The Special Regulations changing snap hook requirements have been amended and may need crews to replace equipment.

Snap hooks are an essential part of the personal protective equipment on board an offshore racing yacht. The purpose of the equipment is to work with the tether and harness to keep the crew attached to the boat.

A recent interpretation confirmed that the requirement for a snap hook at each end of the tether is exactly that; a snap hook. The interpretation confirms that snap shackles or other quick or easily released mechanisms are not compliant equipment. Whilst these other mechanisms have crept into the offshore space, the requirement that the tether have snap hooks at each end has always been the case and the interpretation only serves as a reminder. The reason why snap hooks are required is because the arrangement’s purpose is keeping crew attached to the boat and not be left astern at sea.

The amendment to the Special Regulations concerning snap hooks and tethers was published in November 2021. The change is that after 1 July 2023 flat plate snap hooks won’t be permitted and that they must be of the variety that has side-wall support. This means that some crews will need to replace some tethers, depending what they are carrying on board.

The reason for the change is important. Incident reports demonstrated that flat plate snap hooks will deform under certain loads and detach. The snap hooks are excellent under a drop test resulting in a straight line shock, but yacht racing in strong winds and a decent sea state doesn’t offer such controlled conditions, and in November 2017 a sailor went overboard while at the bow assisting with a headsail change and lost their life. The most obvious contributing factor was the failure of their snap hook.

There have been articles published on websites shining a spotlight on this important and sometimes fatal safety issue:

• The website ‘Practical Sailor’ published an interesting article about tethers and snap hooks back in May 2020. The article can be read here.
• Sail-World also produced an article back in January 2018 on the same safety issue. The article can be read here.

Australian Sailing is currently working with Standards Australia, and through them the International Standards Organisation to see standards concerning safety lines, tethers and snap hooks reviewed and changed to reflect the position taken in the Special Regulations.

We’re also excited to let you know that Australian Sailing has reorganised all of its safety resources to make it easier for you. Check out the new Safety Hub here!

To view the Special Regulations click here.
Amendments to the Special Regulations are here.
The interpretation on snap hooks is here.

By Glen Stanaway