Structural Design of High Performance Composite Sailing Yachts under the New BS EN ISO 12215-5

The forthcoming publication of the revised BS EN ISO 12215-5 is set to transform the structural design of most small crafts for the next decade, with the implementation of significant changes to the scope and underpinning theory, such as an applicability extended up to 24 m Load Line, and the use of finite element methods as part of the compliance assessment process. This paper represents the first public release of the major changes and novelty in the standard, with a strong emphasis on high performance composite sailing yachts. The aim is to provide designers and builders with an insight into the technical background and practical applications of the new regulation for structural optimization, and how the marine industry will be impacted.