Marine Safety
Many of us are dusting off our pride and joy for the sailing season. It’s a good time to check out the safety equipment on board. While racing boats complete a safety checklist each year, safety checks should be carried out by all boats, even if you’re a casual cruiser or day sailor.
If you’re thinking of entering some of our trophy races or planning an occasional Wednesday twilight race, you will need to complete a Category 6 safety form.
For Etchells, there is a modified Category 7 form on this web page.
Minimum Safety Requirements for all vessels
The table below details the minimum safety requirements (for most RSAYS vessels) operating in Gulf waters. Semi-protected Waters are defined as being within 2 nmi of the coast (including the Port River) while Unprotected Waters extend beyond the 2 nmi limit within the Gulf.
Did You Know?
- Your fire extinguisher must comply with Australian Standard AS 1841 and be maintained in accordance with AS 1851. This requires your fire extinguisher to be checked every 6 months.
- If you are replacing your EPIB, consider buying a unit with a built in GPS receiver. The GPS system can locate a distress beacon to within a radius of about 120 m compared with 5 km for an EPIRB without GPS.
- If you are operating a vessel in unprotected waters, you require a two-way marine radio. The person operating the marine radio must hold a Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency.
- In Gulf waters, you will need to carry a PFD Type 1 for each person on board. If you are racing in a Category 3 event (such as the Adelaide to Port Lincoln race), the PFDs must also have a buoyancy rating of 150N.