The CA's Regulatory & Technical Services group (RATS) will be holding their fourth annual seminar to provide an update on current topics of interest to cruising sailors. The presentation will be a series of short (5 to 15 minute) presentations. The current list of topics is below. This event, which you can attend live at CA House or watch via Zoom, is open to all.
Topics will include the following:
Orca
The continuing interaction with orca off the coasts of Portugal and Spain and current thinking on avoidance tactics.
HVO and Sustainability
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil could offer a simple, drop-in replacement for fossil fuel derived diesel to reduce cruising sailors’ environmental footprint. What are the arguments for and against this approach and what are the current regulatory and fiscal impediments?
EU Visas and Permits
The 90 in 180-day rule that now applies to UK citizens visiting Schengen countries has curtailed cruising plans with some cruisers contemplating giving up sailing altogether. There have been some positive developments in Sweden and France with permits and visas being available under certain circumstances. There are also political rumblings in France, Spain and Italy that may improve the situation.
CE/UKCA and RCD
What is the latest position on conformity marking of vessels being brought into service from outside the UK and outside the EU? Has the problem gone away with the recent decision by the UK Government to accept CE marking?
RATS Technical Projects
An overview of other issues RATS is reviewing, including sustainability, emissions, autonomous marine radio devices (man overboard beacons), artificial nesting sites, wind farms, rocket launch sites and marine protected areas.
The seminar will last about an hour and with time for questions afterwards.
Please note: lectures can be watched live online but we do not generally make recordings available after the event, for a number of reasons relating to time and copyright issues.
Date: Thursday 21 March 2024
Time: 19:00
Place: CA House or, for the webinar broadcast via Zoom, your own home or boat
Tickets (to attend at CA House or to watch via Zoom): Members free, non-members £7.
Booking (to attend at CA House): To book a place and to indicate whether you’ll be ordering food, click on [Book venue]. If applicable, please pay in advance on the website. Any problems with the booking system, call or email Mandie on 020 7537 2828/reception@theca.org.uk
Booking (CA members - to join the webinar via Zoom): The webinar broadcast is free for members, including Crewing Service members. You will need to login to see the details below to register in advance to join the webinar.
If you would like to join the webinar broadcast, please [Register via Zoom here]. There will be no charge to members for viewing online.
Booking (Non-members - to join the webinar via Zoom): You will need to [Book online here]. You will receive confirmation of your order after placing it which will include the link to join via Zoom on the night of the event. Please check your junk/spam folder if you do not see it in your Inbox.
About RATS
The Regulatory & Technical Services group (RATS) is an executive committee of the Cruising Association (CA) made up of CA volunteers.
RATS work on behalf of cruising sailors to represent their interests and address issues of concern or interest on regulatory and technical aspects of small boat cruising as they arise.
To do this they research topics and issues and follow political trends. They interact with international, national, parliamentary, trade, special interest and local bodies. Often these bodies seek RATS’ help, advice and comments and consult with them on matters which involve navigation and the cruising boat user. RATS also produce policy papers and technical questionnaires, write articles for CA member-only magazine Cruising and develop material for the CA website.