In accordance with the World Sailing statement concerning the situation in Ukraine, the WSSRC issues the following declaration:

“The WSSR Council's position regarding the invasion of Ukraine by Russia is that registration for sailing record attempts will not be accepted from Russian/ Belarusian sailors or Russian/Belarusian owned vessels.”

World Sailing Speed Record Rules for individually attempted Passage Records or Performances Offshore.(Amendments for 2024 are printed in red)

To view course graphics click on icons, ie:

17. AUTHORITY
a. The World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) is an Affiliate Member of World Sailing and is the authority in all matters concerning sailing speed records and performances. It cooperates with national sailing authorities as appropriate but is also able to examine and ratify record claims made by individuals and to approve attempts whether or not they fall within the jurisdiction of a national sailing authority.
b. The WSSRC maintains a working cooperation with relevant race organizers regarding the listing of records in organized yacht races.

18. RATIONALE
Records and races: Elapsed times without any redress achieved in yacht races organised in accordance with WS RRS 89.1 are accepted as correct by WSSRC. The shortest time, without handicap, is the record for an event. A record achieved during a race can also displace an individual (non-race) performance. If, however, an individual performance over the same course betters a race record, it will be listed as a separate achievement.

Racing rules: The Racing Rules of Sailing do not apply during individual (non-race) record attempts.

Subject to specific approval, individual attempts will be accepted over selected established courses listed in rule 26.

The total list is always under review and dormant courses and undistinguished speeds may be removed from time to time.

An individual record will only be recognized when it is faster than the race record over the same course. Conversely, an individual record will be erased when a race record is subsequently faster.

Individual courses and races will not usually be considered for record purposes unless they are more than about 250 miles. However exceptions may include certain long listed or traditional courses.

19. GENERAL
a. The purpose of the rules is to enable attempts to be made on a variety of offshore records and performances. They do not form the conditions of any prize or trophy, nor are they sailing instructions.

b.i. An approved independent Commissioner shall be appointed by the WSSRC to observe any attempt and make a report.

b.ii. The base station or official observer will be supplemented by a blackbox supplied by WSSRC; however WSSRC shall not be liable of any failure of a supplied blackbox.

b.iii. In addition, the yacht shall carry a remotetracker from an independent service to which the WSSRC shall have access. This tracker will be subject to the provisions of rule 25.b

b.iv. Offshore record attempts must actively transmit on AIS using the MMSI given in their application, for the duration of the record attempt.

Supplementary rules for the operation of the WSSR “black box” referred to in WSSR rule 19b

The “black box” is a small GPS data logger, which the WSSRC require to be carried on board a yacht attempting a record or performance. It is powered from the vessel’s power supply and only requires 15mA at 12-24 vdc – a very small drain.

The black box will either be provided by the WSSR Commissioner at the start, or alternatively sent direct to the skipper, together with full instructions for attaching and operation. The skipper must operate the equipment according to the instructions, or it may not be possible to ratify any claim. It is the responsibility of the competitor to install this Black Box in accordance with the instructions provided and to check that it continues to operate during the attempt. The skipper will be required to sign a declaration to this effect at the inspection and at the finish.

At the finish it will either be reclaimed by the WSSR Commissioner or, if this is impractable, the skipper must post it immediately back to the WSSR office, where the data will be downloaded and stored. The data provided by this BB is for the use of the WSSRC only, who reserve the right to use this data in special situations.

Loss or damage to the Black Box will result in the skipper being invoiced for £300. 00.

c. The record for each passage shall stand until the elapsed time has been reduced by at least one minute. Every request to ratify a record shall be considered in time and date order. The time used for this purpose will be UTC when the record attempt finishes. The data shall include the time in UTC to the nearest minute and the latitude and longitude using the WGS84 datum, and distances will be calculated as the great circle on a sphere on which 1 minute of latitude = 1 NM.

d. The WSSRC cannot accept any responsibility for personal injury or loss of life, damage to or loss of property arising from any record attempt made under its rules whether supervised by its officials or not. It is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the skipper of a yacht engaged in any such record attempt to decide whether to start and, having done so, to continue the voyage.
e. The official language of the WSSRC and its rules is English.

20. OFFSHORE WORLD RECORDS
a. The World Record for the passages listed in Rule 26 will be held by the vessel and skipper which establishes the shortest elapsed time in accordance with these rules. Additionally National Records in all categories and on all courses may be attempted in accordance with these rules.

b. Categories. Any offshore World Record can be held in any of the following categories:

• Any type of vessel, any number of crew (the Outright World record)
• Any type of vessel, sailed singlehanded
• Any type of vessel, sailed doublehanded
• Monohull vessel, any number of crew
• Monohull vessel, sailed singlehanded
• Monohull vessel sailed doublehanded

Additionally there are World Records for the Windsurfers and the Kitesurfers on the Around the Isle of Wight course.

c. Divisions. There are four divisions defined by the hull length as described in “Equipment Rules of Sailing”.: D.3.1:

• Over 60.0 ft (18.288 metres)
• 60.0 ft (18.288 metres) and less
  
• 40.0 ft (12.192 metres) and less
• 6.5 metre (21.32 ft) and less. Interpretation: Open Sport catamarans making attempts in this division shall be sailed doublehanded and be permitted on a limited number of WSSR approved courses.

All the above Categories and Divisions for records are available for female crews.

d. Courses. The Around Ireland, 26.d. route may not be attempted singlehanded.

Performances can be recognised over existing record routes or other appropriate courses over 250 NM in length.

e.For World Record attempts, all categories and divisions shall be sailed "without assistance". (Rule21.e.i). "With Assistance" voyages (Rule 21.e.ii) may apply to the WSSR Council for a Performance Certificate (rule 30).

f. Powered sailing systems. In addition, any of these record categories can also apply to a vessel using powered sailing systems (see 21c.) provided a claim exceeds any corresponding World Record. These Powered Records are listed separately and can never be regarded as the 'outright record' for a course.

21. SAILING RULES
a. (Applies to all records and performances)
i. A vessel shall sail by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed, except for 21.b and 21.c. below and in exceptional circumstances which shall be reported to and get approval from WSSRC.
ii. The vessel must be capable of floating and supporting its crew when at rest.
iii. Prior to the attempt, the vessel must be at rest, afloat and must accelerate without assistance.
iv. No form of rating, handicap or sail area class is relevant.

b. Manual operation
Unless categorized as 'a vessel using powered sailing systems' (21c), only human power may be used to work the vessel during the attempt, with the following exceptions:

i. Electricity may be used for instrumentation, navigation, communication, automatic steering and for domestic purposes such as lighting, heating, cooking etc. Generators including motors, solar panels, wind or water turbines can be used to provide electric power, together with the appropriate batteries and control gear. Mechanical power may be used for charging batteries, pumping bilges, loading, unloading or transferring ballast, for weighing anchor and for the powered and automatic control of in-water appendages. The operation of engines, motors, pumps or in-water appendages must not provide any element of propulsion.

ii. In handling the vessel's sails and gear, there is no objection to various forms of energy transmission, such as hydraulic, provided there is no element of energy storage beyond that associated with materials in their normal sailing applications.

c. Powered sailing systems
A vessel is so categorized if any of the sailsetting, reefing, furling or sheeting functions employ mechanical power. Natural forces must always remain the sole means of propulsion.

d. Crew on board
No person on board shall intentionally leave, except when ill or injured, or to help a person or vessel in danger, or to swim, or go overboard to clean or repair his vessel. A person leaving the vessel by accident or for one of the above reasons shall be back on board before the vessel continues in the attempt. However any change of crew, except the skipper, may be made during an attempt "with assistance"

e. With or without assistance
i 'Without assistance' means that a vessel may not receive any kind of outside assistance whatever except for 21.h. and 21. i. nor take on board any supplies (beyond the harvest of the sea), materials or equipment during an attempt. A vessel may be anchored or beached during the attempt, but any repairs must be made entirely by the crew without outside resources or materials. It is never permitted to take on board stores or equipment or get any other kind of help from another vessel whilst under way (except as 'i' Emergencies below).

ii 'With assistance' means a vessel may enter harbour for repairs, alterations or stores as required with or without the help of persons outside the crew. During any stops, the timing of the voyage continues. An attempt accompanied and supported by a Mother Ship becomes "with assistance".

f. Singlehanded
'Singlehanded' means there is only one person aboard. If a singlehanded skipper accepts any kind of outside assistance (see 21e) then the voyage falls into the "singlehanded with assistance" category.

g. Navigation
Any type of navigation equipment is allowed and there is no objection to any type of information or advice being transmitted to or from the vessel. However, the vessel must be sailed by the crew, without any element of physical 'remote control'.

h. Emergencies
i An engine may be used to recover a man overboard, to render assistance or in any other grave emergency, in which case full details must be recorded in the vessel's log and disclosed to the WSSR Commissioner.

Interpretation. If a yacht is asked to divert to rescue it is compulsory to do so otherwise the attempt will not be considered. In such a case a claim for some redress might be made by returning to the position where diverted and then continuing the attempt. During the time spent during the diversion, any means of propulsion could be used.

ii In the event of fouling another vessel or manned structure (e.g. an oil rig) it is permitted for the crew of the other vessel or structure to assist the vessel in getting clear.

i. Rounding
When a course includes a mark, beacon or point to be rounded, a string representing the wake of the vessel after starting and before finishing would when drawn taught pass each mark on the required side and touch each rounding mark.

j. Monohulls
In the case of a record or performance for a 'monohull', the definition of a 'single-hulled vessel' follows major rating rules i.e. the section of the hull wherever taken shall not have more than one inverse curve. WSSRC decision on this classification shall be final.

k. Current and distance across the water.
No allowance is made for current in considering any of these records. Logged mileage on board is not considered by WSSRC.

22. SAFETY RULES
It is not within the province of these rules to set safety standards. However, all vessels making attempts must comply with the appropriate safety standards enforced by International Maritime Law and by their country of origin or registration, and of any race or trophy in which they may be competing, and by the country in which home waters they are sailing.

Interpretation: This rule is considered infringed when the rule or regulation authority penalises the vessel for the infringement of one of the rules or regulatons they monitor. It is the sole responsibility of the skipper to ensure that the proposed attempt does not contravene any national or local laws concerning Covid-19.

For non-regulated craft, the skipper may wish to consult IMO Msc.1/Circ.1413 dated May 2012 "Basic safety guidance for yacht races or oceanic voyages by non-regulated craft"

23. NOTICE AND TIME EXPIRATION
At least one month's notice is required for an intended attempt, accompanied by the appropriate fee. The notice and fee are specific to the intended attempt and are not subsequently transferrable. Open entries with the route to be decided at a later date are not permitted. The commencement of the attempt shall take place within twenty-four months of this notice after which the attempt is deemed to be time expired (note rule 27). The WSSR Council may consider late requests but these will attract a double fee (currently £3760. 00)

24. OBSERVATION/DECLARATION
When proper notice of an attempt has been received, WSSRC will appoint a WSSR Commissioner to make arrangements for the inspection and, if appropriate, for start and finish to be witnessed and timed. The skipper, and, in the case of a multi-crewed vessel one other member, will be asked to sign a declaration that all the rules have been followed.

25. TIMING
a. Where the timing is done by the Commissioner or his appointee, the moment of starting and finishing a passage must be recorded to the nearest second using UTC. The accuracy must be checked within six hours of the start and finish of the attempt by reference to an official time signal by telephone or radio. Any timepiece used must prove accurate to within one second at the time of checking. The start and finish times must be logged and signed by the Commissioner or his appointee.

b. When the timing is done by the tracker required by rule19.b.iii, any claim for a record will be based on the data provided by this tracker, using the positions immediately before the start line and immediately after the finish line. Interpolation will not be permitted.

Interpretation: It is therefore advisable to employ as short a reporting rate as possible when crossing start/finish lines, as too long an interval will prejudice the record claim. The following is recommended: "The tracker should be in"burst" activity, normally reporting every 5 seconds, at least 1 NM before crossing the start and finish of the course and any intermediate RTW courses, until at least 1 NM after those crossings. For a 24 hour claim, the tracker should be in the "burst" activity from 5 minutes before the estimated 24 hour end until 5 minutes after. During the remainder of the attempt, an interval of 4 hours would be acceptable.

Records and performances will always be defined as an elapsed time in days, hours, minutes and seconds. Average speed may be shown for information only.

26. RECORD COURSES
General
Only fixed points of land, fixed navigational beacons or other charted objects fixed to the land or seabed can be used as reference points though they need not necessarily be sighted. Unless otherwise specified, when the start/finish is a bearing from a specific location, the yacht shall start/finish within 2 nautical miles of the observer. Where the exact start and/or finish is optional , there must be agreement in advance on its location with WSSRC. This is for reasons of practicality, logistics and seamanship, as well as course and distance requirements. Exceptions to the 2NM requirement are limited at present to the start/finish between Ushant and the Lizard, for all the Intermediate RTW Record attempts, and for the NE and NW passages.

26.1. World Record courses over 1000 NM for offshore yachts of any size.

All coordinates below are given in WGS 84 and are approximate to .1NM

a. RTW - Round the World, eastbound and westbound 21600NM. 2 separate records.
To sail around the World, a vessel must start from and return to the same point, must cross all meridians of longitude and must cross the Equator. It may cross some but not all meridians more than once (i.e. two roundings of Antarctica do not count). The shortest orthodromic track of the vessel must be at least 21,600 nautical miles in length calculated based on a 'perfect sphere'. In calculating this distance, it is to be assumed that the vessel will sail around Antarctica in latitude 63 degrees south.
A vessel starting from any point where the direct orthodromic distance is too short shall pass one single island or other fixed point on a required side so as to lengthen his orthodromic track to the minimum distance.
No starting point will be permitted more south than 45 ° south.
1 degree of longitude at 63 degrees south will be taken as 27.24NM

b. Transatlantic - New York to The Lizard 2880NM
Start: Line drawn south true from the position of Ambrose Light Buoy: 40° 27.5' N; 073° 50.2' W
Finish: Line drawn south true from Lizard Point Lighthouse: 49° 57.6' N; 5°12.1' W

c. Around Britain and Ireland. 1773NM

Only one record whatever direction.
Start and Finish: the only approved starting/finishing lines are at:
Lizard : Line drawn south true from Lizard Point Lighthouse: 49° 57.6' N; 5° 12.1' W
Ventnor: Line drawn south true from ashore at: 50° 35.6' N; 1° 12.1' W
Ramsgate: Line between the RTYC hut: 51° 19'6 N; 1° 25.4' E and Gull Buoy; 51° 19'6 N; 1° 31'3 E
Course: the course must enclose the whole of Britain and Ireland and the following islands or rocks: Scilly Is, Fastnet Rock, Great Skellig, Tearaght Is, St Kilda, Sula Sgear, Muckle Flugga.

d. New York to San Francisco 13225NM
Start: Line drawn west true from Ambrose Light Buoy : 40° 27.5' N ; 073° 50.2' W
Finish: Line projected downwards from the eastern side of Golden Gate Bridge: 37° 49.0' N; 122° 28.7' W.
Course: Leave Cape Horn to starboard.

e. Los Angeles to Honolulu. 2215NM

Course of the traditional Transpac race.
Start; line on the transit from Point Fermin lighthouse; 33° 42.3' N; 118° 17.6' W to the Pt Fermin buoy; 33° 41.9' N; 118° 17.5' W Cross the line within 1NM from the buoy.
Finish: line on the transit of Diamond Head lighthouse at 21° 15.4' N; 157° 48.6' W and Diamond Head R2 buoy 21° 14.8' N; 157° 48.9' W

f. Dakar to Guadeloupe 2551NM

Start; Transit between Tacoma Buoy; 14° 40.349' N; 17° 23.800' W and the pier end at 14° 40.196' N; 17° 23.923' W. 
Finish: Buoy n°1 at 16° 12.688' N; 61° 31.716' W  and .Buoy n°2 at 16° 12.773' N; 61° 31.832' W. Leave Buoy 1 to starboard. Finish is due East of Buoy 2.

g. Honolulu to Yokohama. 3370NM

Start: line on the transit of Diamond Head lighthouse: 21° 15.4' N; 157° 48.6' W and Diamond Head R2 buoy: 21° 14.8' N; 157° 48.9' W. Cross the line within 1NM of the buoy.
Finish: line drawn west true from Jogashima lighthouse: 35° 08.1' N; 139° 36.7' E

h. Yokohama to San Francisco or San Francisco to Yokohama. 4502NM - 2 separate records

Start / Finish: line drawn west true from Jogashima lighthouse: 35° 08.1' N; 139° 36.7' E.
Finish / Start: line drawn downwards from eastern side of Golden Gate Bridge: 37° 49.0' N; 122° 28.7' W

i. Around Australia. 6536NM

Only one record whatever direction.
Start / Finish: From any point in or close to a harbour acceptable to the WSSRC.
Course: The course must enclose the whole of Australia and the following islands or capes: Ince Point on Wednesday Island of the Thursday Island Group (Queensland), Melville Island (Northern Territory), Montebello Islands (Western Territory) and South East Cape (Tasmania).

j. Cadiz to San Salvador (Watling Island). 3884M

(America Discovery route)
Start: line between the Puerto Sherry Marina Control Tower: 36º 34. 7' N ; 06º 15.2' W and the easterly prominent electricity pylon: 36º 30.6' N ; 06º 15. 7' W . This line should be crossed within 1.5NM of the Puerto Sherry Tower.
Finish: line drawn west true from Cockburn Town radio mast: 24° 03.0' N; 74° 31.9'W. Cross the line within 0.5 NM from the mast.
Course: Leave Gran Canaria and Watling Island to Starboard.

k. Hong Kong to New York. 13624M
Start: line between Tai Long Pai light: 22° 14.0' N; 114° 16.0' E and Nga Ying Pai Lighthouse: 22° 14.6' N; 114° 16.8' E.
Finish: line drawn west true from Ambrose Light Buoy: 40° 27.5' N; 073° 50.2' W

l. Atlantic Crossing E to W Plymouth to Newport 2805NM
Start: The Line is West of the Plymouth Breakwater on the transit defined by the West Breakwater beacon at 50 20.072N  004 09.522W,  and the East Breakwater beacon at 50 20.018N  004 08.245W  
Finish: line between Castle Hill Lighthouse: 41° 27.7' N; 71° 21.8' W and Beavertail Lighthouse: 41° 27.0ۥ N; .071° 23.9ۥ W

m. Yokohama to Hong Kong 1552NM
Start: line drawn West from Jogashima Light: 35° 08.1' N; 139° 36.6' E.
Finish: line between Nga Yin Pai light: 22° 14.5' N; 114° 16.8 E and Tai Long Pai light: 22° 14.0' N; 114° 15.9' E

n. Hong Kong to London 12948NM.
Start line between Nga Yin Pai light 22° 14.5' N; 114° 16.8' E and Tai Long Pai light 22° 14.0' N; 114° 15.9' E.
Finish; line drawn downwards from the Eastern side of the Queen Elisabeth II bridge 51° 27.9' N; 0° 15.5' E.

o. North East/North West Passage.

The passages are from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean (or vice versa although there is only one record) starting and finishing crossing the Arctic Circle which, for the purposes of this record determination, will be taken at latitude 66° 34.00'N. The North East passage passes through predominately Eastern latitudes and the North Western passage through predominately Western latitudes.

p. Bermuda to Plymouth. UK. 2870
Start: line drawn 96° true from St David's lighthouse: 32° 21.8' N; 64° 39.1' W
Finish: The Line is West of the Plymouth Breakwater on the transit defined by the West Breakwater beacon at 50 20.072N  004 09.522W,  and the East Breakwater beacon at 50 20.018N  004 08.245W  

q. Port Louis (Lorient) to Port Louis (Mauritius).
Start. Line drawn due South from Point Graves. 47° 41.18 N. 003° 21.54 W
Finish. Line drawn due North from buoy 19° 59.82 S. 57° 34.21 E

r. Around Antarctica:

Only one record whatever direction.

Start / Finish: Where the yacht’s track crosses itself after Rounding Antarctica.  The entire track, including the start/finish where the track crosses itself, must be S of latitude 45 degrees south.  The timing will be done by the Tracker required in Rule 19b. 

 

26.2. World Record courses under 1000 NM for offshore yachts of any size.

 

a. Around Ireland. 698NM.

Only one record whatever direction. Refer to WSSR rule 20.d
Start and Finish: the only approved starting/finishing line is:

• The Around Ireland route may not be attempted singlehanded.

Dun Laoghaire: between the East Pier Lighthouse: 53° 18.1' N; 6° 07.6' W and Kish Lighthouse: 53° 18.7' N ; 5° 55.5' W
Course: the course must enclose the whole of Ireland and all off-lying islands or rocks within 8NM of the Irish Coast including but not limited to: Rathlin Is, Tor Rocks and Gulf Is, Tory Is, Eagle Is, Black Rock,Tearaght Is, Great Skellig, Fastnet Rock, Coningbeg Rock, Tuskar Rock.

b. Around the Isle of Wight. 50NM

Only one record whatever direction.
Start and Finish: Line between RYS flagstaff: 50° 46.0' N; 1° 18.1' W and West Bramble buoy: 50° 47.2' N; 1° 18.65' W.

Course: the course must enclose the whole of the Isle of Wight, Needles Lighthouse and Bembridge buoy.

c. Marseilles to Carthage 455NM

Start: Line drawn east true from Cavau lighthouse on Pomegues Island: 43°15.7' N; 5° 17.4' E
Finish: Line drawn east true from Ras Quartajamah lighthouse (Cape Carthage): 36° 52.3' N; 10° 20.9' E.

d. Cowes to Dinard 138NM

Start: Line between the RYS flagstaff: 50° 46.0' N; 1° 18.1' W and West Bramble buoy: 50° 47.2' N; 1° 18.65' W
Finish:Line between Buharats West buoy 48°40.221 N; 002° 07.494' W  and Buharats East buoy:48°40.236' N; 002° 07.197' W 

e. Plymouth to La Rochelle. 329NM
Start: The Line is West of the Plymouth Breakwater on the transit defined by the West Breakwater beacon at 50 20.072N  004 09.522W,  and the East Breakwater beacon at 50 20.018N  004 08.245W  
Finish: line between the south pier light: 46° 09.3' N; 1° 14.0' W and Marie Anne buoy: 46° 09.2' N; 1° 15.1' W.
Course: leave Ile de Ré to port

f. Miami to New York. 942NM
Start: line between South Point Tower: 25° 45.809' N;  80° 07.772' W and Miami Main Channel n°1 green buoy: 25° 45.8' N; 80° 05.4' W.
Finish: line drawn west true from Ambrose Light Buoy: 40° 27.5' N; 073° 50.2' W.

g. Fastnet Original Course. 595NM
Start: line between the RYS flagstaff: 50° 46.0' N; 1° 18.1' W and West Bramble buoy: 50° 47.2' N; 1° 18.65' W.
Finish: The Line is West of the Plymouth Breakwater on the transit defined by the West Breakwater beacon at 50 20.072N  004 09.522W,  and the East Breakwater beacon at 50 20.018N  004 08.245W  
Course: leave the Isles of Scilly, including Bishop rock and all outlying rocks, entirely to port or starboard, Fastnet rock to port, Isles of Scilly, including Bishop rock and all outlying rocks to port.

h. Newport to Bermuda. 635NM
Start: line between Castle Hill Lighthouse: 41° 27.7' N; 71° 21.8' W and Beavertail Lighthouse: 41° 27.0ۥ N; .71° 23.9ۥ W
Finish: line drawn 96° true from St David's lighthouse: 32° 21.8' N; 64° 39.1' W

i. Sydney to Hobart. 630NM
Start: line drawn between North Head light: 33° 49.5' S; 151° 17.9' E and South Head light: 33° 50.0' S; 151° 16.8' E
Finish: line drawn 50° true from hut ashore at: 42° 53.2' S; 147° 20.4' E for 300 meters

j. Taipei to Hong Kong 457NM
Start: line between Chi-Lung Tao light: 25° 11.6' N; 121° 47.2' E; and a Coast guard vessel located 0.7NM North true of the lighthouse.
Finish: line between Nga Yin Pai light: 22° 14.5' N; 114° 16.8' E and Tai Long Pai light: 22° 14.0' N; 114° 15.9' E

k. Monaco to Porto Cervo 195NM
Start: line between a staff displaying a red flag on the breakwater outside Monaco Port d'Hercules harbour to be left to starboard and a red mark 43° 44.170 N, 07° 26.40 E to be left to Port, located at 0.3NM East of harbour.
Finish: seaward projection of the axis entrance line of Porto Cervo Harbour bearing 252° magnetic as reported on official charts. The line must be crossed within 1.5NM from the entrance of the harbour leaving, leaving the entrance of the harbour to starboard.

 

26.3 INTERMEDIATE ROUND THE WORLD RECORDS

a. South Indian Ocean.
Western limit: Cape Agulhas, crossing the meridian 20° E
Eastern limit: The southern point of Tasmania, South East Cape, crossing the meridian 146° 49'.E.

b. South Pacific Ocean.
Western limit: the southern point of Tasmania, South East Cape, crossing the meridian 146° 49' E.
Eastern limit: Cape Horn crossing the meridian 67° 16' W.

c. South Atlantic.
Western limit: Cape Horn crossing the meridian 67° 16' W
Eastern limit: Cape Agulhas crossing the meridian 20° E.

d. Equator to Equator.
From the North Atlantic Ocean: Equator, Cape Agulhas, around Antarctic Continent, Cape Horn, Equator.

e. North Atlantic Ushant start to Equator. (for Round the World attempts starting at Ushant.)

The following rules apply for record claims on the above 5 routes:
WSSR rule 19 c. Rules 32 a. b. f. g. h. i. and j. The base station should poll the boat's position just before and just after crossing the meridian or latitude.

Interpretation. Intermediate Records can only be claimed from within a RTW attempt, although this need not be either successful or completed. Stand alone attempts are not permitted.

26.4. 24 HOUR RECORDS.

The elapsed time between two relevant readings shall be 24 hours or less. The 24 hour period may begin at any time recorded by the tracker on board. For a distance to be ratified as a record it must be at least one NM greater than the previously ratified record.

Interpretation. Any individual attempt on a 24 hour World Record is required to follow the same procedures as they would for an attempt on any of the passage records. The above procedures are modified in two instances:

1. A yacht correctly registered for an offshore course attempt is automatically also registered for a 24 hour attempt during that specific voyage.

2. A yacht competing in an organised race of sufficient standing may make a 24 hour claim provided that the organising body makes available the necessary data from the race tracking system.

 

27. FEES The skipper or organization wishing to make an attempt on a record is responsible for the costs of observing and ratifying it.

(a) (Other than for the 24 hour and Intermediate records) all fees to be expressed in GBP and shall be settled before the start.
(b) The ratification fee shall be included in the application fee which is non-returnable, and will be returned if the attempt is unsuccessful/abandoned - provided sufficient notice was given so that the duties of the Commissioner at the finish would not be required - or time expired (see rule 23 above).
The fee shall be GBP 1927.00 The ratification portion of this is GBP 650.00.
(c) A vessel having started an attempt under the WSSR rules but which returns for a re-start shall be subject to an additional 50% re-start fee (currently GBP 959.00). The calling of a Commissioner to the start line or to make an inspection, but the yacht not starting at that time is similar to a re-start and incurs a 50% fee.
(d) Record claims under the provisions of rules 26.3 and 26.4 shall be accompanied by the ratification fee (currently GBP 650.00) 

28. EXPENSES
The person or organization making the record attempt is responsible for the legitimate expenses and remuneration of the WSSR Commissioner and any assistants. This must be paid before any record claim can be considered.

29. RATIFICATION
Pending the official ratification of a record by WSSRC, the skipper, builder, sponsor or other interested parties shall not cause a record to be published or circulated without the words 'subject to official ratification by WSSRC.'

 

The following documents are to be submitted to WSSRC.

a. A statement by the skipper giving details of the vessel, the crew and the course followed. This must include a declaration that these rules have been followed, signed by the skipper and at least one other member of the crew (unless singlehanded).
b. A report by the WSSR Commissioner giving details of the timing and verifying the accuracy of all observations.

30. CERTIFICATES
Offshore record certificates and Performance certificates, WSSRC awards an inscribed and signed certificate to each skipper. At extra cost, copies can be made available for crew.

Performance certificates. To meet the demand for ratifying performances over non world record routes or non record categories, the WSSRC has established the performance certificate. A yacht posting the initial "benchmark" time on a new route or in a category where there is no existing record will be awarded a Performance Certificate in recognition of the achievement. The conditions for this are similar to the world record, as the mechanics of authentication have to meet the same criteria.

31. INTERPRETATION
In case of any dispute over any of these rules, the decision of WSSRC is final.

APPENDIX. UNMANNED RECORDS.

1. The WSSRC will authenticate unmanned records and performance certificates. Unmanned records will be in an entirely separate category from manned records and are not eligible for outright records.

2. WSSRC rules apply with the following additions and exceptions:

a. All unmanned records and performances will fall under “powered sailing systems 21c”.

b. 21e will be replaced as follows for unmanned records and performances.

A vessel may not receive any kind of outside assistance whatever except for communications as described under Unmanned.1. and Unmanned.2. below. A vessel may not take on board any supplies, materials or equipment during an attempt. No repairs may be made during a record or performance attempt by any person or machine.

c. 21h is deleted for unmanned records and performances. Unmanned records and performances will fall under one of the two following new unmanned categories:

Unmanned 1. Unlimited two-way communications: In this category there is no limit on the amount, content, or use of two-way communications to and from the vessel.

Unmanned 2. One-way communications, monitoring only: In this category, only one way communications from the vessel are permitted, for monitoring only. The vessel may, however, receive radio transmissions that are publically available in its vicinity, such as AIS transmissions from nearby vessels and public radio broadcasts. It is understood that as part of the transmission of monitoring data from the vessel, certain network ack/nak and other protocol transmissions may be received by the communications system on the vessel, but there must be zero message content communicated to the vessel for records and performances under category Unmanned 2.

d. All unmanned record and performance attempts must carry a WSSRC black box, properly mounted so that the black box can receive GPS signals and is protected from water. The vessel must supply power to the black box for the duration of the voyage.