Situation
The notice of race states that Appendix P will apply. It also states that a practice race and twelve races are scheduled over five days. During the practice race, P and S have a port-starboard incident in the first leg resulting in serious damage to S. S is not able to compete in races 1 and 2.

Question 1
Is the practice race part of the event?

Answer 1
Yes.
As described in the Preamble to Appendix J, the term ‘event’ includes a race or series of races. If the notice of race states that a practice race is scheduled, the practice race is part of the event.
However, rule A1 requires the notice of race or sailing instructions to define the number of races that are required to be scored to constitute a series. Rule A2.1 then says: ‘Each boat’s series score shall, subject to rule 90.3(b), be the total of her race scores (…)’ The practice race is not listed as a race which counts for the series score and is not a race which is required to be scored. Therefore, a breach of a rule or a penalty imposed in the practice race shall not affect the boat’s series score, unless the breach is for a rule that is not race specific (for example rule 69). A committee can treat the practice race as a race in all other aspects: it can be scored, penalties or redress may be given, etc.

Question 2
Do the Racing Rules of Sailing apply to the practice race?

Answer 2
Yes.
Provided the notice of race states that the event is governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, then they apply to the practice race.

Question 3
Were the boats racing while sailing on the first leg?

Answer 3
Yes.
The boats were racing provided that the preparatory signal had been made in accordance with rule 26, and the boats had not finished and cleared the finishing line and marks or retired, or the race committee had not signalled a general recall, postponement or abandonment. See Definition Racing.

Question 4
Can a boat be penalized if she breaks a rule (for example port-starboard) during the practice race or get redress if she is physically damaged by another boat? If so, how and on what grounds?

Answer 4
Yes.
Since the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing apply, a boat that breaks a rule (for example port-starboard) while racing in the practice race, may be penalized for that breach in the practice race, in accordance with rule 60.5. If a boat breaks a rule while not racing in the practice race, her penalty shall apply to the race sailed nearest in time to the incident, that may be the practice race.
A boat may be entitled to redress if the conditions described in rule 61.4(b) are met.
If the physical damage to the boat entitled to redress is such that repairs expand over subsequent races (in this situation races 1 and 2), redress may be given for these races, provided that the decision follows the provisions of World Sailing Case 116.

Question 5
If a boat is penalized under rule P1.2 during the practice race, will this penalty count to determine the number of times she has been penalized during the event?

Answer 5
No.
A breach of a rule or a penalty imposed in the practice race shall not affect the boat’s series score (see Answer 1). Therefore, the phrase ‘during the event’ in P2.2 and P2.3 shall be understood to include only those races which count for a boat’s series score.
Note: The phrase ‘during the event’ in rule F5.60.5(e) shall be understood the same way.