Race Management and International Regulations discussions on Annual Conference Day 7

The first full seven days of meetings at World Sailing’s 2020 Annual Conference concluded with the Race Management Sub-committee and the International Regulations Commission on Saturday 24 October.

Starting first was the Race Management Sub-committee at 08:00-12:00 UTC, chaired by Tom Duggan, with Madeleine Dunn, Race Officials Manager at World Sailing, as Committee Manager.

The RMSC discussed the effect of COVID-19 on events going forward, as well as the requirements outlined in the RQC document (race officials, roles qualifications and competences).
 
The RMSC talked about a range of topics, from the merits of online education and how to present content in this format, and also welcomed members from the Dutch Race Officials community who spoke about the work they have been undertaking for training plans towards the 2023 Sailing World Championships in The Hague.
 
A presentation was delivered on the major updates to the racing rules of sailing which affect Race Management practices, and the Sub-committee also received a report on a digital officiating homologation report and progression of the topic.
 
During the RMSC’s earlier closed session, which took place on Tuesday 20 October, they reviewed applications for International Race Officer status that will go forward for recommendation to the Race Officials Committee on Tuesday 27 October.
 
The meeting was recorded in BlueJeans and is now available on World Sailing’s YouTube channel. You can watch it back below:

The International Regulations Commission ran from 09:00-13:00 UTC and was chaired by Stuart Carruthers, with Simon Forbes, World Sailing’s Offshore Technical Manager, as Committee Manager.

The Commission considered matters related to the International Maritime Organisation and International Standards Organisations.
 
In attendance were Alan Green and David Brunskill, who attend the International Maritime Organisation representing World Sailing.
 
Amongst the topic of discussion was the IMO Polar Code and the development of a World Sailing Polar Yacht Guide, which will be available soon.

The IMO Polar Code is the Draft Polar Yacht Guide for non-SOLAS pleasure yachts in polar waters, and the papers regarding this can be found within the Annual Conference documents on sailing.org.
 
The Code is about protecting the Artic and Antarctic from pollution from ships and now yachts. Dan Reading, World Sailing’s Head of Sustainability, has also been involved in this.
 
Elsewhere, the Chair of the Commission Stuart Carruthers highlighted his work that has resulted in a revised ISO standard published in 2020:
 
ISO 12402:2020 Personal flotation devices – Part 6 Special application lifejackets and buoyancy aids: Safety requirements and additional test methods
 
The new specification of Offshore Sailing Lifejacket is detailed in Part 6 of the standard and brings together lifejacket features specified in the Offshore Special Regulations.
 
The meeting was recorded in BlueJeans and will be available on World Sailing’s YouTube channel soon.