Changes and Interpretation

Details of changes to the Special Regulations and interpretation issued February 2003 regarding hatches.

Changes to Special Regulations
The Offshore Special Regulations have been updated for 2003. The main changes are:

New Appendix A, Part 2 Liferafts – concerning Minimum Specifications for Yachtsmen’s Liferafts
New Appendix G Training –
New Appendix J Category 5 for Monohulls and Multihulls – extract of the Offshore Special Regulations for Race Category 5

Special Regulations Online – Click Here

Interpretation of Special Regulations
On 7 February 2003, ISAF published an interpretation regarding SR3.08.2(a) Definitions and Hatch

Question
In SR 3.08.2 (a) is every opening device (eg a ventilation port) included in the term “hatch”?

Answer
No. The term “hatch” for the purposes of SR 3.08.2 (a) shall be taken to mean one large enough for a person to pass through.

SR 3.08.2 shall not be taken to prevent the installation of a dedicated escape hatch required in SR 3.07.2 and 3.07.3.

Attention is drawn to SR 3.02.1 “A hull, including deck, coach roof, windows, hatches and all other parts, shall form an integral, essentially watertight unit and any opening in it shall be capable of being immediately secured to maintain this integrity.”

For the full text as a .pdf document Click Here