Owners and skippers please note…

  • 17/10/2017

The Australian Sailing 2017 – 2020 Special Regulations came into effect from 1 July 2017 and are valid until 30 June 2021.

In accordance AS 2017 – 2020 Special Regulations Section 2.01 Categories of Events –

  • Racing Events held in the waters off Mooloolaba are Category 4. We have not been issued any dispensation from this rating.

Consequently, all MYC boats racing off Mooloolaba must meet Safety Category 4 standards and must have submitted a Safety Category 4 Safety Audit prior to entering any racing events.

In particular, I bring to your attention AS 2017 – 2020 Special Regulations, Section 3.25 Marine Radio.

  • These sections have changed from YA RRS 2013 – 2016 Special Regulations in so far as these are no longer recommendations for Safety Category 4 but are now requirements.

For Category 4:

3.25.1 (b) (i) Permanently installed VHF transceiver.

3.25.1 (b) (iii) All new permanently installed VHF transceivers shall be DSC capable.

3.25.1 (b) (iv) It is recommended that all permanently installed VHF transceivers be DSC capable.

3.25.1 (c) Where permanently installed, DSC HF/VHF transceivers shall be programmed with an assigned MMSI (unique to the boat), and where there is permanently installed GPS, be connected to a GPS receiver, and be capable of making distress alert calls as well as sending and receiving a DSC position report with another DSC equipped station. Periodically a test call should be made to AMSA which should be automatically acknowledged.

3.25.5 The following emergency antenna shall be provided:

(b) An emergency antenna where the regular antenna depends upon the mast.

The full Special Regulations can viewed here.

I intend to review my previous list of all extra requirement between Cat 4 and Cat 5 in light of changes made in the AS 2017 – 2020 Special Regulations. I will publish it when completed.

Mark Coghlan, Rear Commodore Sailing MYC