Yachting Australia and SOLAS partner on safety review projects

by Jane Gordon on 13 Nov 2015 Yachting Australia will conduct a review into the safety practices of sailboat racing in Australia and also develop a Safety Management System Guide for Clubs utilising grants received from the CYCA SOLAS Trusts.

The grants were announced at the recent CYCA SOLAS Trusts dinner and will be administered by the Australian Sports Foundation, who support the development of sport and participation programmes in Australia.

With safety as key priorities for both organisations, the two projects will be managed on behalf of Yachting Australia by the National Safety Committee, headed by Rear Admiral (Ret) Chris Oxenbould.

After the Dinner, Chris explained the grant allows Yachting Australia to conduct research and source external assistance to get the projects up and running. “Our Committee has been tasked by the Yachting Australia Board to continue to challenge our existing systems and using these funds, we will conduct a review of existing Yacht Club Safety and develop safety initiatives and monitoring to benefit the sailing community.

“Additionally, we will use funds to develop safety initiatives and develop Safety Management Systems to be used by Clubs in the management of sailing events. This allows the National Safety Committee, along with Yachting Australia and the CYCA SOLAS Trusts, to work together to assist and take care of our sailors.

“We are grateful to the CYCA SOLAS Trust for their generous contribution and the Committee also thanks David Gotze, Matt Allen and Matt Carroll from Yachting Australia for their efforts in bringing this initiative to fruition” Chris added.

The CYCA SOLAS Trust was established by the CYCA following the tragic loss of six lives in the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race to assist the immediate family needs of those lost at sea, provide assistance to search and rescue organisations and foster research and training to improve procedures and equipment for use at sea.

CYCA Commodore John Cameron was pleased to announce the grants, saying “all Clubs have a responsibility to their sailors to use best practice in safety, and in providing these grants to Yachting Australia, their National Safety Committee can deliver stronger procedures for everyone to follow to keep them safe at sea”, John said.