These will help ensure that participants have a safe and enjoyable passage.

SEA-WORTHINESS

Boats shall have a minimum length of 9.15m (30’), be seaworthy and designed and built to resist capsize. They shall be strongly built, watertight and particularly with regard to hulls, decks and cabin trunks, capable of withstanding solid water and knockdowns. They shall be properly rigged and ballasted.

Wash-boards and storm-boards (where necessary) shall be secured to the vessel when in use, to prevent them being lost overboard.

EQUIPMENT GENERALLY

All required equipment shall function properly, be regularly checked, cleaned and serviced, when not in use be stowed so as to minimise deterioration, be readily accessible, and be of a type, size and capacity suitable and adequate for the intended use and size of the vessel.

Ballast, tanks, ballast tanks and associated equipment shall be permanently installed. Heavy moveable items such as batteries, stoves, gas bottles, tool boxes, anchors, chain and auxiliary motors shall be securely fastened.

FIXED EQUIPMENT

1.         Navigation lights

Navigation lights shall be shown as required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Part C and Technical Annex 1). All boats shall exhibit a steaming light, sidelights and a stern light at the required times.

2.         Through-hull openings

Seacocks shall be installed on all through-hull openings below the waterline, except for integral deck scuppers, logs and depth sounders. A means of closing all below-waterline through-hull openings, such as tapered soft wooden plugs, shall be provided at each opening.

3.         Bilge pump

A vessel shall have at least one two bilge pumps, one manual pump operable with all cockpit seats, hatches and companionways closed.

4.         Marine radios

Vessels shall carry both a VHF radio transceiver and an MF/HF radio transceiver. The following MF/HF frequencies are required for the circumnavigation: 2182, 2524, 4125, 4483 & 6215 kHz.

Each vessel shall have at least one crew member with a Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency or equivalent.

5.         Compass

Each vessel shall carry a marine magnetic compass, independent of any power supply, permanently installed and correctly adjusted.

6.         Barometer

A barometer is required.

PORTABLE EQUIPMENT

7.         Personal flotation devices

A personal flotation device type 1 (PFD1) complying with Australian Standard 1512 or an equivalent or better overseas standard such as EN396 must be provided for each person on board. It is compulsory to wear a PFD in any recreational motor boat or motor-propelled tender that is less than six (6) metres in length and is under power. The Tasmanian Marine and Safety Authority (MAST) has indicated they will accept any PFD that complies with the international SOLAS requirements. If the PFD is acceptable to MAST, then it is acceptable on the Circumnavigation Cruise.

It is compulsory for children under the age of 12 years to wear a PFD in a recreational motor boat or motor-propelled tender of any length while under power.

Boaters are not required to wear a PFD while they are within a deckhouse, cabin or secure enclosed space.

8.         Heaving line

A heaving line shall be readily accessible in the cockpit. It shall consist of at least 15 metres of floating line with a buoyant object at one end.

9.         Lifebuoy

A lifebuoy with a drogue and a self-igniting light shall be carried within easy reach of the helm and be ready for instant use.

10.       Jackstays and safety harnesses, personal lights

It is highly recommended that jackstays be fitted to appropriate strong points and safety harnesses worn and used while on deck during overnight passages, and during rough sea conditions. It is highly recommended that personal strobe lights be attached to clothing worn on deck at night.

11.       Torch

Vessels shall carry a water-resistant, buoyant torch with spares batteries and globes.

12.       Anchor, rope and chain

An anchor with a high holding power such as a spade or plough shall be carried, with a minimum of 10 metres of chain and 50 metres of line. A second anchor and rode of similar size and capacity is highly recommended.

13.       Bailer

At least one solidly constructed metal or plastic bucket of at least 9 litres capacity and with 2 metres of rope attached must be carried. It may be used to bail out water, to fight fires, or as a sea anchor.

14.       Radar/reflector

A radar reflector shall be carried.

15.       First aid kit

Vessels shall be equipped with a first aid kit whose contents and storage shall reflect the likely conditions and duration of the passage and the number of people aboard.

16.       Fire extinguishers

All vessels with an engine shall carry fire extinguishers as follows:

17.       Flares

The following flares shall be carried as a minimum:

            4 x red hand flares

            2 x white hand flares

            4 x orange smoke flares

            2 x red parachute rocket flares

Flares must be approved to Australian Standard AS2092.

Red hand flare

These can be seen from a range of up to 10km at sea level on a clear, dark night and up to 20km from the air. It burns for over 60 seconds with an intense 15,000-candela red light. They can be seen in daylight over a shorter range.

White hand flare

The purpose of a white hand flare is a collision warning flare used to attract the attention of a ship heading on a collision course. They are suitable for use in daylight and in darkness.

Orange smoke flare

The smoke flare is for day use only. It provides a vivid and expanding cloud of dense orange smoke visible for more than 60 seconds and can be seen from 4km away at sea level and even further from and aircraft. Always hold the flare to leeward when using it.

Red parachute rocket flare

This is a handheld, self-contained distress rocket, ejecting a parachute with a suspended red flare at 300 metres altitude. It burns for 40 seconds at a brilliant 30,000 candela. It can be seen for 15km by day and 40km at night.

18.       Oars/auxiliary propulsion

Oars/paddles or an auxiliary motor must be carried on all vessels less than 6 metres in length to provide a second means of propulsion. Owners of larger vessels should also consider some means of auxiliary power as an effective safety device.

19.       Life raft

A life raft capable of carrying the entire crew shall be carried, and stowed so that it can be got to the lifelines within 15 seconds. The life raft shall have a valid annual certificate, carried aboard the vessel, certifying that the life raft has been inspected and serviced in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.  Rafts must not be stowed below deck.

20.       EPIRB

All boats shall carry a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). (The older 121.5/243 MHz EPIRBS will not work beyond 1st February 2009.)

Ensure your EPIRB container is not cracked or showing signs of damage and batteries are within their shelf life. Use the test switch at least once a month to verify power.  Keep the EPIRB accessible.

When using the EPIRB:

Extend or release the aerial to its full length

Allow the beacon to float free to the length of its attached line

Once activated, leave the EPIRB on until told to switch it off by a SAR authority.

21.       Water

When commencing a passage, vessels shall carry at least 2.5 litres of fresh water per crew member for each 100 miles of the passage.

22.       Distress sheet

A standard orange sheet 1.8m x 1.2m with a black ‘V’ or black square above a black circle, with lanyards attached, shall be carried.

23.       Fog horn

Each vessel shall carry a foghorn.

24.       Charts and piloting equipment

Each vessel shall carry a GPS, paper charts appropriate for the passage, together with piloting equipment, appropriate tide tables (Tas tidal information is included with information provided to skippers), the Australian Pilot Vol 2, a log, and a depth sounder or lead line.

25.       Sea-going clothing

Cold fronts often cross Tasmania in summer, bringing gale-force conditions offshore, and snow to highland peaks.  Sea-water temperatures of around 18 degrees Celsius are the norm. All crew members must be equipped with appropriate wet weather gear and thermal clothing.

26.       Emergency steering gear

For vessels not normally equipped with a sturdy tiller fitted directly to the rudder stock, an emergency tiller capable of being fitted quickly to the rudder stock must be carried.

In the event of the loss of the rudder, vessels must have an alternative method of steering.

27.       Tools, spares

Engine spares including appropriate fuel filters, ‘O’ rings, copper washers, engine belts, water pump impellors and lubricants shall be carried, as well as the tools necessary to effect routine maintenance and repairs at sea.

28.       Mooring gear

For the purposes of mooring alongside a wharf and for rafting-up, vessels shall carry at least one fender board complete with tethering lines. Dimensions should be approximately 2000mm long x 100mm wide x 40mm thick (treated pine or Oregon is best for this purpose).

Due to the tidal range in Bass Strait, springs shall be at least the length of the vessel. Adequate bow and stern lines are also required. Vessels shall carry at least four fenders.

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