What Are My Flare Requirements?

The USCG requires you to carry (a) visual distress signal(s) in some circumstances. Click to read about them in, Visual Distress Signals [33 CFR § 175.101], from A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats. Also, US SAILING describes the following requirements for US Ocean, US Coastal, and US Nearshore race categories. Expired flares may be carried but are not counted toward required number.

USSER sectionRequired VDSUS OceanUS CoastalUS Nearshore
§ 3.6.1A boat shall carry two SOLAS orange smoke flares not older than the expiration date.x
§ 3.6.2A boat shall carry one SOLAS orange smoke flares not older than the expiration date.x
§ 3.6.3A boat shall carry six SOLAS red parachute flares not older than the expiration date.x
§ 3.6.4A boat shall carry two SOLAS red parachute flares not older than the expiration date.x
§ 3.6.5A boat shall carry four SOLAS red hand flares not older than the expiration date.x
§ 3.6.6A boat shall carry two SOLAS red hand flares not older than the expiration date.x
§ 3.6.4A boat shall carry U.S. Coast Guard (or applicable government entity) flares meeting day-night requirements not older than the expiration date.x
§ 3.6.5Boat flares stored inside of life rafts may not be used to satisfy the flare requirement.xx
Source of data in this table: US Sailing  USSER 2016
What Are My Flare Requirements? was last modified: April 27th, 2016 by Philip Thompson

Does Dan Buoy Satisfy World Sailing MOB Pole Requirements?

Yes

danbuoy attachment points

Dan buoy attachment points

World Sailing (formerly ISAF) requires sailing yachts in race categories 0, 1, or 2 to carry at least two man overboard marking devices, or Lifebuoys, {OSR § 4.22.2}. Both of these MOB markers must have a satchet of fluorescein dye {OSR § 4.22.2 (c)}.

The dan buoy drogue attaches to grommet and swivel at the dan buoy’s base. For easy attachment of additional devices such as the flourescein dye packet, the SOS Marine dan buoy has an extra grommet attachment point at its base (see photo) so a short length of line may be used to attach one.

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Does Dan Buoy Satisfy World Sailing MOB Pole Requirements? was last modified: June 18th, 2016 by Philip Thompson

Boating Safety Requirements

The key to boating safety is education. Familiarity with safety and equipment requirements is a first step in the right direction. Incorporate regular training, or practice, with your crew on your boat, to make sailing as safe as possible. Note that while there are a number of agencies telling you how to use your boat more safely, the USCG requirements are clear and indisputable legal requirements for safe boating (in the USA). Lower on the page are safe boating requirements for sailboat racing, other recommendations, and more safe boating resources. We hope that even knowledgeable yachtsmen will find valuable information through this page.

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Boating Safety Requirements was last modified: March 30th, 2016 by Philip Thompson

Do USSER Supercede Other Safety Requirements?

No

US Sailing logo

US Sailing governs USA racing

Refer to section 1.1 (excerpt below), which notes that the USSER do not supercede other safety equipment requirements. The USSER (United States Safety Equipment Requirements) are published by US Sailing, the governing body for the sport of sailing in the USA. These requirements are intended to complement safety equipment requirements of USCG, Racing Rules of Sailing (published by ISAF World Sailing), class associations, rating bodies [, and state and local government].

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Do USSER Supercede Other Safety Requirements? was last modified: January 13th, 2016 by Philip Thompson