28 Vessels Operating under Race Rules
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Statutory Documents - MCA Publications - MGN 280 - Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure, Workboats and Pilot Boats - Alternative Construction Standards - 28 Vessels Operating under Race Rules

28 Vessels Operating under Race Rules

  28.1 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 organise 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 in any Area Category to and from the race, the race or equivalent safety cover shall be in force, or the vessel is to be in its coded condition for the passage.

  28.2 A non-Coded vessel may be chartered or operated commercially for the purpose of racing, or whilst in passage directly to or from a race, provided that it is registered and licensed by an ISAF or UIM affiliated Member National Authority as a vessel chartered or operated commercially for the exclusive purpose of racing and provided the vessel also complies with the provisions of 28.1.1 to 28.1.5.

The ISAF or UIM affiliated Member National Authority shall only register and licence such a vessel for World, Continental, National, Open or other similar status race events and shall advise the MCA accordingly. Non-coded vessels shall not be chartered nor used commercially for any other purpose than racing, as defined in 28.1.

  28.3 The relief from compliance with the provisions of the Code which is permitted by Section 28.1 and 28.2, 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.

Note 4. The exemption related in Section 28.2 above is intended to facilitate situations where, for example, an overseas team, unable to transport their own boat to an event because of distance, may charter a local, non coded, boat to enable them to compete.


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