Plan to do some offshore races this year? There's some changes afloat with the OYRA Category 2 regulations. During the most recent meeting between the YRA, yacht clubs and Coast Guard emphasis has been made on trying to reduce injuries and response time for local short distant ocean races. Category 2 has always been in effect but now includes more requirements.

OYRA Race Chair Richard Calabrese explains. "The Coast Guard are looking for specific things, some easy and some difficult. It's not as serious as everyone thinks. If you have a boat you've been racing for years it can be grandfathered in.” Most of the more complicated rules are for boats over 30 feet - some of which don't make any safety sense. (A fixed head? A cooking stove for going to Half Moon Bay?) Luckily the YRA has amended most of these rules. The first OYRA race is the Lightship 1 on March 21.

And for the shorthanded races most of the requirements seem silly. Bill Merrick, Commodore of the Singlehanded Sailing Society said, "Some of the list doesn't make sense for us - requiring CPR certification for a singlehander for example. Greg Nelsen is setting up a meeting with other LongPac and Singlehanded TransPac vets to come up with a recommendation that works for us, but still honors the spirit of the YRA and Coast Guard's wishes." They plan on having it figured out by the end of February, and we’ll keep you posted. The first SSS ocean race is the Singlehanded Farallones on May 16.

Other ocean races coming up in the late winter/early spring are Island YC’s Doublehanded Lightship on March 14, and BAMA’s Doublehanded Farallones on March 28.

The full OYRA Category 2 requirements can be found at www.yra.org/OYRA.

One of the most important points raised is that communication while out past the Gate is paramount. A good VHF is mandatory. A cell phone with the San Francisco Coast Guard's number in speed dial is a good idea. Do you know their number? It's (415) 556-2103.