As announced on the Australian Sailing website, from 1 January 2022 all crew in any race will be required to be a member of an affiliated club and registered with Australian Sailing. Australian Sailing has received many enquiries, and as a result has prepared the following to address the frequently asked questions.

1.    What are the reasons for doing this?
There are two key drivers for this change, being the safety of those participating in races and helping clubs grow their membership bases. 

Several recent reports into the strengths and future of sports (including sailing) highlighted two key outcomes. One is that people are now much less likely to want to join a club in the traditional way of annual membership, meaning clubs must develop alternative and more adaptable membership offerings to cater to those needs. Clubs using this approach have brought in hundreds of people as introductory or short-term members; people who were trying sailing at their club or visiting on a casual basis without becoming members.

The second was the increased impetus of participants on safety in sport. Sailing clubs have a duty of care for all participants in every race they run. For clubs to not have the details of the participants competing in an organised competition is contrary to that duty of care, so through the registration of participants as members (introductory or full) clubs can capture the vital details they need should an emergency arise. 

2.    What is the difference between the current rule and the change after 1 January 2022?
Not a lot. Instead of requiring a crew to be a member of an affiliated club after three races, it is now for any race. The ultimate outcome of converting people racing into members of a club remains unchanged.

3.    I just want to go for a fun sail or cruise with my family or friends. Will this affect me?
No, this rule change only applies to crew members aboard during racing.

4.    I am already a member at an affiliated club. Will this affect me?
No, the change only applies to those not a member of an Australian Sailing affiliated club.

5.    Will all my crew, no matter how infrequently they sail have to become a full member of a club?
Not necessarily, but this depends on the club taking up flexible membership options to provide for them. Australian Sailing has developed SailPass to provide for this. You can read more about SailPass here.

6.    What is SailPass?
SailPass is a form of introductory or short-term club membership, which has been developed in part to ensure there is a way for non-members or casual sailors to go racing at your club when the rule changes are implemented on January 1, 2022. Registering for a SailPass is easy, and clubs can set the price on how much they charge for a daily SailPass. See the Australian Sailing website for more information.

7.    Won’t the changes to Rule 46 be detrimental to bringing new people to the sport?
No. With the introduction of SailPass, there is now an easy and convenient way to ensure all casual racers are registered both with the club and Australian Sailing. Through the registration of their details when they register for a SailPass, they will also be connecting themselves with the club and the sport, giving the club the opportunity to communicate with those individuals about their experience and the benefits of becoming a full member of the club after the race. SailPass also breaks down some of the perceived barriers to sailing, in that membership of a club is expensive, membership is inaccessible and can be unsafe.

8.    Can I still invite a friend or guest on board to do any racing/club event even a Twilight?
Yes. All this means is that your guest will need to register for a SailPass prior to racing with you. All clubs will manage the SailPass registration process differently, in some cases your guests will be able to do it on their phone in the cockpit of your boat. 

9.    We’re a volunteer club. Will this extra administration overload us?
No. Your club will already be addressing this for the people who join after their three races. The process is becoming easier by using SailPass. Once set up on the club’s website it is the participant themselves who enter their details into SailPass and they automatically appear as a member of your club and are registered with Australian Sailing. 

10.    Will my guest have to be a member of the club we’re sailing at?
Our prescription to rule 46 doesn’t require that now nor will it require that after 1 January 2022. However, the club may require that to be the case. If a club chooses to ask that they will make it a requirement in the race documents. This is a reasonable thing for a club to consider as it is their infrastructure and operational investments that are making the race available to you.

11.    Will my club charge a fee and is Australian Sailing taxing that? 
There is no money being forwarded on to Australian Sailing. Different clubs are taking different approaches to this. Some are providing free races, others charging a fee the amount of which also varies. This is a reasonable thing for a club to consider as if a person participates in racing, they should contribute to the club’s costs, infrastructure, etc. It leads to stronger clubs and a stronger sport.

12.    How much does a SailPass cost and how long is it valid for?
The SailPass system allows a club to set their own price for a SailPass. It could be up x races (there is no maximum), or a window of time, at any cost (it could be free) and when registering the participant, that person becomes a member. Australian Sailing does not mandate the pricing structure charged to the participants by affiliated clubs for a SailPass.

13.    What is the benefit of SailPass?
SailPass is an initiative driven by the clubs to provide an introductory or day membership option for racing and club events. By signing up to SailPass the club will know who is on your boat and who their Emergency Contact is in case of an incident afloat. The SailPass member is also covered under Australian Sailing personal accident insurance policy

14.    How does my guest/friend get hold of a SailPass?
Your club can set up SailPass in a number of ways, they may have it available at reception, as a link on their website, and it could even be a QR code provided to each yacht owner that takes you to the club’s SailPass registration page.

15.    How does my club get on board with SailPass?
Visit the Australian Sailing website or contact your local Regional Manager (https://www.sailing.org.au/about/ourstaff/).

16.    Will my club’s affiliation fees increase if we start signing up people under SailPass and register them?
No. Australian Sailing’s affiliation fees aren’t based on an individual capitation model, so we do not receive any financial benefit incremental club membership growth.