World Sailing have introduced new rules that require trapeze harnesses to be ‘quick release’ and compliant with ISO 10862 allowing the competitor to detach at any time.

The new rule is seen in RRS 50.1(c) and comes into effect from 1 January 2023. The essence of the rule is that trapeze shall be of the quick release variety complying with ISO 10862 which allows the competitor to detach from the hook or other method of attachment at any time.

The change originates with a submission 164-18 to World Sailing seeking to mandate the use of quick release trapeze harnesses to increase the level of safety by decreasing the risk of entrapment via a fixed trapeze hook. The rule change sat with World Sailing’s Racing Rules Committee as the reporting committee and passed through their Equipment and Race Officials Committees for comment. The decision making process at World Sailing enables changes to the original proposal as the final position is developed. In this case, the applicability of ISO 10862 was changed through that process.

There are numerous recorded and documented incidents, including fatalities, where a member of crew has become trapped due to the trapeze hook being entangled within a boat’s running rigging or standing rigging. In 2009 following a series of fatalities in 2007 and 2008, the RYA drafted a standard which has subsequently become a harmonised International Standard (ISO) which details the construction and testing requirements for a quick release mechanism for trapeze harnesses. At the 2017 29er Worlds, there was an incident involving a crew who became entrapped under the upturned hull after becoming entangled in the boats rigging.

The introduction of a quick release mechanism for the trapeze harness will decrease the likelihood of an entrapment scenario as the crew will be able to detach themselves from the boat.

There are a number of products that are on the market which have a quick release function but may not comply with ISO 10862 which has a requirement to release under a lateral loading. World Sailing determined to delay the introduction of any new rule until 2023 to allow the industry to respond to this requirement. Australian Sailing was unable to locate any in shops in Australia at the time of writing.

The rule goes on to allow a class rule to change 50.1(c) to permit trapeze harnesses that are not of the quick release variety, but not change the requirement that a quick release harness comply with ISO 10862. Classes will need to think about this carefully and make sure that if they do decide to change the rule, it is done through a considered and diligent process. World Sailing Classes will need to approach World Sailing under Regulation 10.11 and seek approval to do so.

Competitors will also need to think carefully about this. There are many World Sailing and national classes in Australia that competitors use trapeze harnesses and some competitors will switch between them within a weekend let alone a season of sailing. Each class rule will need to be checked to see whether the sailor has to wear an ISO 10862 compliant quick release trapeze harness or not.

The Racing Rules of Sailing can be found at https://www.sailingresources.org.au/class-assoc/racing-rules/

By Glen Stanaway https://www.sailing.org.au/about/ourstaff/