-on educational program for safety in offshore boats, initially involving young people involved with junior sailing programs.  Two sessions have been held so far, and expansion beyond Long Island Sound is envisioned.  We anticipate that a formal syllabus will be available for summer use in 1998.

Cai Svendson reported on initial thoughts about topside storage in offshore boats. This will be dovetailed into the standards being developed for offshore boats in general, in consonance with European Community standards.

Bruce Eissner reported on the EC standards process, noting that these will become the worldwide standard in fact.

John Wright joined the group to present the final draft of the Recommendations for Offshore Cruising, which will be available for distribution shortly.  A sponsor is still being sought.  The committee expressed the conclusion that sales of this and the racing-oriented standards book should be made in bulk only, given the high cost of staff involvement in shipping.

John also reported that the Board-directed (1992) policy of crediting sales of inflatables to the Safety at Sea account was at last in place.

John Bonds reported on the continuing success of Safety at Sea Seminars, and a resolution on the problem of carrying inflatables on commercial flights.  An article for American Sailor has been prepared and is in the publication pipeline.  He also acknowledged his failure to properly follow up on the approved Preventer recommendation, but Eissner and Messer advised that they had fixed the resulting problem.  Bonds also noted that the staff proposal last year of developing a press clipping service to advise of rescues effected across the country had not occurred due to cost.

Discussion was lively regarding the subject of lifeline tautness and pulpit conformance with the ORC regulations, specifically on the proper role of the SASC in achieving enforcement of these requirements.  We will continue to develop policy in this regard, to advise and assist race organizers.

ISSUES:
A proposal by Bob Johnstone was received, asking that the advice to race organizers regarding non-continuous pulpits be amended to allow the wire pennants to be open on sport boats while flying asymmetrical spinnakers.  The committee firmly rejected this request and reaffirmed the position taken a year ago.

Personal flotation while racing was considered, and the committee expressed the view that it was time to move forward more aggressively in this regard.  The following Resolution was approved to send forward to the Board via the Offshore Committee:

Resolved, that the 1998/9 edition of "Recommendations for Offshore Sailing" shall include a US Prescription to the effect that personal flotation shall be worn when stating and finishing without exception and at all other times when on deck and the boat is racing, except when the Captain of the boat directs that flotation may be set aside.

The subject of more active advocacy of the Special Regulations by the committee to race organizers was raised, and several suggestions were made to effect this.  A program will be developed over the winter months.

Should US SAILING become involved in a program to identify necessary skills for offshore sailing and perhaps skill testing?  After discussion, the group agreed on a statement of support for the developing keelboat/offshore training systems: "The SASC endorses the concept of training to and evaluating the capability of personnel to perform at high levels of expertise in offshore venues, and pledges it wholehearted support of the Training Committee in their achievement of these goals."

Finally despite some individual difficulty in accessing the SailRace Forum with the new protocols, the group decided to continue its use for the time being, to be continually reevaluated.

Present at the meeting: S.F. Horwitz, Bruce Eissner, John Murray, Jim Gubelmann, Ralph Naranjo, Cai Svendsen, Eric Wallischeck, Bruce Campbell, Frank Shriver, Ron Trossbach, Glenn McCarthy, William Doelger, John Collins, Dave Shaffer, Ellyn Coyle Osmond, Richard Jepsen, Ernie Messer, Bill Lewis, Gene McCarthy.

Respectfully submitted,
John B. Bonds