3 Application and Interpretation

3.1.1 This revision of the Code comes into effect on and replaces "The Code of Practice for the Safety of Large Commercial Sailing and Motor Vessels" LY2 Edition 2. Vessels certificated to the requirements of the original Code may continue to operate under the same provisions applicable at the time of certification. Vessels undergoing refit or modification are encouraged to comply with the provisions of this revision as far as is reasonable and practicable.

3.1.1.1 A coded vessel chartered or operated commercially, for the purpose of racing need not comply with the provisions of the Code whilst racing, or whilst in passage directly to or from a race, provided that the vessel complies with the following:-

.1 It complies with the racing rule provisions of either the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) or the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).
.2 It complies with the racing rule provisions of the affiliated Member National Authority, of either the ISAF or UIM, in the country where the race takes place.
.3 It complies with the safety rule provisions of the race Organising Authority affiliated to the Member National Authority and thereby recognised by the ISAF or UIM to organize races in the country where the race takes place.
.4 If it is a yacht racing offshore, it complies with the appropriate parts of the ISAF Offshore Racing Committee’s special regulations or the similar requirements of the affiliated race Organising Authority.
.5 When on charter and in passage to and from the race, the race or equivalent safety cover should be in force, or the vessel is to be in its coded condition for the passage.

The relief from compliance with the provisions of the Code which is permitted by Section 3.1.1.1 does not apply to a vessel taking part in an event created and organised with the intent to avoid the provisions of the Code.

Note 1 Only clubs recognised by an ISAF Member National Authority (MNA) may use the ISAF racing rules. In the UK this means a club affiliated as a club to the RYA. (This does not include RYA recognised teaching establishments).

Note 2 The UIM racing rules require all racing drivers to have been licensed by a UIM MNA. In the UK, the RYA issues such licences, which require pre medical examinations and minimum levels of past experience.

Note 3 All legitimate races are required, by the ISAF or UIM rules, to have been “pre-advertised” by means of a Notice of Race and be controlled by Sailing or Race Instructions. The minimum provisions for these are set out in the ISAF and UIM racing rules.