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.

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.

Definitions in Context

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.

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.