4 There are numerous safety precautions which should be the responsibility of the race organisers. Vessels should be fitted with multiple communications and distress alerting systems and wherever possible achieve GMDSS compatibility. Planning should take account of capsize and the potential shielding of distress systems by carbon-fibre hulls and similar materials.
5 Other lessons learnt from ocean racing in Australian waters include the following:
.1 yacht colour is important, white is hard to see in high sea states, yellow or orange is a better choice, including for the bottom of the hull;
.2 for large ocean areas, EPIRBs with homing frequencies are appropriate, coded EPIRB identities should be advised to all relevant RCCs and consideration should be given to distress beacons which incorporate GPS;
.3 individuals might carry PLBs as well as the boat being fitted with EPIRBs;
.4 appropriate survival gear is essential and this should include full immersion suits for southern regions;
.5 waterproof portable VHF channel 16-capable radios and VHF aviation frequency-capable radios (121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz) should be considered for communications with SAR aircraft;
.6 life raft construction and quality is important. Those which employ a toroidal skirt for stability are considered the most serviceable;
.7 a 'man overboard' is hard to detect from the air. Clothing might be coloured yellow or orange, watch-keepers on deck, particularly at night, might carry a survival pack on their person containing items such as strobe lights, day/night flares, sea-dye, and other signalling devices;
.8 race participants should have survival training and pre-race briefs should include details of SAR arrangements in areas they plan to transit; and
.9 race organisers should keep details of the survival gear carried on each vessel including details of liferaft make and model.
Conclusion
6 Whilst Parties to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979 accept their responsibilities to rescue 'any person at sea' within their SRR, there should also be recognition of the mutual responsibility placed upon race organisers to liaise closely with the relevant SAR agencies during the planning and execution of these events.
Action requested of the Sub-Committee
7 The Sub-Committee is invited to note the information provided in this document and to request Member States to take action as appropriate.
