Safety audits for racing and cruising yachts

Safety Audits

YA specialist regulations self-declared, or audited, safety checks. In this article, Genevieve White looks at the auditing process and how you can use it to ensure you and your crew are ready to race or cruise.

For the racing yacht, an audit is a necessary means to ensure that all of the required equipment is on board for racing, that it functions properly, and is of a ‘type, size and capacity suitable for the intended use and size of the boat’.  In Australia, these regulations are spelled out in the Yachting Australia Racing Rules of Sailing ‘Blue Book’ as YA Special Regulations, and are broken into categories depending upon how close to or far from shore yachts will venture. They are based on international regulations governing structural features, boat equipment, personal equipment and qualifications.  Their primary purpose is for racing yachts, but they also provide a valuable checklist and guideline for cruising boats.  

An audit, by definition, is any thorough assessment, methodical examination or review.   It has checks and balances, which in this case are based on a set of written regulations.  In the racing world in some states, it may be completed and then self-declared by the owner, or in the case of New South Wales, is completed by an accredited auditor nominated by the yacht clubs.  The strength of this is to create a double check—the external auditor may see deficiencies with the boat, preparation, or equipment, that a boat owner may have missed.

So how does one prepare for the audit?  There are 85 pages of regulations.  In fact the preparation really is an audit unto itself.  I generally break this into five sections:  construction, the structural items and fixed equipment, the required boat safety equipment, the required  personal safety equipment and then the extras—those items which are not necessarily required but would be very useful and add to the safety of those on board.

Construction

The starting point is to determine that the boat is soundly constructed and suitable for the type of sailing it will be undertaking.  This may require some expert opinion from surveyors, designers, boatbuilders and riggers.  It is important to look at everything from the vessel’s stability to the suitability of hatches, companionways, cockpit drains, through hull openings and water tanks.  
It is also worth getting the engine, electrics and electronics assessed and serviced.

Fixed safety equipment

Then it is on to the fixed equipment - things like bilge pumps, winches, lifelines and guardrails, galley cooking systems, compasses, navigation lights, batteries, and radios.  Generally speaking, you will be using experts to fit these items so it is important to know what you are getting into and that they are suitable for the type of sailing you will be undertaking.  I also include at this point an assessment of stowage and systems to tie down heavy items.

Portable safety equipment

Next in the audit process we look at the portable boat safety items.  There is a great variety of products available on the market—ranging from cheap and nasty, to great value for money items, to top end ‘all bells and whistles’ equipment.  When it comes to safety, I am not a proponent of buying the cheapest, as in most cases, it equates to nasty.  It can also be false economy when these items need regular replacement.  More importantly, you really want to be confident that the items you have on board will work when you actually need them.  The ‘Blue Book’ gives guidelines as to the appropriate size and types of equipment required.  Then it is a matter of research and asking the experts.  Find out what equipment does break down versus that which has a long life and that which is used on boats which are similar to yours.  A 30 footer has very different requirements to a 100 footer (consider anchors, emergency steering systems, man overboard equipment, grab bags, etc.) so you may not be able to transport gear directly from one boat to another.  Many items need regular servicing by agents, including fire extinguishers, liferafts, PFDs and danbuoys, so it is worth setting up a schedule to ensure that this is completed.  

Personal safety equipment

Personal equipment is next and is incredibly important.  It should be good quality and maintained by regular checks and servicing and stored in dry conditions when not in use.  It needs to be comfortable enough to actually be worn, easy to use, and appropriate for the type of sailing you are undertaking.  The best way to find out how different types of personal gear perform is to try them in the water.  The YA Safety and Sea Survival course is a great way to do this in a controlled environment with an instructor to provide feedback.  Personal gear includes personal flotation devices (PFDs or ‘Lifejackets’), harnesses, tethers, whistles, lights or strobes and for offshore sailing, personal locator beacons (PLBs).  Again, PFDs need annual checks and or services so add that to the schedule.  PLBs will need to be registered with AMSA and you will receive a sticker to attach to the beacon.

Finishing touches

Now it is worth thinking about the extras – things like dye markers, grab bags, cyalume sticks, spares, sea anchors, etc.  While not necessarily on the list, they may prove to be invaluable.

One of the last jobs when assessing all of your equipment is to consider the stowage of safety equipment and to make up a stowage chart so that everyone can find the equipment easily.  Include all items of portable safety equipment onboard, such as fire extinguisers, and also add some of the fixed items like seacocks, bilge pumps,  diesel and gas shut off valves.  It is also worth creating a list in alphabetical order to assist in quick reference.

Safety and emergency procedures

Finally, it is time to consider your safety procedures on board.  What is your man overboard procedure? What are your safety procedures when using the stove, or the head, or the engine?  What would you do if you broke your steering system or if you lost your rudder?  What is your abandon ship procedure?  Who does what in an emergency ?  This should all be considered and put in writing to create a safety manual specifically for your vessel.  This document should address things like the chain of command, i.e. who takes over in the event that the skipper is incapacitated; an emergency station list, i.e. who is responsible for damage control, who is responsible for radio communications.  The manual should include specific procedures for emergency situations including fire, MOB, severe damage, and abandon ship.  It’s a good idea to add your safety equipment stowage diagram,   Include equipment instruction booklets and your servicing schedule to make this a valuable working document.  Lastly and perhaps most importantly, each crew member should take the time to read the safety manual and as a crew you should conduct drills and practice your procedures.   There is no substiute for training.

So you’ve now completed your own audit and preparation.  It may be a case of self-assessing, or bringing in an outside auditor.  You will need to have everything laid out and you may need to explain how it gets used on the boat, where it gets stowed and what your procedures are.  The auditor will also ask for copies of service certificates and registration details for radios and beacons.  The auditor is there to help you, so if you are not sure, they can also provide good advice.

Best of luck and safe sailing.  


Genevieve White is an accredited auditor and runs a marine safety business which focuses on yacht safety preparation and provides training in safety and sea survival, marine first aid, marine radio and onboard procedures. For more information phone 02 9362 4690 or email info@marinesafetyworks.com.au

Table of contents

Boat safety manual for Walkabout II developed by MarineSafety Works

1 Duty of Care

2 Risk Assessment

3 Location of Safety Gear

4 Chain of Command

5 Emergency Station List

6 Five Step Emergency Response

7 Man Overboard Procedure

8 Collision/Grounding/Severe Damage Prodedures

9 Fire Procedure

10 Abandon Ship Procedure

11 Marine First Aid Casualty Report

12 Marine First Aid Observation Chart

13 Checklists

14 Crew Positions

15 Crew Particulars

16 Crew Briefing Notes