Equipment Auditors have an important role to play in auditing the requirements of the Special Regulations and race requirements not just to help with safety compliance but to increase awareness.

At times Equipment Auditors can find themselves in the situations where they need to look at equipment or features that they might not like themselves. In these situations it is important for Equipment Auditors to remember that they are auditing against what the Special Regulations require and not their own personal biases. At all times go back to the Special Regulations and see what they say.

If there is still uncertainty Equipment Auditors should rely on the Senior Equipment Auditor for their state or contact Australian Sailing. Ultimately though, the auditing done by Equipment Auditors needs to be done in accordance with the training, policies and procedures, and resources provided by Australian Sailing, and check boats for compliance with Australian Sailing’s Special Regulations as they are written.

There will be other times when the Special Regulations are not prescriptive and judgement is needed. Equipment Auditors are reminded that Australian Sailing set a policy position on these which states that an Equipment Auditor shall rely primarily on the opinion of the person in charge of the boat.

The Responsibility of the Person In Charge Policy can be found here.
For further advice the Senior Equipment Auditor for your state can be found here.
The Equipment Auditor course can be done online here.

By Glen Stanaway