Category 5 - Basic Requirements and Recommendations

Category 5 Special Regulations are intended for use in short races, close to shore in relatively warm and protected waters where adequate shelter and/or effective rescue is available all along the course, held in day light only. Notes to the 2002 edition of the ISAF Special Regulations:
- The use of the masculine gender shall be given to mean either gender.
- Guidance notes and recommendations are printed in italics.

- US SAILING prescriptions are printed in underlined bold italic letters.

1.02.1 The safety of a yacht and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the owner, or the owner’s representative who must do his best to ensure that the yacht is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy and managed by an experienced crew who have undergone appropriate training and are physically fit to face bad weather. He must be satisfied as to the soundness of hull, spars, rigging, sails and all gear. He must ensure that all safety equipment is properly maintained (2.03.1) and stowed and that the crew know where it is and how it is to be used.

1.02.2 Neither the establishment of these Special Regulations, their use by race organizers, nor the inspection of a yacht under these Special Regulations in any way limits or reduces the complete and unlimited responsibility of the owner or owner’s representative.

1.02.3 Decision to race – The responsibility for a yacht’s decision to race or to continue racing is hers alone – RRS Fundamental Rule 4.

1.03 Definitions, abbreviations, word usage

1.03.1 Definitions of Terms used in this document are found in Table 1 of the ISAF Special Regulations, 2002-2003.
1.03.2 The words "shall" and "must" are mandatory, and "should" and "may" are permissive.
1.03.3 The word "yacht" shall be taken as fully interchangeable with the word "boat"

SECTION 2 – APPLICATION & GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

2.03.1 All equipment required by Special Regulations shall:-

1. function properly

2. be regularly checked, cleaned and serviced

3. when not in use be stowed in conditions in which deterioration is minimized

4. be readily accessible

5. be of a type, size and capacity suitable and adequate for the intended use and size of the yacht.

3.08.1 No hatch forward of the maximum beam station shall open in such a way that the lid or cover moves into the open position towards the inside of the hull (excepting ports having an area of less than 0.071 m2 (110 sq in)).

3.08.2 A hatch shall be:

1. so arranged as to be above the water when the hull is heeled 90 degrees

2. permanently attached

3. capable of being firmly shut immediately and remaining firmly shut in a 180 degree capsize (inversion)

3.08.3 A companionway hatch extending below the local sheerline, shall:

1. not be permitted in a yacht with a cockpit opening aft to the sea (3.09.6)

2. be capable of being blocked off up to the level of the local sheerline, provided that the companionway hatch shall continue to give access to the interior with the blocking devices (e.g. washboards) in place

3.08.4 A companionway hatch shall:

1. be fitted with a strong securing arrangement which shall be operable from above and below including when the yacht is inverted

2. have any blocking devices

i capable of being retained in position with the hatch open or shut

ii whether or not in position in the hatchway, secured to the yacht (e.g. by lanyard) for the duration of the race, to prevent their being lost overboard

iii permit exit in the event of inversion

3.09 Cockpits – attention is drawn to ISO 11812

3.09.1 cockpits shall be structurally strong, self draining quickly by gravity at all angles of heel and permanently incorporated as an integral part of the hull.

3.09.2 cockpits must be essentially watertight, that is, all openings to the hull must be capable of being strongly and rigidly secured

3.09.3 a bilge pump outlet pipe or pipes shall not be connected to a cockpit drain.  See 3.09.8 for cockpit drain minimum sizes.

3.09.4 a cockpit sole shall be:-

1. in yachts first launched before 1/03 either at least 2%L above LWL (using IMS value for "L" or at least 2% LWL above LWL, or

2. in yachts first launched on or after 1/03, at least 2% LWL above LWL

3.09.5 a bow, lateral, central or stern well shall be considered a cockpit for the purposes of 3.09

3.09.6 in cockpits opening aft to the sea structural openings aft shall be not less in area than 50% maximum cockpit depth x maximum cockpit width.

3.09.7 Cockpit volume

See Table 5 of the ISAF Special Regulations, 2002-2003 for details of calculating cockpit total volume.

3.09.8 Cockpit drains

See 3.09.1. Cockpit drain cross section total area (after allowance for screens if fitted) shall be:

1. in yachts with the earliest of age or series date before 1/72 – at least that of 2 x 25mm (one inch) unobstructed openings or equivalent;

2. in yachts with the earliest of age or series date 1/72 and later – at least that of 4 x 20mm (3/4 inch) unobstructed openings or equivalent

3. except that yachts under 8.5m (28ft) may always comply with 3.09.8 (a).

3.14.1 
thru      See ISAF Special Regulations, 2002-2003 for recommended details
3.14.7

3.23.5 The following shall be provided:

e) one manual bilge pump

f)  one bucket of stout construction with at least 9 litres (2 UK Gallons, 2.4 US gallons) capacity plus a lanyard

3.24.1 The following shall be provided:-

b) one compass (a hand-held is acceptable)

4.01.1 Yachts which are not in an ISAF International Class or Recognized class shall comply with RRS 77 and Appendix G as closely as possible, except that sail numbers allotted by a State authority are acceptable

4.01.2 sail numbers for display when sails are down

4.05.1 one fire extinguisher required if electrical system, engine, or stove on board

4.06.1 one anchor

4.07.1 a) flashlight

4.17 Yacht’s name

Yacht’s name on buoyant equipment

4.22.1 The following shall be provided within easy reach of the helmsman and ready for instant use:

1. a lifebuoy with a drogue, or a lifesling without a drogue. Marine grade retro-reflective tape shall be fitted.

a) A heaving line shall be provided of length 15m-25m (50ft-75ft) readily accessible to the cockpit or helm

b) the "throwing sock" type of line is recommended – see Appendix D

5.01.1 each crew member shall have a lifejacket as follows:

a) equipped with a whistle

b) fitted with marine grade retro-reflective tape

d) if inflatable, regularly checked for air retention

e) clearly marked with yacht’s or wearer’s name

5.01.2 recommended lifejacket equipment or attribute:

US SAILING note: As is true of all of these regulations. The prescriptions above do not necessarily replace the requirements of other governing authorities.
 

	APPENDICES TO SPECIAL REGULATIONS
	Appendix A - Minimum Specification for Yachtsmens Liferafts* Part 1
	Appendix A - Minimum Specification for Yachtsmens Liferafts* Part 2
	Appendix B - A guide to ISO and other Standards*
	Appendix C - Standard Inspection Cards*
	Appendix D - Quickstop & Lifesling
	Appendix E - Hypothermia
	Appendix F - Drogues and sea anchors
	Appendix G - Model Training Course
	Appendix H - ISAF Code for the organisation of Oceanic Races