A1: Number of Races
The number of races scheduled and the number required to be scored to constitute a series shall be stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions; see rule 90.3(a).
See rule 90.3.
The number of races scheduled and the number required to be scored to constitute a series shall be stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions; see rule 90.3(a).
Each boat’s series score shall, subject to rule 90.3(b), be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score. However, the notice of race or sailing instructions may make a different arrangement by providing, for example, that no score will be excluded, that two or more scores will be excluded, or that a specified number of scores will be excluded if a specified number of races are scored; see rule 90.3(a). If a boat has two or more equal worst scores, the score(s) for the race(s) sailed earliest in the series shall be excluded. The boat with the lowest series score wins and others shall be ranked accordingly.
If a boat has entered any race in a series, she shall be scored for the whole series.
The time of a boat’s starting signal shall be her starting time, and the order in which boats finish a race shall determine their finishing places. However, when a handicap or rating system is used a boat’s corrected time shall determine her finishing place.
This Low Point System will apply unless the notice of race or sailing instructions specify another system; see rule 90.3(a).
Each boat finishing and not thereafter retiring, being penalized or given redress shall be scored points as follows:
| Finishing place | Points |
|---|---|
| First | 1 |
| Second | 2 |
| Third | 3 |
| Fourth | 4 |
| Fifth | 5 |
| Sixth | 6 |
| Seventh | 7 |
| Each place thereafter | Add 1 point |
When a race committee determines that a boat:
A boat that did not sail the course, retired or was disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series. A boat that is penalized under rule 30.2 or that takes a penalty under rule 44.3(a) shall be scored points as provided in rule 44.3(c).
If the notice of race or sailing instructions state that rule A5.3 will apply, rule A5.2 is changed so that a boat that came to the starting area but did not sail the course, retired or was disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats that came to the starting area, and a boat that did not come to the starting area shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series.
If a boat is disqualified from a race, or retires after finishing, or is scored Did not sail the course, each boat with a worse finishing place shall be moved up one place.
If the protest committee decides to give redress by adjusting a boat’s score, the scores of other boats shall not be changed unless the protest committee decides otherwise.
If boats are tied at the finishing line or if a handicap or rating system is used and boats have equal corrected times, the points for the place for which the boats have tied and for the place(s) immediately below shall be added together and divided equally. Boats tied for a race prize shall share it or be given equal prizes.
If there is a series-score tie between two or more boats, each boat’s race scores shall be listed in order of best to worst, and at the first point(s) where there is a difference the tie shall be broken in favour of the boat(s) with the best score(s). No excluded scores shall be used.
If a tie remains between two or more boats, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in the last race. Any remaining ties shall be broken by using the tied boats’ scores in the next-to-last race and so on until all ties are broken. These scores shall be used even if some of them are excluded scores.
If the protest committee decides to give redress by adjusting a boat’s score for a race, it is advised to consider scoring her
These scoring abbreviations shall be used for recording the circumstances described:
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DNC | Did not start; did not come to the starting area |
| DNS | Did not start (other than DNC and OCS) |
| OCS | Did not start; on the course side of the starting line at her starting signal and failed to start, or broke rule 30.1 |
| ZFP | 20% penalty under rule 30.2 |
| UFD | Disqualification under rule 30.3 |
| BFD | Disqualification under rule 30.4 |
| SCP | Scoring Penalty imposed |
| NSC | Did not sail the course (other than DNC, DNS, OCS and DNF) |
| DNF | Did not finish |
| RET | Retired |
| DSQ | Disqualification |
| DNE | Disqualification that is not excludable |
| RDG | Redress given |
| DPI | Discretionary penalty imposed |
Windsurfing fleet races (including marathon races) shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix. The term ‘boat’ elsewhere in the rules means ‘board’ or ‘boat’ as appropriate. A marathon race is a race intended to last more than one hour.
Note: Links to windsurfing rules for some other formats or competitions can be found on the World Sailing website.
[No changes.]
Rule 13 is changed to:
After a board passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boards until her sail has filled. During that time rules 10, 11 and 12 do not apply. If two boards are subject to this rule at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear.
Rule 16.1 is changed to:
When a right-of-way board changes course or the position of her equipment, she shall give the other board room to keep clear.
Rule 17 is changed to:
When, at the warning signal, the course to the first mark is approximately ninety degrees from the true wind, a board overlapped to leeward of another board on the same tack during the last 30 seconds before her starting signal shall not sail above her shortest course through the starting line to the first mark while they remain overlapped if as a result the other board would need to take action to avoid contact, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other board.
The first sentence of rule 18.1(a) is changed to:
Rule 18 applies between boards when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is rounding or passing it.
Rule 18.2(a) is changed to:
When a board is required to give mark-room by rule 18.2(a), she shall continue to do so for as long as this rule applies, even if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins.
Rule 18.2(b) is changed to:
Rule 18.3 is deleted.
Rule 18.4 is changed to:
When an inside overlapped right-of-way board must gybe or bear away at a mark to sail her proper course, until she gybes or bears away she shall sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail that course. Rule 18.4 does not apply at a gate mark.
Rule 26 is changed to:
26.1 System 1 (for Upwind Starts)
Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.
| Minutes before starting signal | Visual signal | Sound signal | Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5* | Class flag | One | Warning signal |
| 4 | P, I, U, or black flag | One | Preparatory signal |
| 1 | Preparatory flag removed | One long | One minute |
| 0 | Class flag removed | One | Starting signal |
*or as stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions
The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class.
26.2 System 2 (for Reaching Starts)
Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.
| Minutes before starting signal | Visual signal | Sound signal | Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Class flag | Attention signal | |
| 2 | Red flag; attention signal removed | One | Warning signal |
| 1 | Yellow flag; red flag removed | One | Preparatory signal |
| ½ | Yellow flag removed | 30 seconds | |
| 0 | Green flag | One | Starting signal |
26.3 System 3 (for Beach Starts)
Rule 30.2 is deleted.
Rule 42 is changed to:
A board shall be propelled only by the action of the wind on the sail and by the action of the water on the hull or its appendages. However, pumping and fanning the sail is permitted. The board shall not be propelled by paddling, swimming or walking.
Rule 44 is changed to:
44.1 Taking a Penalty
A board may take a 360°-Turn Penalty when she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 in an incident while racing. Alternatively, the notice of race or sailing instructions may specify the use of some other penalty, in which case the specified penalty shall replace the 360°-Turn Penalty. However, if the board caused injury or serious damage or, despite taking a penalty, gained a significant advantage in the race or series by her breach, her penalty shall be to retire.
44.2 360°-Turn Penalty
After getting well clear of other boards as soon after the incident as possible, a board takes a 360°-Turn Penalty by promptly making a 360° turn with no requirement for a tack or a gybe. When a board takes the penalty at or near the finishing line, her hull shall be completely on the course side of the line before she finishes.
Rule 50.1(a) is changed to:
Rule 60.2(a)(1) is changed to:
Add to rule 60.3(a):
This rule does not apply to a race in an elimination series that will qualify a board to compete in a later stage of an event.
In rule 60.4(a)(2), delete ‘or did not see’.
In rule 61.4(b)(2) and 61.4(b)(3), change ‘injury or physical damage’ to ‘injury, physical damage or capsize’.
Add to rule 63.4:
However, for an elimination series race that will qualify a board to compete in a later stage of an event, protests and requests for redress need not be in writing; they shall be made orally to a member of the protest committee as soon as reasonably possible following the race. The protest committee may take evidence in any way it considers appropriate and may communicate its decision orally.
Rule 63.5(d) is changed to:
Add to rule 63.6(b):
This rule does not apply to a race in an elimination series that will qualify a board to compete in a later stage of an event.
Rule 70.3(b) is changed to:
Add new rule 70.3(e):
Add to rule 78.1: ‘When so prescribed by World Sailing, a numbered and dated device on a board and her centreboard, fin and rig shall serve as her measurement certificate.’
The last sentence of rule 90.2(c) is changed to: ‘Oral instructions may be given only if the procedure is stated in the sailing instructions.’
Rule A1 is changed to:
The number of races scheduled and the number required to be scored to constitute a series shall be stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions; see rule 90.3(a). If an event includes more than one discipline or format, the notice of race or sailing instructions shall state how the overall scores are to be calculated.
Rule A2.1 is changed to:
Each board’s series score shall, subject to rule 90.3(b), be the total of her race scores excluding her
However, the notice of race or sailing instructions may make a different arrangement. If a board has two or more equal worst scores, the score(s) for the race(s) sailed earliest in the series shall be excluded. The board with the lowest series score wins and others shall be ranked accordingly.
Add new rule A5.4:
A5.4 For an elimination series race that will qualify a board to compete in a later stage of an event, a board that did not sail the course, retired or was disqualified shall be scored points equal to the number of boards permitted to sail in that race.
Rule A8 is changed to:
A8.1 If there is a series-score tie between two or more boards, each board’s excluded race scores shall be listed in order of best to worst, and at the first point(s) where there is a difference the tie shall be broken in favour of the board(s) with the best excluded race score(s).
A8.2 If a tie remains between two or more boards, each board’s race scores, including excluded scores, shall be listed in order of best to worst, and at the first point(s) where there is a difference the tie shall be broken in favour of the board(s) with the best score(s). These scores shall be used even if some of them are excluded scores.
A8.3 If a tie still remains between two or more boards, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in the last race. Any remaining ties shall be broken by using the tied boards’ scores in the next-to-last race and so on until all ties are broken. These scores shall be used even if some of them are excluded scores.
Rule G1.3 is changed to:
The class insignia shall be displayed once on each side of the sail in the area above a line projected at right angles from a point on the luff of the sail one-third of the distance from the head to the wishbone. The national letters and sail numbers shall be in the central third of that part of the sail above the wishbone, clearly separated from any advertising. They shall be black and applied back to back on an opaque white background. The background shall extend a minimum of 30 mm beyond the characters. There shall be a ‘–’ between the national letters and the sail number, and the spacing between characters shall be adequate for legibility.
Match races shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix. Matches shall be umpired unless the notice of race or sailing instructions state otherwise.
Note: A Standard Notice of Race, Standard Sailing Instructions, and Match Racing Rules for Visually Impaired Sailors are available on the World Sailing website.
‘Competitor’ means the skipper, team or boat as appropriate for the event. ‘Flight’ means two or more matches started in the same starting sequence.
The definition Finish is changed to:
Finish A boat finishes when, after her starting signal, any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side after completing any penalties. However, when penalties are cancelled under rule C7.2(d) after one or both boats have finished each shall be recorded as finished when she crossed the line. A boat has not finished if she continues to sail the course.
Add to the definition Proper Course: ‘A boat taking a penalty or manoeuvring to take a penalty is not sailing a proper course.’
In the definition Zone the distance is changed to two hull lengths.
Add new rule 7 to Part 1:
7 LAST POINT OF CERTAINTY
The umpires will assume that the state of a boat, or her relationship to another boat, has not changed, until they are certain that it has changed.
Rule 13 is changed to:
13 WHILE TACKING OR GYBING
13.1 After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course.
13.2 After the foot of the mainsail of a boat sailing downwind crosses the centreline she shall keep clear of other boats until her mainsail has filled or she is no longer sailing downwind.
13.3 While rule 13.1 or 13.2 applies, rules 10, 11 and 12 do not apply. However, if two boats are subject to rule 13.1 or 13.2 at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear.
Rule 16.2 is changed to:
16.2 In addition, when boats on opposite tacks are sailing to a mark that is to windward of them, the starboard-tack boat shall not bear away to a course that is more than ninety degrees from the true wind and that is below her proper course, if as a result the port-tack boat must change course immediately to continue keeping clear.
Rule 17 is deleted.
Rule 18 is changed to:
18 MARK-ROOM
18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not apply between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it. Rule 18 no longer applies between boats when the boat entitled to mark-room is on the next leg and the mark is astern of her.
18.2 Giving Mark-Room
18.3 Tacking or Gybing
Rule 20.4(a) is changed to:
Rule 21.3 is deleted.
Rule 31 is changed to:
31 TOUCHING A MARK
While racing, neither the crew nor any part of a boat’s hull shall touch a starting mark before starting, a mark that begins, bounds or ends the leg of the course on which she is sailing, or a finishing mark after finishing. In addition, while racing, a boat shall not touch a race committee vessel that is also a mark.
Add new rule 41(e):
Rule 42 shall also apply between the warning and preparatory signals.
Rule 42.2(d) is changed to:
The signals for starting a match shall be as follows. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the failure of a sound signal shall be disregarded. If more than one match will be sailed, the starting signal for one match shall be the warning signal for the next match.
| Time in minutes | Visual signal | Sound signal | Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Flag F displayed | One | Attention signal |
| 6 | Flag F removed | None | |
| 5 | Numeral pennant displayed* | One | Warning signal |
| 4 | Flag P displayed | One | Preparatory signal |
| 2 | Blue or yellow flag or both displayed** | One** | End of pre-start entry time |
| 1 | Flag P removed | One long | |
| 0 | Warning signal removed | One | Starting signal |
*Within a flight, numeral pennant 1 means Match 1, pennant 2 means Match 2, etc., unless the sailing instructions state otherwise.
**These signals shall be made only if one or both boats fail to comply with rule C4.2. The flag(s) shall be displayed until the umpires have signalled a penalty or for one minute, whichever is earlier.
The race signal Blue flag or shape shall not be used.
At a boat’s preparatory signal, her hull shall be completely outside the line that is at a 90º angle to the starting line through the starting mark at her assigned end. In the pairing list, the boat listed on the left-hand side is assigned the port end and shall display a blue flag at her stern while racing. The other boat is assigned the starboard end and shall display a yellow flag at her stern while racing.
Within the two-minute period following a boat’s preparatory signal, her hull shall cross and clear the starting line, the first time from the course side to the pre-start side.
A green and white flag with one long sound means ‘No penalty.’
A blue or yellow flag identifying a boat with one long sound means ‘The identified boat shall take a penalty by complying with rule C7.’
A red flag with or soon after a blue or yellow flag with one long sound means ‘The identified boat shall take a penalty by complying with rule C7.3(d).’
A black flag with a blue or yellow flag and one long sound means ‘The identified boat is disqualified or has retired, and the match is terminated and awarded to the other boat.’
One short sound means ‘A penalty is now completed.’
Repetitive short sounds mean ‘A boat is no longer taking a penalty and the penalty remains.’
A blue or yellow flag or shape displayed from an umpire boat means ‘The identified boat has an outstanding penalty.’
Add new rule N1.10 to Appendix N:
N1.10 In rule N1.1, one International Umpire may be appointed to the jury, or a panel of it, in place of one International Judge.
Rule 44 is deleted.
When the umpires decide that a boat has broken rule 31, 42, C4, C7.3(c) or C7.3(d) she shall be penalized by signalling her under rule C5.2 or C5.3. However, if a boat is penalized for breaking a rule of Part 2 and if she in the same incident breaks rule 31, she shall not be penalized for breaking rule 31. Furthermore, a boat that displays an incorrect flag or does not display the correct flag shall be warned orally and given an opportunity to correct the error before being penalized.
If the umpires or protest committee members decide that a boat may have broken a rule other than those listed in rules C6.1(a) and C6.2, they shall so inform the protest committee for its action under rule 60.1 and rule C6.6 when appropriate.
When the match umpires, together with at least one other umpire, decide that a boat has broken rule 14 and damage resulted, they may impose a points-penalty without a hearing. The competitor shall be informed of the penalty as soon as practicable and, at the time of being so informed, may request a hearing. The protest committee shall then proceed under rule C6.6. Any penalty decided by the protest committee may be more than the penalty imposed by the umpires. When the umpires decide that a penalty greater than one point is appropriate, they shall act under rule C8.4.
A competitor may not base a request for redress on a claim that an action by an official boat was improper. The protest committee may decide to consider giving redress in such circumstances but only if it believes that an official boat, including an umpire boat, may have seriously interfered with a competing boat.
No proceedings of any kind may be taken in relation to any action or non-action by the umpires, except as permitted in rule C9.2.
The winning competitor of each match scores one point (half a point each for a dead heat); the loser scores no points.
When a competitor withdraws from part of an event the scores of all completed races shall stand.
When a single round robin is terminated before completion, or a multiple round robin is terminated during the first round robin, a competitor's score shall be the average points scored per match sailed by the competitor. However, if any of the competitors have completed less than one-third of the scheduled matches, the entire round robin shall be disregarded and, if necessary, the event declared void. For the purposes of tie-breaking in rule C11.1(a), a competitor’s score shall be the average points scored per match between the tied competitors.
When a multiple round robin is terminated with an incomplete round robin, only one point shall be available for all the matches sailed between any two competitors, as follows:
| Number of matches completed between any two competitors | Points for each win |
|---|---|
| 1 | One point |
| 2 | Half a point |
| 3 | A third of a point |
| (etc.) |
In a round-robin series,
In a knockout series the sailing instructions shall state the minimum number of points required to win a series between two competitors. When a knockout series is terminated it shall be decided in favour of the competitor with the higher score.
When only one boat in a match fails to sail the course, she shall be scored no points (without a hearing).
In a round-robin series competitors are assigned to one or more groups and scheduled to sail against all other competitors in their group one or more times. Each separate stage identified in the event format shall be a separate round-robin series irrespective of the number of times each competitor sails against each other competitor in that stage.
Ties between two or more competitors in a round-robin series shall be broken by the following methods, in order, until all ties are broken. When one or more ties are only partially broken, rules C11.1(a) to C11.1(e) shall be re-applied to them. Ties shall be decided in favour of the competitor(s) who
Ties (including 0–0) between competitors in a knockout series shall be broken by the following methods, in order, until the tie is broken. The tie shall be decided in favour of the competitor who
When rule C11.1 or C11.2 does not resolve a tie,
Team races shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix.
When a boat
an umpire may penalize her, or report the incident to the protest committee, or both. No protest is required.
An umpire shall signal a decision with one long sound and the display of a flag as follows:
A boat penalized by an umpire shall take a Two-Turns Penalty. However, when a boat is penalized under rule D2.3 and an umpire hails or signals a number of turns, the boat shall take that number of One-Turn Penalties.
When a protest committee decides that a boat that is a party to a protest hearing has broken a rule and was not exonerated:
The team with the lower total points wins the race. If the totals are equal, the team that does not have first place wins.
Ties in a round-robin stage shall be broken using results from that stage only.
Rule D5 applies when boats are supplied by the organizing authority.
When a boat suffers a breakdown in the racing area, she may request a score change by displaying a red flag at the first reasonable opportunity after the breakdown until it is acknowledged by the race committee or by an umpire. If possible, she shall continue racing.
The race committee shall decide requests for a score change in accordance with rules D5.4 and D5.5. It may take evidence in any way it considers appropriate and may communicate its decision orally.
When the race committee decides that the team’s score was made significantly worse, that the breakdown was through no fault of the crew, and that in the same circumstances a reasonably competent crew would not have been able to avoid the breakdown, it shall make as equitable a decision as possible. This may be to abandon and resail the race or, when the boat’s finishing place was predictable, award her points for that place. Any doubt about a boat’s position when she broke down shall be resolved against her.
A breakdown caused by defective supplied equipment or a breach of a rule by an opponent shall not normally be determined to be the fault of the crew, but one caused by careless handling, capsizing or a breach by a boat on the same team shall be. If there is doubt, it shall be presumed that the crew are not at fault.
Radio sailing races shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix.
Note: Development Rules for Umpired Radio Sailing is available on the World Sailing website.
Add to the definition Conflict of Interest:
However, an observer does not have a conflict of interest solely by being a competitor.
In the definition Zone the distance is changed to four hull lengths.
Add new definition:
Disabled A boat is disabled while she is unable to continue in the heat.
The Terminology paragraph of the Introduction is changed so that:
A competitor shall not give tactical or strategic advice to a competitor controlling a boat that is racing.
A competitor whose boat loses radio control shall promptly hail ‘(The boat’s sail number) out of control’ and the boat shall retire.
If a transmitter aerial is longer than 200mm when extended, the extremity shall be adequately protected.
Transmission of radio signals that cause interference with the control of other boats is prohibited. A competitor that has broken this rule shall not race again until permitted to do so by the race committee.
Unless the sailing instructions specify a control area, it shall be unrestricted. competitors shall be in this area when controlling boats that are racing, except briefly to handle and then release or relaunch the boat.
Unless the sailing instructions specify a launching area and its use, it shall be unrestricted.
When the sailing instructions require a course board to be displayed, it shall be located in or adjacent to the control area.
Rule 29.2 is changed to:
When at the starting signal the race committee is unable to identify boats that are on the course side of the starting line or to which rule 30 applies, or there has been an error in the starting procedure, the race committee may hail ‘General recall’ and make two loud sounds. The warning signal for a new start will normally be made shortly thereafter.
The race committee may make or permit reasonable arrangements to assist disabled competitors to compete on as equal terms as possible. A boat or the competitor controlling her that receives any such assistance, including help from a support person, does not break rule 41.
Rule 41 is changed to:
A boat or the competitor controlling her shall not receive help from any outside source, except
Rule 44.1 is changed to:
A boat may take a One-Turn Penalty when she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2, or rule 31, in an incident while racing. However,
Observers and umpires shall be located in the control area. They shall not use any aid or device that gives them a visual advantage over competitors.
Rule 60.4(a)(2) is changed to:
Add new rule 60.4(a)(4):
Rule 60.2(a)(1) is changed to:
The boat protesting or requesting redress about an incident while racing shall inform the race committee as soon as reasonably possible after finishing or retiring.
Rules 61.4(b)(2) and 61.4(b)(3) are changed to:
Add new rule 61.4(b)(6):
Add to rule 61.4(c):
If a boat is given redress because she was damaged, her redress shall include reasonable time, but not more than 30 minutes, to make repairs before her next heat.
In rule 63.1(a)(4) ‘the representatives of boats shall have been on board’ is changed to ‘the representative of each boat shall be the competitor designated to control her’.
Add new rule 63.4(f):
When a protest committee decides that a boat that is a party to a protest hearing has broken a rule other than a rule of Part 2, 3 or 4, it shall either
However, if the boat has broken a rule in Appendix G or rule E8, the protest committee shall act in accordance with rule G4.
Rule G1 applies to every boat of a class administered or recognized by World Sailing or by the International Radio Sailing Association (IRSA).
At IRSA world and continental championships and events described as international events in their notices of race, a boat shall carry national letters from the table in Appendix G, rule G1 denoting:
Note: An up-to-date version of the National Sail Letters table is available on the World Sailing website.
| Dimension | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Height of sail numbers | 100 mm | 110 mm |
| Spacing of adjacent sail numbers | 20 mm | 30 mm |
| Height of national letters | 60 mm | 70 mm |
| Spacing of adjacent national letters | 13 mm | 23 mm |
Where the size of the sail prevents compliance with rule G1.4 or G1.5, they shall be amended as follows and in the following order of precedence:
Kiteboarding course races shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix. The term ‘boat’ elsewhere in the rules means ‘kiteboard’ or ‘boat’ as appropriate.
Note: Links to kiteboard rules for some other formats or competitions can be found on the World Sailing website.
[No changes.]
PART 2 — PREAMBLE
In the second sentence of the preamble, ‘injury or serious damage’ is changed to ‘injury, serious damage or a tangle’.
Rule 13 is deleted.
Rule 16 is changed to:
16.1 When a right-of-way kiteboard changes course or the position of her kite, she shall give the other kiteboard room to continue keeping clear.
16.2 In addition, on a beat to windward when a port-tack kiteboard is keeping clear by sailing to pass to leeward of a starboard-tack kiteboard, the starboard-tack kiteboard shall not bear away or change the position of her kite if as a result the port-tack kiteboard must change course or the position of her kite immediately to continue keeping clear.
Rule 17 is deleted.
Rule 18 is changed to:
18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between kiteboards when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not apply
Rule 18 no longer applies between kiteboards when mark-room has been given.
18.2 Giving Mark-Room
When a kiteboard is required to give mark-room by this rule, she shall continue to do so for as long as this rule applies, even if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins.
18.3 Changing Tack in the Zone
When an inside overlapped right-of-way kiteboard must change tack at a mark to sail her proper course, until she changes tack she shall sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail that course if by so doing she affects the course of another kiteboard. Rule 18.3 does not apply at a gate mark or a finishing mark.
Rule 19.2(a) is changed to:
Rule 20.1(a) is changed to:
Rule 20.4 is changed to:
20.4 Additional Requirements for Hails
The following arm signals are required in addition to the hails
Rule 21.3 is changed and new rule 21.4 is added:
21.3 During the last minute before her starting signal, a kiteboard that stops, slows down significantly, or one that is not making significant forward progress shall keep clear of all others unless she is accidentally capsized.
21.4 A kiteboard that is jumping shall keep clear of one that is not.
Rule 22 is changed to:
22.1 If possible, a kiteboard shall avoid a kiteboard that is capsized, is aground, or is trying to help a person or vessel in danger.
22.2 A kiteboard that is recovering shall keep clear of a kiteboard that is not.
Rule 26 is changed to:
Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.
| Minutes before starting signal | Visual signal | Sound signal | Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Class flag | One | Warning signal |
| 2 | U or black flag | One | Preparatory signal |
| 1 | U or black flag removed | One long | One minute |
| 0 | Class flag removed | One | Starting signal |
Rule 29.1 is deleted.
Rules 30.1 and 30.2 are deleted.
In rules 30.3 and 30.4, ‘hull’ is changed to ‘hull or competitor’.
In rule 30.4, ‘sail number’ is changed to ‘competitor number’.
Rule 36(b) is changed to:
Add new rules 41(e) and 41(f):
Rule 42 is changed to:
42.1 Basic Rule
Except when permitted in rule 42.2, a kiteboard shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed.
42.2 Exceptions
Rule 43.1(c) is changed to:
Add new rule 43.1(d):
Rules 44.1 and 44.2 are changed to:
44.1 Taking a Penalty
A kiteboard may take a One-Turn Penalty when she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 or rule 31 in an incident while racing. Alternatively, the notice of race or sailing instructions may specify the use of the Scoring Penalty or some other penalty, in which case the specified penalty shall replace the One-Turn Penalty. However,
44.2 One-Turn Penalty
After getting well clear of other kiteboards as soon after the incident as possible, a kiteboard takes a One-Turn Penalty by promptly making a 360° turn with her hull appendage in the water with no requirement for a tack or a gybe. When a kiteboard takes the penalty at or near the finishing line, her hull and competitor shall be completely on the course side of the line before she finishes.
Rule 50.1(a) is changed to:
Rules 60.2(a), 60.2(b) and 60.2(c) are changed to:
Rules 60.5(d)(1) and 60.5(d)(2) are changed to:
Add new rule 60.5(e):
Rule 63.5(d) is changed to:
Add new rule 63.8:
For a race of an elimination series that will qualify a kiteboard
to compete in a later stage of an event:
Rule 70.3(b) is changed to:
Add new rule 70.3(e):
[No changes.]
The last sentence of rule 90.2(c) is changed to: ‘Oral instructions may be given only if the procedure is stated in the sailing instructions.’
Rule A1 is changed to:
The number of races scheduled and the number required to be scored to constitute a series shall be stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions; see rule 90.3(a). If an event includes more than one discipline or format, the notice of race or sailing instructions shall state how the overall scores are to be calculated.
Add new rule A5.4:
A5.4 For an elimination series race that will qualify a board to compete in a later stage of an event, a board that did not sail the course, retired or was disqualified shall be scored points equal to the number of boards permitted to sail in that race.
Add to Rule A10:
DCT Disqualified after causing a tangle in an incident
Appendix G is changed to:
Every kiteboard shall be identified as follows:
See rule 77.
Every boat of a World Sailing Class shall carry on her mainsail and, as provided in rule G1.3(c) for letters and numbers only, on her spinnaker and headsail
Sails measured before 31 March 1999 shall comply with rule G1.1 or with the rules applicable at the time of measurement.
Note: An up-to-date version of the table below is available on the World Sailing website.
NATIONAL SAIL LETTERS
| National authority | Letters | National authority | Letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | ALG | Djibouti | DJI |
| American Samoa | ASA | Dominican Republic | DOM |
| Andorra | AND | Ecuador | ECU |
| Angola | ANG | Egypt | EGY |
| Antigua | ANT | El Salvador | ESA |
| Argentina | ARG | Estonia | EST |
| Armenia | ARM | Fiji | FIJ |
| Aruba | ARU | Finland | FIN |
| Australia | AUS | France | FRA |
| Austria | AUT | Georgia | GEO |
| Azerbaijan | AZE | Germany | GER |
| Bahamas | BAH | Great Britain | GBR |
| Bahrain | BRN | Greece | GRE |
| Barbados | BAR | Grenada | GRN |
| Belarus | BLR | Guam | GUM |
| Belgium | BEL | Guatemala | GUA |
| Belize | BIZ | Hong Kong, China | HKG |
| Bermuda | BER | Hungary | HUN |
| Bolivia | BOL | Iceland | ISL |
| Botswana | BOT | India | IND |
| Brazil | BRA | Indonesia | INA |
| British Virgin Islands | IVB | Iran | IRI |
| Brunei | BRU | Iraq | IRQ |
| Bulgaria | BUL | Ireland | IRL |
| Cambodia | CAM | Israel | ISR |
| Canada | CAN | Italy | ITA |
| Cayman Islands | CAY | Jamaica | JAM |
| Chile | CHI | Japan | JPN |
| China, PR | CHN | Jordan | JOR |
| Chinese Taipei | TPE | Kazakhstan | KAZ |
| Colombia | COL | Kenya | KEN |
| Cook Islands | COK | Korea, DPR | PRK |
| Croatia | CRO | Korea, Republic of | KOR |
| Cuba | CUB | Kosovo | KOS |
| Cyprus | CYP | Kuwait | KUW |
| Czechia | CZE | Kyrgyzstan | KGZ |
| Denmark | DEN | Latvia | LAT |
| Lebanon | LIB | Romania | ROU |
| Libya | LBA | Russia | RUS |
| Liechtenstein | LIE | Samoa | SAM |
| Lithuania | LTU | San Marino | SMR |
| Luxembourg | LUX | Saudi Arabia | KSA |
| Macau, China | MAC | Senegal | SEN |
| Madagascar | MAD | Serbia | SRB |
| Malaysia | MAS | Seychelles | SEY |
| Malta | MLT | Singapore | SGP |
| Mauritius | MRI | Slovak Republic | SVK |
| Mexico | MEX | Slovenia | SLO |
| Moldova | MDA | Solomon Islands | SOL |
| Monaco | MON | South Africa | RSA |
| Montenegro | MNE | Spain | ESP |
| Montserrat | MNT | Sri Lanka | SRI |
| Morocco | MAR | St Kitts & Nevis | SKN |
| Mozambique | MOZ | St Lucia | LCA |
| Myanmar | MYA | St Vincent & Grenadines | VIN |
| Namibia | NAM | Sudan | SUD |
| Netherlands | NED | Sweden | SWE |
| Netherlands Antilles | AHO | Switzerland | SUI |
| New Zealand | NZL | Tahiti | TAH |
| Nicaragua | NCA | Tajikistan | TJK |
| Nigeria | NGR | Tanzania | TAN |
| North Macedonia | MKD | Thailand | THA |
| Norway | NOR | Timor Leste | TLS |
| Oman | OMA | Tonga | TGA |
| Pakistan | PAK | Trinidad & Tobago | TTO |
| Palestine | PLE | Tunisia | TUN |
| Panama | PAK | Turkey | TUR |
| Papua New Guinea | PNG | Turks & Caicos | TCA |
| Paraguay | PAR | Uganda | TTO |
| Peru | PER | Ukraine | UKR |
| Philippines | PHI | United Arab Emirates | UAE |
| Poland | POL | United States of America | USA |
| Portugal | POR | Uruguay | URU |
| Puerto Rico | PUR | US Virgin Islands | ISV |
| Qatar | QAT | Vanuatu | VAN |
| Venezuela | VEN | Zimbabwe | ZIM |
| Vietnam | VIE |
| Overall length | Minimum height | Minimum space between characters and from edge of sail |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3.5 m | 230 mm | 45 mm |
| 3.5 m – 8.5 m | 300 mm | 60 mm |
| 8.5 m – 11 m | 375 mm | 75 mm |
| Over 11 m | 450 mm | 90 mm |
Class insignia, national letters and sail numbers shall be positioned as follows:
Other boats shall comply with the rules of their national authority or class association in regard to the allotment, carrying and size of insignia, letters and numbers. Such rules shall, when practicable, conform to the above requirements.
When so stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions, a boat chartered or loaned for an event may carry national letters or a sail number in contravention of her class rules.
When a protest committee finds that a boat has broken a rule of this appendix, it shall either warn her and give her time to comply or penalize her.
World Sailing Classes may change the rules of this appendix provided the changes have first been approved by World Sailing.
See rule 50. This appendix shall not be changed by the notice of race, sailing instructions or prescriptions of national authorities.
Items of clothing and equipment to be weighed shall be arranged on a rack. After being saturated in fresh water the items shall be allowed to drain freely for one minute before being weighed. The rack must allow the items to hang as they would hang from clothes hangers, so as to allow the water to drain freely. Pockets that have drain-holes that cannot be closed shall be empty, but pockets or items that can hold water shall be full.
When the weight recorded exceeds the amount permitted, the competitor may rearrange the items on the rack and the member of the technical committee in charge shall again soak and weigh them. This procedure may be repeated a second time if the weight still exceeds the amount permitted.
A competitor wearing a dry suit may choose an alternative means of weighing the items.
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.
The notice of race shall include the following:
The notice of race shall include any of the following that will apply:
The notice of race shall include any of the following that will apply and that would help competitors decide whether to attend the event or that conveys other information they will need before the sailing instructions become available:
Unless included in the notice of race, the sailing instructions shall include the following:
Unless included in the notice of race, the sailing instructions shall include those of the following that will apply:
This appendix is advisory only; in some circumstances changing these procedures may be advisable. It is addressed primarily to the protest committee chair but may also help judges, protest committee secretaries, race committees and others involved in hearings.
In a hearing, the protest committee should weigh all testimony with equal care; should recognize that honest testimony can vary, and even be in conflict, as a result of different observations and recollections; should resolve such differences as best it can; should recognize that no boat or competitor is guilty until a breach of a rule has been established to the satisfaction of the protest committee; and should keep an open mind until all the evidence has been heard as to whether a boat or competitor has broken a rule.
Determine if any members of the protest committee saw the incident. If so, require each of them to state that fact as soon as possible at the hearing (rule 63.4(d)).
When a party, within the time limit, has asked for a hearing to be reopened, hear the party making the request, look at any video, etc., and decide whether there is any significant new evidence that might lead you to change your decision. Decide whether your interpretation of the rules may have been wrong; be open-minded as to whether you have made a mistake. If none of these applies refuse to reopen; otherwise schedule a hearing.
Rule 64 enables a boat that has broken a rule subject to a discretionary penalty to comply with Sportsmanship and the Rules by reporting within the protest time limit that she has broken the rule. If the report does not include sufficient facts for the protest committee to decide what penalty to impose, the committee may question a representative of the boat and any witnesses to collect evidence it decides is appropriate. It is not necessary to conduct a hearing to collect this evidence. Note that guidelines for discretionary penalties may be found on the World Sailing website.
An action under this rule is not a protest, but the protest committee gives its allegations in writing to the competitor before the hearing. The hearing is conducted under rule 63, but the protest committee must have at least three members (rule 69.2(a)). Use the greatest care to protect the competitor’s rights.
A competitor or a boat cannot protest under rule 69, but the hearing request form of a competitor who tries to do so may be accepted as a report to the protest committee, which can then decide whether or not to call a hearing.
Unless World Sailing has appointed a person for the role, the protest committee may appoint a person to present the allegation. This person might be a race official, the person making the allegation or other appropriate person. When no reasonable alternative person is available, a person who was appointed as a member of the protest committee may present the allegation.
Although action under rule 69 is taken against a competitor, boat owner or support person, and not a boat, a boat may also be penalized (rules 69.2(h)(2) and 62.4).
When a protest committee upholds a rule 69 allegation it will need to consider if it is appropriate to report to either a national authority or World Sailing. Guidance on when to report may be found in the World Sailing Case Book. When the protest committee does make a report, it may recommend whether or not further action should be taken.
Unless the right of appeal is denied in accordance with rule 70.3, a party to a rule 69 hearing may appeal the decision of the protest committee.
Further guidance for protest committees about misconduct may be found on the World Sailing website.
When decisions can be appealed,
Photographs and videos can sometimes provide useful evidence but protest committees should recognize their limitations and note the following points:
See rules 70.3(a) and 91(b). This appendix shall not be changed by the notice of race, sailing instructions or national prescriptions.
An international jury shall be composed of experienced sailors with excellent knowledge of the racing rules and extensive protest committee experience. It shall be independent of and have no members from the race committee or the technical committee, and it shall be appointed by the organizing authority, subject to approval by the national authority if required (see rule 91(b)), or by World Sailing under rule 89.2(c).
The jury shall consist of a chair, a vice chair if desired, and other members for a total of at least five. A majority shall be International Judges.
No more than two members (three, in Groups M, N and Q) shall be from the same national authority.
When a full jury, or a panel, has fewer than five members, because of illness or emergency, and no qualified replacements are available, it remains properly constituted if it consists of at least three members and if at least two of them are International Judges. When there are three or four members they shall be from at least three different national authorities except in Groups M, N and Q, where they shall be from at least two different national authorities.
When it is considered desirable that some members not participate in discussing and deciding a protest or request for redress, and no qualified replacements are available, the jury or panel remains properly constituted if at least three members remain and at least two of them are International Judges.
In exception to rules N1.1 and N1.2, World Sailing may in limited circumstances authorize an international jury consisting of a total of only three members. All members shall be International Judges. The members shall be from three different national authorities (two, in Groups M, N and Q). The authorization shall be stated in a letter of approval to the organizing authority and in the notice of race or sailing instructions, and the letter shall be posted on the official notice board.
When the national authority’s approval is required for the appointment of an international jury (see rule 91(b)), notice of its approval shall be included in the sailing instructions or be posted on the official notice board.
If the jury or a panel acts while not properly constituted, its decisions may be appealed.
An international jury is responsible for hearing and deciding all protests, requests for redress and other matters arising under the rules of Part 5. When asked by the organizing authority, the race committee or the technical committee, it shall advise and assist them on any matter directly affecting the fairness of the competition.
Unless the organizing authority directs otherwise, the jury shall decide
The jury shall also decide matters referred to it by the organizing authority, the race committee or the technical committee.
Members shall not be regarded as having a significant conflict of interest (see rule 63.3) by reason of their nationality, club membership or similar. When otherwise considering a significant conflict of interest as required by rule 63.3, considerable weight must be given to the fact that decisions of an international jury cannot be appealed and this may affect the perception of fairness and lower the level of conflict that is significant. In case of doubt, the hearing should proceed as permitted by rule N1.6.
If a panel fails to agree on a decision it may adjourn, in which case the chair shall refer the matter to a properly constituted panel with as many members as possible, which may be the full jury.
The World Sailing Code of Ethics contains procedures that apply to specific international events with regard to the appointment of a person to conduct any investigation. These procedures override any conflicting provision of this appendix.
A person shall be responsible for presenting to the hearing panel any allegations of misconduct under rule 69. This person shall not be a member of the hearing panel but may be a member of the jury. Such a person shall be required to make full disclosure of all material gathered in the course of the investigation to the person subject to allegations of a breach of rule 69.
Prior to a hearing, the hearing panel, to the extent practically possible, shall not act as an investigator of any allegations made under rule 69. However, during the hearing the panel shall be entitled to ask any investigative questions it may see fit.
If the panel decides to call a hearing, all material disclosed to the panel in order for them to make that decision must be disclosed to the person subject to the allegations before the hearing begins.
All or part of this appendix applies only if the notice of race or sailing instructions so state.
The protest committee may appoint observers, including protest committee members, to act in accordance with rule P1.2. A person with a significant conflict of interest shall not be appointed as an observer.
If an observer appointed under rule P1.1 decides that a boat has broken rule 42, the boat may be penalized by, as soon as reasonably possible making a sound signal, pointing a yellow flag at her, and clearly identifying her by hailing, even if she is no longer racing. A boat so penalized shall not be penalized a second time under rule 42 for the same incident.
When a boat is penalized a second time during the event, she shall promptly retire. If she fails to do so she shall be disqualified without a hearing and her score shall not be excluded.
When a boat is penalized a third or subsequent time during the event, she shall promptly retire. If she does so her penalty shall be disqualification without a hearing and her score shall not be excluded. If she fails to do so her penalty shall be disqualification without a hearing from all races in the event, with no score excluded, and the protest committee shall consider calling a hearing under rule 69.2.
If a boat has been penalized under rule P1.2 and the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment, the penalty is cancelled, but it is still counted to determine the number of times she has been penalized during the event.
A boat shall not be given redress for an action by a member of the protest committee or its designated observer under rule P1.2 unless the action was improper due to a failure to take into account a race committee signal or a class rule.
Rule P5 applies if the class rules permit pumping, rocking and ooching when the wind speed exceeds a specified limit.
After the starting signal,
See rule 70. A national authority may change this appendix by prescription, but it shall not be changed by the notice of race or sailing instructions.
Time periods shall be extended by the national authority when there is good reason to do so.
Appeals, requests by protest committees for confirmation or correction of their decisions, and requests for interpretations of the rules shall be made in compliance with this appendix.
If a copy of the protest or request is not available, the appellant shall instead send a statement of its substance.
The appellant shall also send, with the appeal or as soon as possible thereafter, all of the following documents that are available to her:
A request from a protest committee for confirmation or correction of its decision shall be sent no later than seven days after the decision and shall include the decision and the documents listed in rule R2.2. A request for an interpretation of the rules shall include assumed facts.
Upon receipt of an appeal or a request for confirmation or correction, the national authority shall send to the parties and protest committee copies of the appeal or request and the protest committee’s decision. It shall ask the protest committee for any relevant documents listed in rule R2.2 not sent by the appellant or the protest committee, and the protest committee shall promptly send them to the national authority. When the national authority has received them it shall send copies to the parties.
The parties and protest committee may make written comments on the appeal or request or on any of the documents listed in rule R2.2, provided they do so within seven days of the national authority making them available.
The national authority shall send copies of comments and clarifications received to the parties and protest committee as appropriate.
The national authority shall accept the protest committee’s finding of facts except when it decides they are inadequate. In that case it shall require the committee to provide additional facts or other information, or to reopen the hearing and report any new finding of facts, and the committee shall promptly do so.
An appellant may withdraw an appeal before it is decided by accepting the protest committee’s decision.
This appendix applies only if the notice of race so states.
These Standard Sailing Instructions may be used at an event in place of printed sailing instructions made available to each boat. To use them, state in the notice of race that ‘The sailing instructions will consist of the instructions in RRS Appendix S, Standard Sailing Instructions, and supplementary sailing instructions that will be posted on the official notice board located at _____.’
The supplementary sailing instructions will include:
A copy of the supplementary sailing instructions will be available to competitors on request.
All or part of this appendix applies only if the notice of race or sailing instructions so state.
Arbitration adds an extra step to the protest resolution process but can eliminate the need for some protest hearings, thus speeding up the process for events in which many protests are expected. Further guidance on arbitration can be found in the World Sailing Judges Manual, which is available on the World Sailing website.
Provided that rule 44.1(b) does not apply, a boat that may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 or rule 31 in an incident may take a Post-Race Penalty at any time after the race until the beginning of a protest hearing involving the incident.
A Post-Race Penalty is a 30% Scoring Penalty calculated as stated in rule 44.3(c). However, rule 44.1(a) applies.
A boat takes a Post-Race Penalty by delivering to the arbitrator or a member of the protest committee a written statement that she accepts the penalty and that identifies the race number and where and when the incident occurred.
An arbitration meeting will be held prior to a protest hearing for each incident resulting in a protest by a boat involving one or more rules of Part 2 or rule 31, but only if each party is represented by a person who was on board at the time of the incident. No witnesses will be permitted. However, if the arbitrator decides that rule 44.1(b) may apply or that arbitration is not appropriate, the meeting will not be held, and if a meeting is in progress, it will be closed.
Based on the evidence given by the representatives, the arbitrator will offer an opinion as to what the protest committee is likely to decide:
After the arbitrator offers an opinion,
Unless all protests involving the incident are withdrawn, a protest hearing will be held.