Rule J2: SAILING INSTRUCTION CONTENTS

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.

SAILING INSTRUCTION CONTENTS

J2.1:

Unless included in the notice of race, the sailing instructions shall include the following:

(1) the information in rules J1.3(1), (2) and (5) and, when applicable, rules J1.3(6), (7), (8), (9) and (10);
(2) the schedule of races and the times of warning signals for each class;
(3) a complete description of the course(s) to be sailed, or a list of marks from which the course will be selected and, if relevant, how courses will be signalled and any change to the direction in which boats are required to cross the finishing line to finish;
(4) descriptions of marks, including starting and finishing marks, stating the order in which marks are to be passed and the side on which each is to be left and identifying all rounding marks (see the definition Sail the Course);
(5) descriptions of the starting and finishing lines, class flags and any special signals to be used;
(6) the race time limit, if any, for the first boat to sail the course (see rule 35);
(7) location(s) of official notice board(s) or address of online notice board; location of the race office.

J2.2:

Unless included in the notice of race, the sailing instructions shall include those of the following that will apply:

(1) whether Appendix P will apply;
(2) when appropriate, at an event where entries from other countries are expected, a copy in English of the national prescriptions that will apply;
(3) procedure for changing the sailing instructions;
(4) procedure for giving oral changes to the sailing instructions on the water (see rule 90.2(c));
(5) safety requirements, such as requirements and signals for personal flotation devices, check-in at the starting area, and check-out and check-in ashore;
(6) signals to be made ashore and location of signal station(s);
(7) restrictions controlling changes to boats when supplied by the organizing authority;
(8) when and under what circumstances propulsion is permitted under rule 42.3(i);
(9) restrictions on use of support person vessels, plastic pools, radios, etc.; on trash disposal; on hauling out; and on outside assistance provided to a boat that is not racing;
(10) the racing area (a chart is recommended);
(11) location of the starting area and any restrictions on entering it;
(12) any special procedures or signals for individual or general recall;
(13) approximate course length and approximate length of windward legs;
(14) any special procedures or signals for changing a leg of the course (see rule 33);
(15) description of any object, area or line designated by a rule to be an obstruction (see the definition Obstruction), and any restriction on entering such an area or crossing such a line;
(16) boats identifying mark locations;
(17) any special procedures for shortening the course or for finishing a shortened course;
(18) the time limit, if any, for boats other than the first boat to finish and any other time limits or target times that apply while boats are racing;
(19) declaration requirements;
(20) time allowances;
(21) time limits, place of hearings, and special procedures for protests, requests for redress or requests for reopening;
(22) the national authority’s approval of the appointment of an international jury, when required under rule 91(b);
(23) the time limit for requesting a hearing under rule N1.4(b), if not 30 minutes;
(24) when required by rule 70.4, the national authority to which appeals and requests are required to be sent;
(25) substitution of competitors;
(26) the minimum number of boats appearing in the starting area required for a race to be started;
(27) when and where races postponed or abandoned for the day will be sailed;
(28) tides and currents;
(29) other commitments of the race committee and obligations of boats.

Definitions in Context

Abandon

A race that a race committee or protest committee abandons is void but may be resailed.

Finish

A boat finishes when, after her starting signal, any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side. However, she has not finished if after crossing the finishing line she

(a) takes a penalty under rule 44.2,
(b) corrects an error in sailing the course made at the line, or
(c) continues to sail the course.

After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely. The sailing instructions may change the direction in which boats are required to cross the finishing line to finish.

Leeward and Windward

A boat’s leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side. When two boats on the same tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat.

Mark

An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, a race committee vessel surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends, and an object intentionally attached to the object or vessel. However, an anchor line is not part of the mark.

Obstruction

An obstruction is

(a) an object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing directly towards it and one of her hull lengths from it;
(b) an object that can be safely passed on only one side; or
(c) an object, area or line that is so designated in a rule.

However, a boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her or, if rule 22 applies, avoid her.

Postpone

A postponed race is delayed before its scheduled start but may be started or abandoned later.

Protest

An allegation made under rule 60 by a boat or a committee that a boat has broken a rule.

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.

Sail the Course

A boat sails the course when

(a) she starts;
(b) a string representing her track until she finishes, when drawn taut,
- (1) passes each mark of the course for the race on the required side and in the correct order (including the starting marks),
- (2) touches each mark designated in the sailing instructions to be a rounding mark, and
- (3) passes between the marks of a gate from the direction of the course from the previous mark; and then
(c) she finishes.

A mark that does not begin, bound or end the leg the boat is sailing does not have a required side.

Start

A boat starts when, her hull having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull crosses the starting line from the pre-start side to the course side.

Support Person

Any person who

(a) provides, or may provide, physical or advisory support to a competitor, including any coach, trainer, manager, team staff, medic, paramedic or any other person working with, treating or assisting a competitor in or preparing for the competition, or
(b) is the parent or guardian of a competitor.