To World Sailing MNAs, Classes and Race Officials
World Sailing would like to draw your attention to recent developments with the Racing Rules of Sailing, including important decisions made at the 2017 Annual Conference.
This information is being circulated to all World Sailing MNAs, World Sailing Classes and World Sailing Race Officials.
MNAs are requested to ensure it is sent to all relevant contacts with their countries, including race officials without an international qualification.
Urgent Rule Changes
Having reviewed the implementation of the new rules concerning support persons in the 2017 – 2020 Racing Rules of Sailing, World Sailing has made a number of urgent rule changes following feedback from MNAs and race officials.
These urgent rule changes affect the following rules: Definition Party, rules 63.1 and 64.4. There is also a new rule 63.9.
These rule changes will come into effect on 1 January 2018.
You can find details of these changes and corrections at http://www.sailing.org/documents/racingrules/index.php
World Sailing Case 78
Following a review involving athletes, coaches, race officials and other stakeholders, World Sailing has amended Case 78. This Case interprets rule 2 (Fair Sailing).
Previously, a boat was allowed to use tactics that interfered with and hindered another boat’s progress in a race if there was a reasonable chance that these tactics benefitted either:
1. Her final ranking in the event; or
2. Her chances of gaining selection for another event or for her national team.
Under the newly amended Case, it is no longer possible to justify these actions on the basis that they benefit a boat’s chances of gaining selection for another event or for her national team. Such tactics can only be justified if there is a reasonable chance they will benefit the boat’s final ranking in the event. Otherwise they will break rule 2.
The updated Case will be available shortly via a supplement to the World Sailing Case Book. This will be sent to all MNAs and World Sailing Race Officials
Please note the above information is not an official interpretation of the Racing Rules of Sailing by World Sailing and is for information only. The final published Case will be the only authoritative interpretation.
New World Sailing Case: Requesting Redress under Rule 62.1(b)
If a boat requests redress due to injury or physical damage caused by a boat breaking a rule of Part 2, there has been a difference of opinion of whether the boat seeking redress must first protest the other boat.
A new World Sailing Case will be published shortly which will confirm that she does not need to protest the boat that caused the damage or injury. However, her request for redress will not succeed unless evidence is provided during the redress hearing that leads the protest committee to conclude that the other boat broke a rule of Part 2.
This new Case will be available shortly via a supplement to the World Sailing Case Book. This will be sent to all MNAs and World Sailing Race Officials
Please note the above information is not an official interpretation of the Racing Rules of Sailing by World Sailing and is for information only. The final published Case will be the only authoritative interpretation.
Q&As
Please note World Sailing has issued a number of Q&As in 2017. You can find these here: http://www.sailing.org/raceofficials/qandaservice/doc_list.php
Other Updates
World Sailing will be revising other Cases and Calls for 2018. These will be circulated once finalised by the World Sailing Racing Rules Committee.
If you have any questions concerning this update, please contact World Sailing at [email protected].
