Using the International Sailing Federation Special regulations Governing Offshore and Oceanic Racing for 2002-2003 including US SAILING Prescriptions in your organization's race:

The Offshore Racing Council (ORC) of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has taken the collective experience from injuries sustained in races at events around the world and developed a booklet of "Safety Recommendations".

This list of safety devices is broken down into 6 Categories.  Category "0" providing the longest list of safety equipment, used in races circumnavigating the world, where boats are out of range from professional rescue services, to the least amount of equipment with Category "5" for use primarily around the buoys near the shore in warm water, where rescue services are readily available.

Many Organizing Authorities find that the "Safety Recommendations" are not tailored for their venue.  This is common.  What Organizing Authorities find is that the "Safety Recommendations" provide a good starting point.  It is expected that you will add, delete or modify part(s) of the "Safety Recommendations", based on factors such as warm or cold water expectations, availability of professional rescue services or known high wind speed potentials for the time of the year and course to be sailed.

The "Safety Recommendations" are in addition to any United States Coast Guard (USCG) safety requirements.  These "Safety Recommendations" do not replace USCG safety requirements.  All vessels must comply with the USCG carriage requirements at all times and carry the "Safety Recommendation" items as your Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions require.

So, how does the Organizing Authority make the "Safety Recommendations" a "Rule" for a race?  By placing a line in the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions that reads:

Rules
Racing Rules of Sailing, the International Sailing Federation Special regulations Governing Offshore and Oceanic Racing for 2002-2003 including US SAILING Prescriptions for Category number (place selection of Category 0-4 here) including US SAILING prescriptions, except as modified by Section (place the section number here) of this Notice of Race (or Sailing Instructions), etc

Equipment
Each yacht shall conform to the International Sailing Federation Special regulations Governing Offshore and Oceanic Racing for 2002-2003 including US SAILING Prescriptions for Category number (place selection of Category 0-4 here) including US SAILING prescriptions, with the following exceptions:

     a. Para X.XX.X Item-Name is waived.
     b. Para X.XX Item-Name is modified as follows...
     c. Para X.XX Item-Name is changed from "should" to "shall" be carried.

Copies of the International Sailing Federation Special regulations Governing Offshore and Oceanic Racing for 2002-2003 including US SAILING Prescriptions may be obtained from US SAILING (PO Box 1260, Portsmouth, RI 02871, USA), or call 1-800-US-SAIL1 or ordered on-line at www.ussailing.org/merchandise

Some Organizing Authorities go another step indicating their right to inspect vessels:
INSPECTION
Conformance to these regulations or inspection of a yacht in no way limits or reduces the complete and unlimited responsibility or liability of a yacht's owner or skipper for the safety of the vessel and/or crew.  The RC reserves the right to conduct a courtesy visit before the start to any entered yacht for the sole purpose of reviewing these safety requirements with the skipper and crew.  Such a visit shall in no way be construed as an inspection, which will be conducted only after the race has been completed.

Another Organizing Authority writes -
INSPECTION
The Race Committee reserves the right to inspect entries for eligibility and equipment requirements at any time prior to the Prize Giving Ceremony.  Conformance to these regulations or inspection of a yacht in no way limits or reduces the complete or unlimited responsibility or liability of a yacht's owner or skipper for the vessel and/or crew.  The Organizing Authority reserves the right to conduct a courtesy visit before the start to any entered yacht for the sole purpose of reviewing these safety requirements with the skipper and crew.  Such a visit shall in no way be construed as an inspection, which will be conducted only after the race has been completed.  Yachts that fail to comply will be protested by the Race Committee.