Who signs off a Category 1 audit, and how often is it needed?
A Category 1 equipment audit is signed by two people: the boat’s Person in Charge and an accredited Australian Sailing National Equipment Auditor (NEA). Both tick or initial the items on the official form.
The audit is valid for 12 months from the date of audit, and Australian Sailing forms expire annually on 30 June. Audits are also subject to spot checks under the Special Regulations, and a boat cannot compete without a current audit on file with its club.
Before the inspection you’ll generally need to provide your Australian Sailing number and your vessel registration, and have the boat ready with every listed item aboard and in date.
The Purser works from the current AS form and your boat’s own records, so it can tell you the audit date, the 30 June expiry, and which items will lapse first (EPIRB, flares, liferaft) before the auditor does.
General information for Australian operators, current as of 2026-05-30. Rules change and recreational rules vary by state. Always confirm against the source(s) linked above (your AMSA, Australian Sailing or state maritime authority). This is not legal advice.