The Official
Website of the
International
Sailing Federation

These sail lofts produce sails for not only a large number of the ISAF classes who invoke IHC in their class rules, but also for yachts racing under the IRC rating system. From January 1 2011 the IRC rating system now requires sailmakers submitting sail data for an IRC Endorsed certificate for British owned boats, to be a licensed manufacturer under the ISAF In-House Certification scheme.

Pinnell and Bax Sails, who are based in Northampton in the UK and produce sails for a wide range of ISAF Classes, has become the latest sail loft to join the ISAF IHC scheme. Following the successful audit at the end of November 2010, P&B now join the growing list of sailmakers signed up to the ISAF In-House certification scheme.

With an increasing number of ISAF Classes realising the benefit of adopting In-House Certification, the ISAF IHC scheme continues to grow. Any ISAF Classes wishing to utilise the ISAF IHC scheme for certification of sails are urged to contact the ISAF Technical Department.

Non-Compliance Reporting.
If there are any issues of non-compliance with class rules found with equipment carrying an ISAF IHC sticker, please report this to the ISAF Technical Department in the first instance using this form. Issues of non-compliance continue to remain low; however without classes and event juries/event organisers reporting back to ISAF, any issues that do arise may go un-noticed and unresolved. Each sticker is uniquely numbered and can be traced back to the place of manufacture.

How It Works
In-House Certification (IHC) centres around a Certification System allowing the manufacturer to self-certify the equipment they produce at the point of manufacture - but only once their have met a designated standard. Each nation or region has an IHC Authorizing Authority (AA) approved by ISAF (normally the MNA), which approves, contracts and audits manufacturers with Certification Systems. Classes involved in the IHC scheme ensure their class rules are suitable for IHC and assist the development of control methods.

Get Involved!
Classes wishing to be involved in the Programme will need to ensure that their class rules and other equipment controls lend themselves to IHC. The most positive way to achieve this is by the application of the ISAF standards for class rules (SCR) and the Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS).

Any class association wishing to become involved in the ISAF In-House Certification Scheme should read Section 8 of the Criteria and Responsibilities document before contacting the ISAF Technical Department for further information

MNAs and manufacturers wishing to become involved or find out more about the ISAF In-House Certification scheme should also contact the ISAF Technical Department , visit the ISAF IHC microsite or check out the ISAF IHC Facebook page for further details.