Safety & Registration
RGYC sailors and skippers are required to meet certain safety regulations and standards as set by the club, Australian Sailing and Maritime Safety Victoria. Below you will find the resources required to complete these processes. The RGYC boat safety and equipment audit requirements are set by Australian Sailing (AS) in the Racing Rules of Sailing, together with any updates available on the AS website.
For people new to RGYC racing, the Special Regulations can appear overwhelming, but there is plenty of assistance and advice available to owner.
Racing Requirements
As part of the club Notice of Race, owners & skippers are required to meet the safety requirements set out in section 4 – Eligibility & Entry. This includes completion and approval of the relevant Equipment Audit according to the Australian Sailing Special Regulations.
Safety Audit via YachtSafe
A safety audit is an inspection conducted by an accredited Club or National Equipment Auditor who represents RGYC. This must be done in accordance with the requirements set out in the relevant Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. It does not remove or replace the owner’s ultimate responsibility for safety, nor does it cover crew training/experience or an assessment of hull structure, stability, or integrity. The audit is an independent assessment that the owner has complied with Australian Sailing Special Regulations and it is valid until the end of June each year. For that reason, the owner must self-audit prior to each race to ensure compliance.
YachtSafe provides online audit forms and equipment auditor bookings for any boats you have registered at RGYC.
- Register your yacht with YachtSafe by contacting the Sailing Office at [email protected].
- Login to YachtSafe and complete your self-declaration.
- Book an audit with one of our appointed and accredited Equipment Auditors.
RGYC Auditors
| Auditors | Accredited To | Auditors | Accredited To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Garner | Cat 3 – 7 | Paul Buchholz | Cat 1 – 7 |
| Dale Laurie | Cat 1 – 7 | Peter Stephens | Cat 3 – 7 |
| Malcolm Eaton | Cat 1 – 7 | Roger Bennett | Cat 3 – 7 |
| Michael Naughton | Cat 1 – 7 |
Man Overboard Declaration
Yachts racing at RGYC are no longer required to complete and submit a Man Overboard Declaration as in previous years. However, this does not remove the owner’s responsibility to ensure the safety of all on board, and this includes appropriate training and regular practice at Man Overboard procedures.
RGYC recommends the use of the Man Overboard procedure listed within the Australian Sailing Special Regulations, and regular training with training providers such as the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria.