A  primary obligation of the US SAILING Safety at Sea Committee is to scrutinize the
International Sailing Federation Offshore Special Regulations Governing Offshore Racing including US SAILING Prescriptions
and to make recommended changes via the US SAILING Board of Directors to the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations Sub-Committee following the guidelines of ISAF Regulation 36, Special Regulations Administration. See http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/2009ISAFRegsNovChanges-[6805].pdf

When the U.S. needs are different from the international agreed upon regulations and recommendations US SAILING modifies the ISAF book with what is called a "US SAILING Prescription".
 

The first thing you need is your own copy of the
2008-2009 ISAF Special Regulations Governing Offshore and Oceanic Equipment
and Preparation, including US SAILING Prescriptions.
Buy it here.

This book contains the accepted minimum equipment, accommodations and training standards for monohull and multihull sailboats racing both inshore and offshore in the United States of America.  It is assembled by national and international volunteer committees, who represent racing and cruising sailors.  In the US sailors have the responsibility to tell US SAILING committee members if any corrections or desired changes that should be made to these Offshore Special Regulations (OSR).  In the US changes are processed by the Safety at Sea Committee, the Offshore Committee and the National Offshore Council before approval by the Board of Directors of the US SAILING Association and submission to ISAF.

Race Organizers are encouraged to use these Offshore Special Regulations in inshore and offshore races.  Race Committees should select the category deemed most suitable for the type of race to be sailed and use extracts of these regulations in their official race documents