Inspections
Inspections Forms & List of Inspectors
Each captain is responsible for the safety of his or her yacht and crew, and for seeing that the yacht meets all safety standards outlined in the Notice of Race.
Safety Inspections
It is each skipper’s responsibility to insure that the yacht meets all race requirements and that the necessary equipment is aboard and is in good working order. The BROC assists each entrant by requiring a courtesy inspection before the start of the race.
Inspectors
Volunteer inspectors are available to help entrants comply with race requirements, but the responsibility for compliance remains with the skipper. A list of qualified inspectors will be posted after the Notice of Race is published.
ISAF Special Regulations
The inspection process follows the 2010-2011 US Edition of the ISAF Special Regulations Governing Offshore Racing, Category 1, and additional Newport Bermuda Race requirements and recommendations in the Notice of Race.
2010 Inspections
A skipper should contact an inspector early in the spring and schedule an inspection for as soon as the boat is ready for sailing and properly outfitted for the race. Most boats are inspected in May. If the boat is not adequately prepared at the time of inspection, the inspector will need to return when the discrepancy has been resolved.
Pre-inspection documentation needs to be submitted by the captain to the BROC office at least four days before the scheduled inspection.
The onboard inspection typically takes a couple of hours if the skipper or representative has everything on the checklist ready and laid out for convenient review by the inspector. The inspection is an excellent time to ask questions of the inspector about the requirements and get useful tips on seamanship and safety practices. The inspector marks the checklist for all the items that passed inspection and makes notes on discrepancies that need fixing. The inspector submits the discrepancy list to the BROC to be added to the boat’s file. The skipper must be sure all discrepancies are resolved and re-inspected by the last day of inspections.
Post-race inspections may be conducted at the discretion of the BROC. A few boats, especially those whose finish times make them likely to receive a trophy, may be re-inspected in Bermuda. On a rare occasion, an inspection in Bermuda has changed the standings of a division.
Questions about Inspections?
Contact Inspections Chairman Ian McCurdy.