by America's Cup media
Structural reviews of AC72 boats and wings, a 10-knot lower wind limit (23 knots maximum) and enhanced sailor safety equipment are among the 37 recommendations issued today to increase safety during the Summer of Racing at the 2013 America’s Cup.
Many of the recommendations are intended to increase the personal safety of the sailors and they include buoyancy aids, body armor, crew locator devices, hands-free breathing apparatus and high visibility helmets. Other recommendations are specific to the AC72 yachts, additional support equipment and race management.
A full list of the recommendations can be found here (or below this statement on SailRaceWin.com).
Regatta Director Iain Murray, progressing the work of the Review Committee, presented his “2013 America’s Cup Regatta Director Recommendations” at a meeting with the four competing teams and the America’s Cup Event Authority on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco.
For reasons of insurance and liability, the Review Committee stopped short of making its own recommendations. Regatta Director Iain Murray has formulated the specific safety recommendations.
These additional recommendations have been incorporated into the safety plan produced by the America’s Cup, which was forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard today.
“Producing and implementing the safety plan is within the scope of the America's Cup, as the sponsoring organization for this summer’s racing,” said Stephen Barclay, the CEO of the America’s Cup. “This America’s Cup safety plan is a necessary component of the permit application submitted to the Coast Guard for their consideration.”
The Regatta Director will now form a number of task forces to bring in experts to define additional technical recommendations for specific safety items such as protective gear for sailors.
Since its first meeting on May 16, the Review Committee has worked diligently interviewing 25 team members including team heads, skippers, designers, engineers, sailors and support boat operators.
“All four competing America’s Cup teams have cooperated in an open, helpful and constructive way,” Murray said, “and the Review Committee noted there is a clear desire on the part of the teams to ensure the safety of the America’s Cup as much as possible.”
“I want to thank the members of the Review Committee for their exceptional and efficient work,” Murray concluded.
Regatta Director Safety Recommendations
Regatta Director Recommendations
Issued at 1600 May 22, 2013 (PDT) to AC34 Competitors, Golden Gate Yacht Club, America’s Cup Event Authority
1. AC72 Yacht
1.1. AC72 Yacht Structural Review: Competitors in consultation with ACRM to collectively identify and complete a process of competent third party review or testing process of the structural integrity of the platform and wing.
1.2. Daggerboard Rake Control Hydraulic System: Competitors in consultation with ACRM shall identify and complete a process of competent third party review and testing process of their daggerboard rake control hydraulic systems to ensure an acceptable safety margin and level of reliability.
1.3. Rudder Elevators:
a) minimum total area 0.32 m2 per rudder;
b) minimum depth of elevators on rudder span of 2.1m;
c) maximum elevator span of 1.4m;
d) rudder elevators to be symmetrical in plan form and allowed to extend beyond maximum beam of the Yacht; and
e) elevators permitted to be adjusted until warning signal.
1.4. Crew Restraints: Competitors to effectively restrain crew through bearing-off manoeuvres, severe deceleration, or capsize, such as installation of cockpits, foot-straps, handholds, tether and/or belay points.
1.5. Maximum AC72 Yacht Sailing Weight: The maximum sailing weight specified in AC72 Class Rule 5.10 shall be increased by 100kg.
1.6. Soft Sails: Competitors limited to carrying two soft sails and eliminating the minimum weight in 26(c) of the AC72 Class Rule.
1.7. Guest Racers: No guest racers aboard an AC72 yacht whilst racing.
1.8. ACRM Personnel: AC72 Class Rule 25.1(b) to be modified to remove reference to “ACRM personnel” – this was originally intended to be a camera person and it has since been agreed to remove such a person from the boat.
1.9. Soft Coverings and Soft Fairings: Soft coverings and soft fairings shall be made of predominantly see-through/transparent material.
2. Personal Equipment
2.1. Buoyancy Aids: Worn buoyancy aids worn by crew to have a quick release mechanism.
2.2. Body Armour: Armour incorporating protection for spine, puncture and impact wounds is to be investigated by Competitors and managed by ACRM.
2.3. Electronic Head Count System: An electronic Head Count System to be investigated by Competitors and managed by ACRM.
2.4. Crew Locator Devices: Underwater crew locator devices to be investigated by Competitors and managed by ACRM.
2.5. Breathing Apparatus: Underwater breathing apparatus to be carried and capable of hands free operation, the volume of air to be carried to be investigated by Competitors and managed by ACRM.
2.6. Helmets: Helmet standards (high visibility colours and specifications) review by Competitors managed by ACRM, with the assistance of recognised expert advisors.
2.7. Self-lowering Equipment: Equipment capable of self-lowering to be carried by each crewmember.
3. Additional Support Equipment
3.1. Support Boat Limits: Remove present limit of four support boats per Competitor (art. 35).
3.2. Two Rescue Boats: Minimum of two rescue boats to support each AC72 yacht whilst sailing.
3.3. Rescue Divers & Rescue Swimmers: Two divers with supporting rescue swimmers ready to enter the water immediately, one diver and one rescue swimmer on each rescue boat.
3.4. Paramedic: A minimum of one paramedic (or an appropriate medical practitioner) on one of the rescue boats.
3.5. Defibrillator: An AED device (defibrillator) to be carried on the rescue boat carrying the paramedic (or an appropriate medical practitioner) who shall be trained in its use.
3.6. Recovery Nets: Rescue nets to be installed on all supporting and rescue boats to recover crew.
3.7. Safety Channel for Competitors: A dedicated safety channel for inter-team safety communications.
3.8. One Way Communications: One-way communications permitted from AC72 yacht to chase boat during all sailing and racing operations.
3.9. Regardless: ACRM’s vessel Regardless to be notified, and be placed on stand by for recovery operations upon each sailing of an AC72 yacht.
4. Race Management
4.1. Round Robins: Number of Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robins reduced from seven (7) to five (5) to allow for more maintenance periods.
4.2. Soft Marks: Soft marks to replace mark-boats.
4.3. Starting Procedures: Racing Rules to be reviewed by skippers and Competitor rules advisers with ACRM to remove potentially dangerous situations including agreeing an alternative starting procedure.
4.4. Wind Limits: Reduced to 20kts in July, 21kts in August, and 23kts in September (as measured pursuant to art. 21.1), but with additional wind limit adjustments for tide and sea state.
4.5. First Mark: First mark to boundary to be approximately 45 seconds.
4.6. Buffer Zones: Safe buffer zones around course boundaries and obstructions to be determined by ACRM.
4.7. Start Time: Flexible start time and flexible pre/post race programme based on wind and projected tidal flows.4.8. Post Race Dock - In: Eliminate the planned dock-in after racing at Pier 27, but skippers to be transferred to a dock-in show at Pier 27 approximately 45 minutes after a race.
4.9. No-Race Fine: Remove fines for not competing (art 21.2 (d)).
4.10. Race Course Debris: Process to inspect and endeavour to clear course of debris and obstructions with assistance from Army Corps of Engineers.
4.11. Capsize While Racing: Upon a yacht capsizing it shall be disqualified and the race awarded to the other yacht, to allow efforts to be concentrated on capsized yacht.
4.12. Develop Standard Operating Procedures Between Competitors for Rescue: ACRM shall develop common safety procedures between competitor’s rescue boats, medical personnel, and divers.
5. Future Sailing: Each Competitor must take full and sole responsibility for their own sailing arrangements.
6. Existing ACRM AC72 Safety Recommendations (revised May 22, 2013)
Except to the extent that some of the recommendations may have been altered by the above, the AC72 Safety Recommendations notified to competitors on November 21, 2012 as revised on May 22, 2013 (copy below) form part of these Regatta Director recommendations.
Important additional notes to be read in conjunction with the recommendations
(i) These recommendations are made by the Regatta Director after the Review Committee interviewed team personnel from all Competitors, and will be refined as the further work identified above is completed.
(ii) The majority of the Regatta Director recommendations represent a consensus of the Competitors.
(iii) These recommendations do not alter the responsibilities assumed and allocated by the provisions of the Protocol or any other rules or document referred to in the Protocol.
(v) Each Competitor is responsible for the method of implementing the recommendations.
(vi) No recommendations can cover all possible risks or address risks that are specific to Competitor specific designs.
(vii) No recommendations can ever eliminate risk of injury or death in what is an inherently risky activity, and the participants must assume full responsibility for all risks involved.
(viii) Each Competitor and crew member remain responsible for their own safety at all times. Each Competitor and crew member must continue to make their own decision to race, or to continue racing.
Iain Murray
Regatta Director
AC72 Safety Recommendations
(Issued November 21, 2012 & Revised May 22, 2013)
Safety Recommendations that should be implemented immediately
1. Personal Equipment
• ACRM recommends that each crew member wear:
a) Personal flotation meeting the requirements of RRSAC 40(a) worn as the outermost garment. Note that crewmember names would need to appear on the flotation device
b) A helmet meeting the requirements of RRSAC 40(b)
c) At least one knife that is accessible by either hand
d) A personal air supply of at least 45 liters
e) A harness with a tether or belay device
• ACRM recommends that there be a separate maximum weight allowance for personal safety equipment.
2. Training
• ACRM recommends the following training:
a) Personal air supply training
b) Training which mimics escaping from under the net when the platform is capsized
c) At least two crew members on board shall have completed First Aid Training with specific course content focused on treating injuries more likely to occur on board the AC72’s and how to deal with them while out on the water
3. AC72 Equipment
• ACRM recommends the following equipment on the platform:
a) Righting lines permanently attached to each corner of the platform with all righting lines accessible when the platform is at any orientation
b) Knives in the four corners of the trampoline accessible when the platform is upright or capsized
c) Four spare personal air supplies of at least 80 Liters each on the trampoline
4. Rescue Boats and Equipment
• A rescue boat with at least 3500 kg towing capability
• ACRM recommends that the team rescue boat carry the equipment listed in
Attachment A as a minimum.
Safety Recommendations that need to be considered
1. Establishing common emergency drop off zones with the local authorities.
2. Establishing common safe recovery areas for capsized yachts.
3. 1K liters of flotation in the top of the wing to keep it afloat until a team rib can access it.
• The preference seems to be inflatable air bags
• ACRM believes it is best to allow the teams to determine how they prefer to
implement this.
• A separate minimum weight allowance would be added for this equipment.
Attachment A
Team Rescue Boat Minimum Equipment List
Medical Equipment
• Medical backpack
• Comprehensive First Aid Kit
• Spine Board x 1
• 2 x Yellow foam waist rings with tethers
• 1 x bag of various pump/air splints
• 1 x small Trauma Kit
Cordage
• 2 x 130 tow rope, 25mm diameter nylon/polyprop, breaking strength of 5 ton.
• 1 x 100 meter anchor line, Anchor.12mm polyprop
• 100m of 16mm spare line
Dive Equipment
• 1 x complete dive kit
o BCD with integrated weights
o Fins
o Mask
o 1 x regulator, gauge, low pressure hose
• 1 x drysuit/wetsuit
• 1 x Pony bottle with back harness and single regulator
• 2 x 10 liter dive tanks
Salvage Equipment
• Airbags
• 4 x 500 kilo lift
• Trash pump with a flow rate of 1200 L/min or greater
• 1 x cable cutter with long handles capable of cutting rigging away from the platform
• Powered abrasive cutter
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