An amendment to the Special Regulations has been issued removing the requirement for bow numbers, effective immediately.

Boats competing in Category 1 races were required to have either on the deck or on each side near the bow, an identification number. The requirement came about after the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in response to a recommendation from the NSW Coroner.

Organising authorities of Category 1 races helped boats meet this requirement by providing large stickers to be placed on the bow prior to the race. Not all stickers stay attached to the boat during the race and are a known source of plastics entering the ocean. Social conscience on plastics entering the ocean has changed significantly and the tolerance of environmental damage, no matter how small, has reduced.

Since the time of the coronial recommendation there has been a proliferation of electronics on board competing boats that provide its location and identification data to the race committee, search and rescue authorities, and any deployed assets in response to an emergency. There are now GPS enabled EPIRBs and one GPS enabled PLB for each crew member, an AIS transponder with the yacht’s name and MMSI, VHF transceiver with DSC capability and unique MMSI and, where installed, an HF transceiver with same.

Australian Sailing met with AMSA and consulted the four clubs with an interest in running category 1 races, being the FSC, ORCV, CYCA and RPAYC. All parties agreed that the need for bow numbers has become obsolete and may be removed.

To view all amendments, click here.
The Special Regulations can be viewed here.

By Glen Stanaway