Should the 2016 software should be used when ownership of a boat first certified to the previous class rule changes?

No. The software for certification under the previous class rules should be used. Change of ownership causes the certificate to become invalid but it does not cause the boat to cease to comply with the class rules. A new certificate, to the previous class rules, shall be issued.

It is not possible to produce a certificate to the new class rules in the case of change of ownership because many measurements taken and used under the 2016 class rules are different to those used for the previous class rules.

A.12 HULL RE-CERTIFICATION

A.12.1 A hull may be issued with a new certificate, showing dates of re-certification and initial certification as applicable:

(a) when a certificate becomes invalid upon change of ownership

by application of the new owner to the certification authority in the country where the hull is to be registered. The application shall include the old certificate and re-certification fee if required. In the case of an imported hull the certification authority shall request the measurement form(s) from the previous certification authority and a new hull registration number shall be issued,.

In this case there is no requirement to apply the procedure in A.9 (which describes how a hull is certified). Use of the software for certification under the previous class rules should be used.