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New SSS minimum equipment requirements

BobJ

BobJ

Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
Subsequent changes in the 2009 SSI's made my initial post and the early part of this thread somewhat irrelevant. Go to Max's posts at Post #33 or #34 to see the current deal.

The tail end of this thread talks about various MOB gear, which is now required for doublehanders in our ocean races (SHF and HMB). LongPac and TransPac will still have their own equipment requirements.
 
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What???!!!!

SSS's Standing Sailing Instructions now require ISAF 2008/09 OSR Catagory 2 equipment for races outside the Gate.
Click to expand...
As I am currently getting ready for the Newport to Cabo race I can attest that Cat 2 requirements are pretty steep. Liferaft, EPIRB, many small rules that I don't even want to get into. Is this really true? If so there will be very few out racing with us from now on. Cat 2 races are LONG DISTANCE. I thought we used a similar set of requirements that the OYRA uses. Someone please explain this decision.
 
OYRA Requirement

Looks like I will not be able to race in the OYRA either !

My boat is 30.75 so:
3.18 Toilet permanently installed. □ (For boats under 30’ a fitted bucket is acceptable.) - so I HAVE TO INSTALL A TOILET TO RACE!
3.19 Bunks permanently installed. OYRA requirement: two full sized berths.
3.21 At least one securely installed water tank discharging through a pump. At least 2.4 gallons of water for emergency use in a dedicated container or containers. - so I HAVE TO INSTALL A TANK & SINK TO RACE!
4.15 Emergency steering. Emergency tiller (if required). □ ____ 3.28 Engines, Generators, Fuel
3.28.1 A securely covered inboard propulsion engine shall be provided
together with permanently installed exhaust and fuel supply systems
and fuel tank(s)
3.28.2 A propulsion engine shall be provided, EITHER as a securely covered
inboard engine together with permanently installed exhaust and fuel
supply systems and fuel tank(s) OR in a multihull of less than 12.0m
(39.4ft) as an outboard engine with associated tanks and fuel supply
systems, all securely fastened.
So I have to install an inboard engine as well? GEEZ!
Full complement of SOLAS flares, etc, etc, etc.
 
Greg, the first aid training is one of four items modified by the "SSS Prescriptions":

a. Reserve navigation lights are not required (OSR 3.27.4)
b. Sufficient fuel to motor at hull speed for four hours (vs. eight in OSR 3.28.3b)
c. First aid training is strongly recommended, but NOT required (OSR 4.08.3)
d. Multihulls shall carry a drogue for speed management

I believe OYRA also requires Cat. 2 compliance but only inspects for certain items, and waives more requirements. The new SSI's state that the SSS prescriptions prevail (i.e. mandate the higher equipment requirements).

Does this mean liferafts and EPIRBs will be required for the Farallones and Half Moon Bay races?

What will the minimum stability index be? What about boats who've raced with SSS for years who may not meet the index?

The OSR multihull structural requirements are onerous - does this mean no more multihulls in SSS races outside the Gate?

I'm not criticizing or making any judgements, but I'd sure like to know what the board is planning to do with this.
 
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For SSS, let's wait and hear the background on this.

As of this afternoon, OYRA hadn't posted the 2009 equipment requirements. Are you looking at 2008's?
 
Liferaft, EPIRB

The OYRA waives the liferaft and EPIRB requirements. Seems I need to find out the stability of my two boats as well !
 
Cat 2 is.....

From the ISAF definition: "Races of extended duration....."

I believe only the LongPac/SHTP would qualify as such in the SSS.
 
Maybe that's all we have here - a typo. Would Cat. 3 make sense?
 
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4.04.2 Clipping Points

Better check those clipping points. Besides jackstay, you need clipping points for 2/3 of the crew - before coming on deck, etc.
 
6.01 Training

If you have not attended the 'Safety at Sea' seminar in the last 5 years you can't come play either: "at least 30%, but not fewer than two members of the crew...."

So you can't really do the Singlehanded Farallones at all Solo since two are the minimum, so I guess we won't have a race this year?

Even if we waive the 'two crew' requirement, how many SSS folks have done the Safety at Sea seminar?
 
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Guys,

It's not a typo. We mean Cat. 2.

I'm not happy about this situation. The Coast Guard is pushing hard on this in the wake of the loss of Daisy last year. I was hoping to be involved in the talks between YRA and USCG, but I wasn't invited. After that there was a meeting at YRA of all the clubs that run ocean races, and everybody pretty much went along with the requirements. I've been scrambling for some traction to mitigate the requirements, but I can't find anyone to stand with me. (Haven't heard from BAMA, who might be our closest ally.) The exceptions that I've written into our rules somewhat undercut the unified rules that YRA is trying to put forward, anyway.

Bob and Greg, maybe you guys have enough experience and authority to work with me to push back a little.

Anyone who raced OYRA last year knows that they already had some pretty stringent requirements that were based on Cat. 2. When I wrote that the SSS prescriptions override the OYRA prescriptions, I meant that we go along with all OYRA's exceptions to the OSRs *AND* add a few more exemptions of our own.

Help me out here. How about if we get together after the Three Bridge skippers meeting and do a little planning?

PS, Greg, we've always had a throwout in the season scoring as long as I've been involved. This year, after seeing how people who focused on the Transpac ended way down in the points, we decided that the Transpac/Longpac score could not be thrown out. And a DNS in that race counts double.

Max
 
"How about if we get together after the Three Bridge skippers meeting and do a little planning?"


I'm happy to do that Max. I don't have the history with SSS that others do, but will contribute what I can.

Is there a report somewhere on what sank Daisy? If so, does it show that Daisy's full compliance with Cat 2 requirements would have prevented her sinking? (Rhetorical questions I know.)
 
BTW, here are the OYRA prescriptions/exemptions for 2009:

2.03.3 Navigation lights shall be shown from Sunset to Sunrise and when visibility is reduced to two miles or
less. ■____
3.08 Hatch Boards shall be in good condition with means to secure. ■____ Deck Hatch shall be water tight. ■____
Locker Hatch shall be securable. ■____
3.14 For boats less than 30’ the requirement for lifelines and pulpits is waived provided jackstays are installed. ■____
3.18 Toilet permanently installed. For boats under 30’ a fitted bucket is acceptable. ■___
3.20 Cooking stove capable of being safely operated at sea is recommended but not required.
3.21.1 The requirement for permanently installed delivery pump and water tank is waived. ■___
3.23 Boats under 30’ at least one permanently installed manual bilge pump of 10 gallons per minute capacity operable with all hatches and companionways closed. ■___
3.28 The requirement for permanently installed propulsion engine and fuel tanks is waived for boats under 30’. Outboard engines and fuel for eight hours of operation meeting the performance specifications are required. ■____
3.29 Cell phone in a waterproof container must be carried on each yacht. ■___
4.19 The Requirement for a 406 MHz EPIRB is currently waived, but it is strongly recommended that each vessel carry one. An EPIRB, or its equivalent technology will be required in the future. See the YRA Website (www.yra.org) for information on purchasing or renting an EPIRB.
4.20 Unless specifically designated in the Notice of Race the requirement for a life raft is waived. For specifically designated long distance Offshore Races, a life raft capable of carrying the entire crew which must have a valid annual certificate from the manufacturer or an approved agent certifying that it has been inspected and stating the official capacity of the raft that shall not be exceeded.
4.21 Grab bags requirements are waived.
4.23 OYRA prescribes that for yachts under its jurisdiction, SOLAS flares may not be more than 6 years old except orange smoke flares which may not be more than 10 years old.
4.26 Storm & heavy weather sail requirements are waived and the following substituted:
One heavy weather jib sized for the boat is required if boat is equipped to carry a headsail. ■____
Main sails sufficiently strong for heavy weather and able to be reefed with adequate trimming devices to handle heavy weather conditions. ■____
5.04 OYRA requires Foul Weather Suit for each crewmember. ■____
5.05 OYRA requires a knife for each crewmember. ■____
5.08 OYRA requires a Man-Overboard Practice . ■____
6.01 Safety @ Sea training is strongly recommended. ■____
 
Wow

Wow, an a single boat that never comes out and races ('Daisy'), their boat comes apart (most likely) and sinks and now we all get to pay the price.

Did they FORCE us to use these rules (i.e. 'you will not get a permit')??

Again, Cat 2 is defined by ISAF as 'Races of extended duration'.... which NONE of our races are except the LongPac and SHTP. This is Big Brother gone racing. ANYONE with a boat can exit the Gate and go to the Farallones without ANY of this NONSENCE but our organization, with a excellent, NO ACTUALLY PERFECT safety record has this imposed upon us.

BAMA has the worst safety record so I wouldn't use them.

Yes, lets meet before the SSS 3BF Meeting. The earlier the better. I will be at the OYC @ 6pm Wednesday night - anyone else that wants to meet there, please come.
 
Cat 2 Rules Meeting @ OYC - Wednesday

I just got off the phone with Richard Calabrese the OYRA President and Mimimum Equipment Officer and he will be meeting me at the Oakland Yacht Club before the 3BF Skippers Meeting. We are trying to give this the ample time it needs so we will be there @ 6pm. Anyone is welcome to attend.

FYI, both my Black Soo and Azzura 310 (both proven ocean boats and Hawaii vets/winners) DO NOT meet the OYRA Cat 2 rules even with the exception such as: outboard motor ONLY for boats under 30ft, etc. He said 'we would give you an exception' but that IS NOT what the written rules state so if I wanted to race and did not call him I would not have found out that they WILL give exceptions beyond the written rules (which makes no sense).

He also thought that the 'Safety at Sea' was a 'should' and not 'shall' as it is written, which he said he will change for sure for the OYRA.
 
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