PFDs – Branding and YA Special Regulations - Correction

In the March 2009 issue the following statement appeared;

YA, as from 1/July 2009, will require all NEW PFDs for use in category 1 to 4 races to be branded to level 150 or above.

As from 1/July 2011, ALL PFDs carried in category 1 to 4 races must be branded to level 150 or above.

In place of Australian Standards International Standards such as EN 396 are acceptable provided they are branded to 150N or higher.

YA Special Regulation 5.01.1(c) requires new PFDs as from 1^st July 2009 and as from 1^st July 2011 ALL PFDs to be ‘at least 150N buoyancy’ for offshore racing categories 1 to 4.

YA Special Regulations 5.01.2(iii) and 5.01.3(iii) require the standard authority’s mark of approval to be ‘branded’ on the PFD.

The YA Special Regulations do NOT require ‘150N’ or the appropriate flotation rating to be branded on the PFD.

The new Australian Standard for PFDs, AS 4758 requires PFDs to be classified by ‘levels’, example 275,150 etc.

Australian Standard AS 1512 required PFDs to have a minimum of 80N flotation force.

Some Authorities standards require the flotation force to be branded on the item and others do not make branding of that reference a requirement but manufacturers do so voluntarily.

The YA Special Regulations are mandatory for racing yachts and recommended for cruising yachts. Where equipment is to be inspected by a Club as a condition of racing, an owner must establish to the satisfaction of the Auditor/Inspector that a PFD meets the required YA specification. Branding of the flotation force is prima facie proof. Where the flotation force is not branded on the item the owner will have to establish compliance by some other method satisfactory to the Club.