Four new amendments to the Special Regulations will come into effect on the 1st November 2025. The amendments do not require a major change for boat owners.

The four amendments are:

• Boats competing in category 7 races will now be required to carry VHF radio, this was one of the recommendations from the Sydney Harbour Twilight incident which found the use of VHF channel 16 was instrumental in the emergency services’ response.
• Removing the outdated life jacket standards in both Part 1 and Part 2 of the Special Regulations, this is simply an administrative amendment.
• Removing the need to carry white flares on board, white flares are an anticollision flare, the need for which has been surpassed by AIS technology.
• An amendment to the wording around Satellite phones and their capabilities has opened up the type of satellite phone required and allows for new and emerging technologies to be used.

The new Cat-7 audit form has been posted to the WASC and AS websites.