Differentiate between navigation and design
We have all heard of design category, or sailing category. We have seen these notions on the regulatory plates affixed to our boats, which define the load and the number of people acceptable on board. But in concrete terms, it is often a bit vague for the boater, with confusion in the terms.
Design category and navigation category refer to 2 different standards. Prior to 1998, new boats were assigned a sailing category. Since that date, we refer to design categories for new boats. Beyond administrative criteria, the difference is not negligible. How do I know which one applies to my boat?
A rule that depends on the age of the boat
To find out, you should look at your certificate of registry. No equivalence has been established between navigation and design category. If the boat was placed on the European market before 1998, it was assigned a navigation category. If the vessel, even if built before 1998, was placed on the European market after this date, it has a design category.
Distance to a shelter or weather criteria?
The design categories used today are based on the weather conditions that the boat can face. Depending on the wind strength and wave height, the standards establish criteria for the shipyard and the naval architect to verify in order to ensure the safety of the yachtsman by defining stress constraints for the boat's structure and stability to prevent it from capsizing. These are independent of the navigation area.
There are 4 categories, A, B, C and D:
- A: Wind up to force 9 Euros Sea up to 10 meters
- B: Wind up to 8 knots Sea up to 8 meters
- C: Wind up to 6 knots Sea up to 4 meters
- D : Wind up to force 4 Sea up to 0,5 mètres
The old navigation categories referred to the distance to a shelter, with 6 categories. If in practice, the requirements were translated for the designer into efforts and stability criteria corresponding to an acceptable weather situation, a boat limited to 2 miles from a shelter, could in theory go out in a storm.
There were 6 categories:
- Category 1: No limit
- Category 2: 200 miles maximum from a shelter
- Category 3: 60 miles maximum from a shelter
- Category 4 20 miles maximum from a shelter
- Category 5: 5 miles maximum from a shelter
- Category 6 : 2 miles maximum from a shelter
Can I navigate?
To answer the only real question: can I sail? First, we will check the distance to a shelter. For a boat built before 1998, we will check the category and whatever its age, that we have the appropriate security armament .
We will then check the weather and the forecast. For recent boats, the criteria of the design categories must be respected.
Last but not least, we will call upon our sense of seamanship, to navigate in accordance with our capacities, those of our boat and our crew!
