Racing Rules of Sailing

Section J — Notice Of Race And Sailing Instructions

See rules 89.2 and 90.2. In this appendix, the term ‘event’ includes a race or series of races.

A rule in the notice of race need not be repeated in the sailing instructions.

Care should be taken to ensure that there is no conflict between rules in the notice of race, the sailing instructions or any other document that governs the event.

J1.2

The notice of race shall include any of the following that will apply:

(1) times or procedures for equipment inspection or event measurement, or requirements for measurement or rating certificates;
(2) changes to the racing rules authorized by World Sailing under rule 86.2, referring specifically to each rule and stating the change (also include the statement from World Sailing authorizing the change);
(3) changes to class rules, as permitted under rule 87, referring specifically to each rule and stating the change;
(4) categorization or classification requirements that some or all competitors must satisfy;
(a) for sailor categorization (see rule 79 and the World Sailing Sailor Categorization Code), or
(b) for functional classification for Para World Sailing events (see World Sailing Para Classification Rules);
(5) that boats will be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the organizing authority (see rule 6 and the World Sailing Advertising Code) and other information related to advertising;
(6) that rule 90.3(e) will apply, and any change in the ‘24 hours’ time limit in that rule;
(7) when entries from other countries are expected, any national prescriptions that may require advance preparation (see rule 88);
(8) prescriptions that will apply if boats will pass through the waters of more than one national authority while racing, and when they will apply (see rule 88.1);
(9) alternative communication required in place of hails under rule 20 (see rule 20.4(b));
(10) any change in the weight limit for a competitor’s clothing and equipment permitted by rule 50.1(b);
(11) any requirements necessary for compliance with data protection legislation that applies in the venue of the event;
(12) an entry form, to be signed by the boat’s owner or owner’s representative, containing words such as ‘I agree to be bound by The Racing Rules of Sailing and by all other rules that govern this event.’;
(13) replacement of the rules of Part 2 with the right-of-way rules of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea or other government right-of-way rules, the time(s) or place(s) they will apply, and any night signals to be used by the race committee.

Definitions in Context

Racing

A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks or retires, or until the race committee signals a general recall, postponement or abandonment.

Rule

(a) The rules in this book, including the Definitions, Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and the rules of relevant appendices, but not the Basic Principles or titles;
(b) World Sailing Regulations that have been designated by World Sailing as having the status of a rule and are published on the World Sailing website;
(c) the prescriptions of the national authority, unless they are changed by the notice of race or sailing instructions in compliance with the national authority’s prescription, if any, to rule 88.2;
(d) the class rules (for a boat racing under a handicap or rating system, the rules of that system are ‘class rules’);
(e) the notice of race;
(f) the sailing instructions; and
(g) any other documents that govern the event.