Pointers for a successful Equipment Audit

Green Book and Blue Book Equipment Audits
        RPAYC has a relatively small band of equipment auditors accredited by Yachting NSW.  These volunteers recognise that undertaking an audit is just as much an education process involving the auditor and the owner as it is an auditing process.
        "Education" in this context is defined in terms of a two-way process involving the exchange of useful advice on safety related topics and, from time to time, recommendations on how the operation, location and type of safety equipment might be improved. 
        A necessary pre-requisite to any audit is the owner's self-audit of the equipment on his or her boat.  This self-audit involves going through the checklist for the category of audit sought and ticking off the items as being compliant with the requirements of the Green or Blue Book as the case may be.  This usually takes an hour or two and longer if you are a first-timer.
        After you've sorted out companion-way securing arrangements, the man overboard recovery system, jackstays, PFD crotch straps, whistles and retro tape, tethers and harnesses, fuel and battery systems, secured the second anchor and its chain cable and secured other heavy equipment items, and generally stowed the boat for sea there area few other items that need attention.
        These items include checking that expiry dates for medical kit items have not been exceeded, that all flares are in-date, arranging for fire extinguishers to be serviced, visually checking all PFDs for wear and tear and testing the inflatables, ensuring that spare torch batteries and lamps are available, that the emergency nav lights work and the list goes on.....
        Auditors are usually tightly scheduled and the time for an audit is based on the category of audit and the expectation that all gear required has been previously checked by the owner, the audit form has been signed by the owner prior to the start of the audit, and that all portable equipment is laid out for inspection either on deck or in the saloon. 
       You shouldn't expect an auditor to undertake an audit if you haven't done your preliminary self-audit!  Similarly, if you can't attend a previously arranged audit appointment please let Reception or the Yachting Office know as early as possible - auditors are volunteers - they would rather be sailing than waiting around for a no-show.
        If you are a first-timer, as far as audit is concerned, it's suggested you arrange a pre-audit meeting through the Yachting Office so that an auditor can mentor you through the process of getting your boat prepared and ready for audit. This can save a lot of your time, reduce uncertainty regarding interpretation of the requirements, and hopefully reduce the costs associated with complying with the requirements.
        An organised owner, a well prepared boat and no corrective actions post-audit is an ideal outcome for all concerned.