SOUTH AFRICAN SAILING

1. Liaison with International Bodies. SAS is a member of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and represents South Africa at the organisations

meetings that decide on venues for international regattas such as World Championships, the choice of yachts for the Olympic Games, changes to the

Rules of Racing and a myriad of other matters with a view to promoting sailing in South Africa. SAS is also represented on the ISAF Medical /

Anti-doping committee and liases with NOCSA over the selection and funding of South African sailors to participate in the Olympics.

SAS is responsible for sanctioning the visits of the International races that use Cape Town as a stopover and provides assistance to their organisers.

This activity is on the increase with greater SAS participation, and assists in promoting Cape Town as a tourist destination.

2. Liaison with Government Departments. One of the SAS committees has been working closely with the Department of Transport (SAMSA) and

has assisted in the drafting of the New Regulations for the Safety of small vessels operating in South African waters; the regulations were promulgated in April 2003.

SAS negotiated with the Reserve Bank to facilitate clearance for our cruising and racing yachts to leave South Africa for international voyages.

SAS is also involved with the department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) in its efforts to promote sailing.

3. Maintain a database of registered Class Yachts and Dinghies. One design sailing yachts and dinghies are required to be inspected to

ensure that they conform to class rules. A certificate of conformance or Measurement Certificate is issued to those boats meeting requirements.

SA Sailing maintains the database for most RSA classes that results in close contact with the classes and their measurers.

4. Maintain a register of Offshore Yachts. SA Sailing holds a register of South African and an increasing number of international yachts.

The yacht register is at present voluntary, but it is the only source of registration available to most of our yacht owners.

This documentation is essential if one intends cruising or racing internationally.

SAS has approximately 5500 South African and foreign yachts on its register.

5. Maintenance of Offshore Safety Standards and Skipper Certification. The Offshore Safety regulations that SAS complies with are regularly compared

with and updated to international standards to ensure that the highest levels of safety are maintained and these have been incorporated in the

New South African regulations. SA Sailing’s Skipper certificates are accepted as being amongst the best in the World and are regularly sought

after by visitors to South Africa.

SA Sailing’s system of the award of a Skipper’s Ticket after successful completion of an examination has been in place since 1981.

As of June 2003 the following tickets have been issued:

Inland Waters’ Skipper - 524

The requirements for an Inland Waters’ Skipper are that the holder should be competent to safely skipper a sailing vessel on Inland Waters.

The curriculum includes Basic Seamanship, Safety, Boat Handling and the Rules of the Road.

Day Skipper, Local Waters - 1144

This certificate would permit a holder to skipper a sailing vessel from and to his homeport in daylight hours in the local waters as defined by the

skipper’s Yacht Club and by the Port Authority if the Club is within that authority’s waters. The latter authority is commonly termed a port exemption.

Coastal Skipper - 1529

This certificate qualifies the holder to skipper a sailing vessel on voyages between harbours along the coast but within 40 Nautical Miles of the coastline.

The holder of a Coastal Skipper's certificate must be able to demonstrate the ability and have the experience to deal with any situation as skipper of an

offshore sailing vessel. The coastal skippers ticket is the lowest level of SAS certificate currently recognised at international level.

Yacht Master Offshore - 1200

The Yacht Master Offshore qualification indicates the holder is an experienced sailor and considered to be competent to skipper a sailing vessel

on any extended or ocean passage, who although not having demonstrated his proficiency of celestial navigation,

can demonstrate that he has mastered the use of electronic position fixing devices such as GPS.

Yacht Master Ocean - 415

This is the highest level of certificate that can be awarded and indicates that the holder is a highly experienced sailor and considered competent

to skipper a sailing vessel in any situation and has the ability to determine his position by celestial navigation.

6. Development of Sailing. One of our main concerns is the future of our sport and we have Development Committees at all levels of the administration

to coordinate the efforts of our affiliated Yacht Clubs in bringing sailing as a sport or interest to the wider public in South Africa.

SA Sailing produces and regularly updates a number of training and safety manuals that are available for purchase.

7. Management and Standing Committees. SA Sailing is managed by a Council chaired by the President of the organisation with each councillor responsible

for a permanent standing committee to attend to the many aspects of sailing, such as Rules and Appeals, Sailing Management, Technical aspects,

Offshore including Safety and competency, High Performance managing International participation, and Marketing and Communication.

These standing committees are responsible for policy and the drafting of regulations. In addition there are Regional Committees responsible

for the administration of the sport through functional committees providing guidance and assistance to Yacht Clubs and Class associations.

These committees at each level are comprised of experienced sailors.

8. World-Wide Web. In order to further develop the interest in the sport of sailing in South Africa and to provide information to anybody interested,

SAS has established a web site that provides Bulletins for regulation and guidance as well as Newsletters on matters of general interest to Yachtsmen.

The intention is to develop this means of communication and invite all Clubs, Classes and individual yachtsmen to use the website for their own

interests and to promote the sport by participation on the web. www.sailing.org.za is an interactive site and members can add their own

details to the site after being allocated a password.

9. General. SA Sailing has offices in Germiston, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town that exist to promote sailing as a sport and provide assistance to yachtsmen.