ISAF Special Regulations Governing Offshore and
Oceanic Equipment and Preparation, 
Including US SAILING Prescriptions

US Edition 2006-2007

The booklet contains: Monohull Categories 0-4 Multihull Categories 0-4 Mono and Multihull Category 5 Appendixes A-H "Click here to order your complete copy"

SPECIAL REGULATIONS - APPENDIX A part I   
January 2006 - December 2007

It is normal for Race Organizers to change and modify the regulations to suit the local race conditions.  Race Organizers may copy and print these regulations for distribution in their race documents, only if they provide any changes or modifications to these regulations to the Chair of the Safety at Sea Committee for feedback to develop future changes to the regulations.

Minimum Specifications for Yachtsmen’s Liferafts
 for liferafts manufactured prior to 1/03 (1/06 in the U.S.)

Appendix A does not cover liferafts intended for category 0 races

1.0    General design

Liferaft(s) capable of carrying the whole crew shall meet the following requirements:

a)      Stowage - see Special Regulation 4.20.2

b)      Must be designed and used solely for saving life at sea

c)      The liferaft shall be so constructed that, when fully inflated and floating with the cover uppermost, it shall be stable in a seaway

d)      The construction of the liferaft shall include a canopy or cover, which shall unless  specified by the national Authority or Notice of Race automatically be set in place when the liferaft is inflated. This cover shall be capable of protecting the occupants against injury from exposure, and means shall be provided for collecting rain. The cover of the liferaft shall be of a highly visible colour.

e)      The liferaft shall be fitted with a painter line and shall have a lifeline becketed round the outside. A lifeline shall also be fitted round the inside of the liferaft

f)       The liferaft shall be capable of being readily righted by one person if it inflates in an inverted position

g)      The liferaft shall be fitted at each opening with efficient means to enable persons in the water to climb on board

h)      The liferaft shall be contained in a valise or other container so constructed as to be capable of withstanding hard wear under conditions met with at sea. The liferaft in its valise or other container shall be inherently buoyant

i)        The buoyancy of the liferaft shall be so arranged as to achieve a division into an even number of separate compartments, half of which shall be capable of supporting out of the water the number of persons which the liferaft is fit to accommodate, without reducing the total supporting area.

j)        The number of persons which an inflatable liferaft shall be permitted to accommodate shall be equal to:-

i         the greatest whole number obtained by dividing by .096 the volume, measured in cubic metres of the main buoyancy tubes (which for this purpose shall include neither the arches nor the thwarts if fitted) when inflated, or

ii        the greatest whole number obtained by dividing by 3720 the area measured in square centimetres of the floor (which for this purpose may include the thwart or thwarts if fitted) of the liferaft when inflated whichever number shall the the less

k)       The floor of the liferaft shall be waterproof and  is strongly recommended to be capable of being sufficiently insulated against the cold either:-

i         by means of one or more compartments which the occupants can inflate if they so desire, or which inflate automatically and can be deflated and re-inflated by the occupants; or

ii        by other equally efficient means not dependent on inflation

2.0 Equipment

a)      one buoyant rescue quoit, attached to at least 30 metres of buoyant line

b)      one safety knife and one bailer

c)      two sponges

d)      one sea anchor or drogue permanently attached to the liferaft (compliance with ISO 17339 or equivalent is recommended)

e)      two paddles

f)       one repair outfit capable of repairing punctures in buoyancy compartments

g)      one topping-up pump or bellows

h)      one waterproof electric torch

i)        three hand-held red distress flare signals in accordance with SOLAS regulation 36

j)        six anti-seasickness tablets for each person which the liferaft is deemed fit to accommodate

k)       instructions on a plastic sheet on how to survive in the liferaft

l)        the liferaft shall be inflated by a gas which is not injurious to the occupants and the inflation shall take place automatically either on the pulling of a line or by some other equally simple and efficient method. Means shall be provided whereby a topping-up pump or bellows may be used to maintain pressure

3.0 Marking of liferafts

3.1    Each liferaft shall be clearly marked with the yacht's name or sail number of identification code on:-

a)      the canopy

b)      the bottom

c)      the valise or container

d)      the certificate

3.2    Numbers and letters on the liferaft should be as large as possible and in a strongly contrasting colour. Marine grade retro-reflective material shall be appropriately fitted to every raft.