The Senior National Equipment Auditor Sub-Committee sought clarification on how Equipment Auditors deal with conflicts of interest.

The National Safety Committee adopted the following policy:

An Equipment Auditor shall not audit any part of a boat owned, designed or built by themselves, or that they provide equipment or services to, or crews on, or in which they are an interested party, or have a vested interest, except where permitted by Australian Sailing.

Reasons
1.    As a general principle Equipment Auditors should not audit boats with which a reasonable person may perceive a conflict of interest. 
2.    The various forms of conflict of interest are described, and the position that Equipment Auditors may not audit that boat is clearly articulated.
3.    An Equipment Auditor may be exempted from this restriction with permission from Australian Sailing at its discretion.
4.    Guidance is taken from the Equipment Rules of Sailing H1.1.1 which places the same restrictions on Measurers.