Offshore prep
This guide is a work in progress for the purpose of aiding in the preparation of Moores for nearshore / coastal races, with a focus on Northern California events. The offshore scene is truly magical and our boats are made for it. Safety first: these regulations have been drafted to help all of us be better prepared at sea, and is often the case, are a response to tragic oversights. Be safe, make memories.
There are four categories of sailing we care about and their notable highlights in terms of gear requirements.
Doublehanded Farallones. This event is governed by BAMA (Bay Area Multihull Association). You can sail without lifelines with additional safety measures. You still have to have a fixed-mount VHF, but it does not have to be masthead (stern pulpit allowed, attached to backstay allowed). You can get depth info on a smartphone (app with GPS and charts), no sensor required (or, say, a Garmin handheld with charts). Two such devices required. No fixed speedo required. Requires lights, don’t need to be masthead. Refer to DHF NOR for the requirements. Reef point in main required, though we may talk about exceptions.
SF Bay Offshore Yacht Racing Association (‘OYRA’) racesl: Half Moon Bay Race, Fully crewed Farallones, Drake’s Bay, Duxbury Lightship, etc. These basically follow OYRA guidelines. Masthead antenna is required, lifelines required. Reef point required, we may ask for exceptions. Real depth, real speedo (impeller) required.
Further Coastal: Spinnaker Cup, Coastal Cup. Satellite ‘communication’ of some sort. Reef point required, we may ask for exceptions. Liferaft rental for Coastal Cup leg.
Pac Cup: the real deal offshore. Backup batteries, sat phone, charging provisions, life raft.
Some background if you care:
US Sailing drafts the Safety Equipment Requirements (SER) for Nearshore/Coastal/Offshore racing (link). This is the benchmark. The Coastal requirements are adopted by larger races such as Spinnaker Cup and Coastal Cup, which are now part of California Offshore Race Week. If you have ambitions to even race to Monterey (which is our closest overnight race), plan to meet these guidelines and you’re set for everything.
OYRA adopts and distills those guidelines by scratching a few, for races such as Half Moon Bay, Drake’s Bay, Fully crewed Farallones and a few others. These are less commonly attended by Moores, but are still very fun. Half Moon bay has a 1-ton hoist and Moores can haul out / drive home!
BAMA, which runs Doublehanded Farallones, has further made exceptions to accommodate our small boats. These are mainly around offering alternatives to masthead VHF requirements, and lifeline requirements by placing GPS locating means on each person.
Lifelines
These are the OYRA requirements, including comments where they amend the US Sailing requirements they’re based on:
2.4.1 Lifelines
A boat's deck including the headstay shall be surrounded by a suitably strong enclosure, typically consisting of lifelines and pulpits, meeting the requirements in 2.4.2 to 2.4.8.
2.4.2 Lifeline Stanchions
A boat's stanchion and pulpit bases shall be within the working deck.
2.4.3 Bow Pulpit
Bow pulpits may be open, but the opening between the vertical portion of stanchion pulpit and any part of the boat shall not exceed 14.2" (360mm).
2.4.4 Lifelines
Lifelines may be either uncoated stainless steel wire or high molecular weight polyethylene (HMPE) line with spliced terminations or terminals specifically intended for the purpose. A multipart-lashing segment not to exceed 4" per end termination for the purpose of attaching lifelines to pulpits is allowed. Lifelines shall be taut (see appendix for requirements). When HMPE is used, the load-bearing portion (core) shall meet or exceed minimum diameter requirements. HMPE lifelines should be carefully inspected at least twice per year. *OYRA change, US Sailing does not allow HMPE.
2.4.4.1 Lifeline Deflection
Lifeline deflection shall not exceed the following: a) When a deflecting force of 9 lbs (40N) is applied to a lifeline midway between supports of an upper or single lifeline, the lifeline shall not deflect more than 2” (50mm). This measurement shall be taken at the widest span between supports that are aft of the mast. b) When a deflecting force of 9 lbs (40N) is applied midway between supports of an intermediate lifeline of all spans that are aft of the mast, deflection shall not exceed 5” (120mm) from a straight line between the stanchions.
2.4.5 Lifeline Stanchion Spacing
The maximum spacing between the bases of* lifeline supports (e.g. stanchions and pulpits) shall be 87" (2.2m). *OYRA change.
2.4.6 Lifelines
Boats under 30' (9.14m) shall have at least one lifeline with 18" (457mm) minimum height above deck, and a maximum vertical gap of 18" (457mm). Taller heights will require a second lifeline. The minimum diameter shall be 1/8" (3mm).
and the BAMA exception:
Lifelines:
Boats without OYRA-prescribed lifelines installed are permitted to race. However, each crew member shall carry at least one of these three options:
1) Class D Handheld VHF with built-in GPS and DSC
2) Handheld VHF radio and a GPS-equipped Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
3) On boats equipped with a fixed mount VHF radio and chart plotter with AIS receive capability tO display AIS MOB position: Handheld VHF radio and an AIS MOB locator device with internal GPS
Recommendation:
If you don’t have them or don’t want them, sail nearshore (DHL, DHF) without.
If you want lifelines, decide what events you want them for. Spectra allowed for DHF, DHL, wires otherwise. Most any rigging shop can fabricate a set for you.
Fixed-mount VHF
Required. USCG wants boats out there to be able to communicate with real power (25W), not the handheld 5W. BAMA offers options as to antenna location.
Trailerable boats 33ft LOD or less are permitted to race with a rail mount antenna (3db) of at least 30” length or deck mount at least 48” in lieu of a masthead antenna. ULDB boats (Moore 24 as example) may use an outboard motor mount as an antenna foundation as long as installation and operation of outboard is not inhibited and the resulting height is comparable to rail and deck antenna heights listed above.
The fixed mount VHF DSC radio must be operable from the helm by installation, or via remote microphone with DSC. If a fixed mount VHF is not operable from cockpit, then one of these conditions need to be met: i: A handheld VHF radio with DSC and built-in GPS needs to be attached to the boat and operable from the helm. ii: Each crew must carry one of these three options:
- Handheld VHF radio and a GPS-equipped PLB
- Class D Handheld VHF with GPS/DSC.
- Handheld VHF radio and an AIS MOB locator device with internal GPS, if the boat is equipped with a fixed mount VHF radio and chart plotter with AIS receive capability to display AIS MOB position.
Recommendation:
Get a VHF with DSC and an internal GPS (savings on variants that have a networked GPS are on the order of $40 - not worth it IMO). Some also offer AIS receiver capability and a display that can show AIS targets on the display, with heading, speed, boat name, etc. In the event of sailing in Bay Area fog this is highly valuable, and down the coast it’s fantastic. The Standard Horizon GX2400 does all this ($379). If you don’t care about AIS, consider the less expensive GX1400G ($165).
MOB button with the ability to give you course and heading to your MOB is a nice feature, MOB button of some sort is required in Pac Cup, and this would satisfy that requirement. It’s hard to imagine using this double handed, but. This is a feature available on the GX1800 and up.
The GPS store is a good online source. Hodges Marine as well. Your local West Marine or Svendsens may have them on hand locally.
Other options from ICOM are the M424G (~$325, no AIS receiver) and the M510 ($699)
VHF Antenna:
Recommendation:
The easiest possible setup for DHF, DHL is to run a coax out the MOB pole housing or the deck vent on the transom to a stern pulpit antenna. Get a 3’ high quality antenna from Eric Steinberg ($120), that you can hose clamp or bracket to the stern pulpit.
Eric Steinberg @ Farallon Electronics in San Rafael (415-505-6000 ericsteinberg@farallon.us).
High quality antennas are hard to find online, strongly recommend Eric’s. Grab a coax cable of whatever length you need here (this is KMR400 cable, heavier gauge than needed in a mast but if kicking around the inside of the boat it is advisable)
If you have ambition for more offshore and want to go masthead, Eric’s 15” antenna mounted to the crane or top of the mast (depending on where your windex is located) is ideal. If you have an interest in preparing your boat for lots of offshore, run the coax inside your mast, and a deck gland next to the mast. If temporary just for nearshore events, you can run down the backstay (zip ties) and entering the deck vent on the transom. Purchase a spare deck vent if you want a sacrificial plate. Have Eric make you up a custom LMR200 cable for sure in this case. He can make it in two pieces, so it splits just under deck to make mast removal easy. Measure your distance from mast base to VHF inside the boat and provide to Eric.
If you don’t have a stern pulpit you will need to find a 4’ antenna and deck-mount. Or possibly mount to motor mount. No advice here.
Lights
DHL is unlikely to finish in the dark, DHF is likely to finish in the dark. Regardless, you should have USCG-approved lighting (2 Nm visibility).
Recommendation:
Option A: mount an LED bow light and LED stern light to the bow and transom deck vents. Buy replacement deck vents for a few bucks so you can revert to your standard ones the rest of the time. Run wire back to battery installing an inline plug (AMP pigtails are cheap, easy). Sails are not supposed to interfere with the lighting. Float your tack higher if you must. Ultimately we finish under spinnaker in most of these races, Monterey possibly not.
Option B: mount a Lunasea masthead tricolor ($220). Install an inline switch or plug to activate. Required custom extension cabling to run alongside VHF coax (2x22AWG sufficient).
PLB
A PLB or EPRIB is required.
A boat shall carry either a 406MHz EPIRB which is properly registered to the boat, or a floating 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon, registered to the owner with a notation in the registration that it is aboard the boat. This device shall be equipped with an internal GPS.
These are great and getting better. New ones with AIS beacons in them are now available. If you get detached from the boat you absolutely want to be able to tell boats nearby where you are by some means. Handlheld VHF with GPS w/DSC or PLB (that goes to Search and Rescue, which helps, but requires them to coordinate with local boats).
Recommendation:
Borrow an EPIRB if you have a friend who owns one! Re-registering online is a matter of minutes.
A PLB is way more versatile, portable. ACR ResqLink 400 ($320). Carry in your smock, tethered to yourself. One required per boat.
Handheld VHF
Recommendation:
Old handhelds are great as backups or to have on your person in addition to, say, a PLB.
The Standard Horizon HX890 is a good, affordable option ($200)
Jacklines
A boat shall carry jacklines with a breaking strength of 4500 lbs (20kN) which allow the crew to reach all points on deck, connected to similarly strong attachment points, in place while racing.
Recommendation:
Spectra. Spliced. Preferably, anchor straps near companionway as opposed to running them further aft. What you anchor TO is not really specified here, and still a point of debate. The default is appropriately-sized pad eyes / folding pad eyes. Composite pad eyes are also used, with caveats.
Electrical System
The Fixed VHF is the only device that truly needs to be powered off of a household battery.
Recommendation:
If no electrical system exists in your boat, it will suffice to wire your VHF directly to the battery - just add ANCOR terminals to the wiring that comes on your VHF. Most come with an inline fuse - just pack a spare fuse or two. An 18Ah 12V battery ($40) should easily suffice to run a VHF all day. A 25Ah LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery is the same size, weighs about a third, and costs $100 more. Requires an appropriate LiFePO4 charger. Beware of chargers that call themselves LiFePO4 and charge at 14.6V, which is the absolute maximum, which is beyond what you should be charging at (try 13.8V).
PFDs
This is another topic of debate. NCORC states
Each crewmember shall have a life jacket that provides at least 33.7lbs (150N) of buoyancy, intended to be worn over the shoulders (no belt pack), meeting either U.S. Coast Guard or ISO specifications. Alternatively, each crewmember shall have an inherently buoyant off-shore life jacket that provides at least 22lbs (100N) of buoyancy meeting either U.S. Coast Guard or ISO specifications.
Life jackets shall be equipped with crotch or leg straps, a whistle, a waterproof light, be fitted with marine-grade retro-reflective material, and be clearly marked with the boat’s or wearer’s name, and be compatible with the wearer’s safety harness. If the life jacket is inflatable, it shall be regularly checked for air retention.
BAMA states
Hybrid USCG approved off-shore life jackets that provide a combination of at least 10 lbs. inherent and 22 lbs. inflatable buoyancy are allowed.
Recommendation:
The latter has an extremely limited offering, although they might be ideal. The gold standard is the Spinlock Deckvest 5D ($370), now superseded by the Spinlock Deckvest Vito ($400). The ProSensor is the common dissolving pill-based trigger mechanism. The Hammar sensor requires longer submersion, but I have seen cases where the mechanism never triggered. When re-packing vest, follow guidelines (youtube) carefully or you will be more likely to have accidental deployments from spray.
If you don’t already have a tether, do yourself a favor and get a Kong ISAF (single) tether ($80). These have very easy to operate carabiners, which comes in handy.
Depth Sounder
Not required by BAMA.
Boats without depth sounders are permitted to race if the boat carries a second marinized GPS electronic device showing depth, useable in the cockpit.
Recommendation:
iPhoneX or similar waterproof phone or phone/GPS-enabled iPad in a waterproof case running iNavX ($50) or equivalent chartplotting software. I have used iNavX for years and love it. Download your (included) charts in advance of course. Have a (tested!) way to charge your phone or a spare phone powered off until needed.
Man Overboard Module
A boat shall carry a Lifesling or equivalent man overboard rescue device equipped with a self igniting light stored on deck and ready for immediate use.
Recommendation:
If you have an original Moore man overboard pole, you should be set. If you can borrow a MOM, which many offshore boats have, you’re set. If not, the closest legit solution appears to be the SOS Danbuoy ($325). This is heavy, as it contains rocks to aid in keeping the inflatable mast upright in breeze, and should be secured on deck for easy deployment. It can be ordered with an optional bag and mounted to pulpits. In exceptional conditions (cockpit pooped) it is possible for it to accidentally deploy, in which case it will inflate to its intended pressure inside the bag and vent off the excess CO2. Try to mount it in the dryest location possible.
Phone numbers to have on hand:
US Coast Guard: 415-331-8247
US Coast Guard Sector San Francisco: 415-399-3547 / 415-556-2103
Vessel Assist: 800-391-4869
For more info, read, and see notes added in the NCORC requirements doc.
These recommendations are based on best judgment and are not official guidelines.