Responsibility of Person in Charge

The safety of a yacht and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the person in charge who must do his best to ensure that the yacht is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy and manned 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 and stowed and that the crew know where it is kept and how it is to be used.

Suitability of Equipment

All equipment required by Special Regulations shall:
a) function properly
b) be regularly checked, cleaned and serviced
c) when not in use be stowed in conditions in which
deterioration is minimised
d) be readily accessible
e) be of a type, size and capacity suitable and adequate for the intended use and size of the yacht.

Hatches & Companionways

3.08.1 No hatch forward of the maximum beam station shall open inwards excepting ports having an area of less than 0.071m2 (110 sq in).3.03.2 A hatch shall be:
a) so arranged as to be above the water when the hull is heeled 90 degrees (Monohulls Only)
b) permanently attached
c) 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:
a) not be permitted in a yacht with a cockpit opening aft to the sea (3.09.6)
b) 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:
a) be fitted with a strong securing arrangement which shall be operable from the exterior and interior including when the yacht is inverted
b) 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

Cockpits

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

3.09.4 A cockpit sole shall be at least 2% LWL above LWL (or in IMS yachts first launched before 1/03, at least 2% L 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
i) age or series date before 4/92: the total volume of all cockpits below lowest coamings shall not exceed 9% (LWL x maximum beam x freeboard abreast the cockpit).
ii) age or series date 4/92 and after: as in (i) above except that «lowest coamings» shall not include any aft of the FA station and no extension of a cockpit aft of the working deck shall be included in calculation of cockpit volume.
iii) IMS-rated boats may use instead instead of LWL, maximum beam, freeboard abreast the cockpit; the IMS terms L, B and FA.

Cockpit Drains
Cockpit drain cross section area (after allowance for screens if fitted) shall be:
i) in yachts with earliest of age or series date before 1/72 or in any yacht under 8.5m (28ft) LOA – at least that of 2 x 25mm (one inch) unobstructed openings or equivalent.
ii) in yachts with earliest of age or series date 1/72 and later – at least that of 4 x 20mm (3/4 inch) unobstructed openings or equivalent.

Sail Numbers

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