The new phone books are here!! .. The new phone books are here!!

A great many changes in the 2025-28 quad. The first stunner for me…the elimination of the Basic Principles under the new definition of rules.

I think the reason is that the Basic Principle was not a 'rule' you could break.  It is more of a 'vision' statement.  If you violate the Basic Principle then you are found to have broken rule 2.

Ang - I use that same video clip in a presentation about the rules (developed when the 2021-2024 rules came out.).

The younger folk don't get it.

Neither do they understand "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" meme I use for Sections A, B, and C in Part 2 of the RRS.

We're old.

The real question, though - will Dick Rose be putting together the "RRS - Study Version" this time?

Is there a blackline version showing the changes from the 2021-2024 rules?

In spite of all the changes, there are few fundamental changes to the functioning of the rules - I wonder if WS has made a big mistake - because of these changes, there is a massive amount of work to review and revise the Case Books and Call books to implement what appear to be mainly renumbering and slight word changes.

I have a web site for Radio Sailing - not allowed to post the link. But google Johns RC Sailing rules and tactics. I just spend several days reworking my text to reflect the changes ready to publish for next year and wonder what has actually been accomplished?

John

However, the following are not a continuing obstruction:

Not sure my English teacher would agree with this grammar. 

Hmm...

Rule 18 is simplified .. the first to the zone when an overlap does not exist [gets MR] I think is an easier thing to describe to folk.

I like that they framed Proper Course to incorporate the gist of Case 126

I REALLY do not like the negative tense of validity (listing the states of invalidity) .. then negating that with a list of "however" states". It makes us work with double-negatives which is odd IMHO. I guess we'll all have to get used to it, but it's making my brain hurt at this moment.

I can see the rewrite of 60.1 removed repetitive phrases and combined items ... but for what gain except the removal of words?  I don't find it easier to follow.  

For instance consider a protest by the RC against a boat when the boat is beyond hailing distance and follow 

Matt .. I rewatched it not long ago. You can't watch it with anyone young .. the entire first 1/4 of the movie did not travel well into the 2020's. 

The GB&U however ... timeless. 

.. another notable change ...

In Rule 17 ... the last sentence excluding application when tacking to windward has been deleted ..

 "This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear." .. is no longer in rule 17. 

This looks like a game change?  Can you all check my logic in reading the new rule 18.3 in relation to the new RRS-25 18.2(c) [which is basically the old 18.2(a)]

Here they are .. 

As I read it .. it does not matter if the boat on starboard entered the zone on starboard or tacked in the zone, if a boat passes HTW from port to starboard and and the another boat is fetching the mark on starboard tack, RRS-25 18.2 (and thus RRS-25 18.2(c)) does not apply between them.  So the in the instance below, Blue does not get MR after after passing HTW.

My reading says no - not correct- as drawn, Blue will gain mark room under new 18.2(c). New 18.3 applies and turns off 18.2 when Yellow enters the zone already fetching the mark on stbd.

The new words and numbers do not change the rights and obligations from the current RRS. So not a game changer.
John

John B .. the RRS-25 18.3 says...

 "If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and another boat on starboard tack that is fetching the mark."

How are both conditions in the sentence above not met in the drawing? 

I think you are right - the new 18.3 prevents applying new 18.2(c) as shown in your diagram.
As drawn, neither boat gets mark room so we can apply the other rules of part 2 without the mark room exonerations,

So yes, an important change by taking away the old 18.2(a) from Blue.

But the current 18.3 concept for the boat entering already on stbd and not being luffed above close hauled is still there.

John

Here's a quickly made comparison between the actual RRS and the new version.
(Tip: set your PDF software to the two-pages view mode, You will have the two verisons side by side).

Written protest requirements are much simpler. Gone are the complicated conditional information requirements. 

It's delivered, in writing and identifies the protestor, protestee and the incident. 

John B re: "As drawn, neither boat gets mark room so we can apply the other rules of part 2 without the mark room exonerations,"

Blue is ROW after completing her tack .. so she can use Rule 10 (limited by 16) to get around the mark. 

However, if Blue breaks 16 in the process there is no avenue for exoneration. 

Also, if Blue touches the mark and it's not a consequence of  being compelled by Yellow while breaking a rule, Blue also does not have an avenue to exoneration. 

I think the above is the essence of the game-change. 

This change definitely raises the stakes for tacking in the zone at the windward mark (perhaps the motivation for this change). 

... thinking more about my Blue/Yellow scenario above ... assuming both Blue and Yellow enter the zone on port and both tack inside the zone ....

Does that look right?

No ... that's not correct (above).  In both cases either Blue or Yellow is fetching the mark on STB when the other passes HTW from port ... so it makes no difference. 

Ang - A comment on your phone book meme:  My grandfather was not allowed to enlist in the Navy during WWII, not because my grandmother wouldn't let him, but as a printer of phone books his job was to keep the local phone books up-to-date on a daily basis.  Every day they had to print a list of all the changes and get them to the Ma Bell operators in case the military needed to reach someone in an emergency.  It was considered an essential wartime industry.

Cool story JC. 

I have written a summary of the new 18.2 and 18.3 for Radio Sailing, with a 4 length zone. I have tried to include all the variations. Some of them may not be possible with a 3 length zone without breaking either R 13 or R 15, but are possible with the larger zone of Appendix E.
Comments welcome.
John

Attachment corrected.
here

John B ... in your last example ... I still think 18.3 turns off 18.2 between them.   This is what I was saying above in my last post about who tacks first.  I don't think it matters. 

When Blue passes HTW from port to starboard, Red is on starboard fetching the mark. 18.2 seems to be off between them as well. 

Hi Angelo,
Thanks for the feedback - my take is that in the last diagram, when Red tacked, Blue was still on port, and so the conditions to turn on 18.3 did not exist, and so 18.2 not not get turned off. So my take is that in the absence of anything else, 18.2(c) applies.
John

Yes ... 18.2 applies then (when Red passes HTW from port) ... but when Blue tacks 18.3 is applied a 2nd time ... turning off 18.2 between them (because Red was on STB fetching the mark when Blue passed HtW from port in the zone). 

Thanks Angelo - got  it!
John

John .. I'm working thru this for the first time too. It would be great to have others chime in and see how they are reading it. 

.

Ang,

On 18.3...

To me, while the removal of MR to a boat who tacks in the zone is technically a change, to all intents and purposes I don't see it significant to the game.

As we know the main point about 18.3 was always to eliminate any hinderance to a boat who has already established her position on starboard layline.  It still does that.

In terms of assessing the game change, we need to ask what the mark-room of old 18.2(a) did for the port tacker.  What have they lost in the new rules?   I don't think much at all.

As I see it, all that's changed is the curious conflict between a port-tacker who ends up 'inside' having mark-room, but also being bound by 18.3 obligations.  It was pointless but moot, no?

------------------------------------

Ang, I just got round to reading the new book for the first time this morning.  Not many comments - all the main things are still there.  Like JohnB, I'm seeing a lot of work in my training materials for not much change in message!! Grrr.

I agree with you that the negative use in 'validity' is mind-numbing.

I wonder if we're going to see a shift by OAs to use DP much more in order to avoid hearings.  This could be problematic.  I think already DPs are not very well understood, and somewhat misused.  New rules could make that worse.

There are a couple of things, I'd hoped for, but I don't see.

I think on the whole things are better, but wonder if in some changes we are just seeing different ways to skin this cat.

In all, though I am waiting for the Study Guide, to really understand what is going on with the new rules.

Ben ... I see only one game change in the new 18.3 that is significant. 

Under current rule 18.3, when 2 boats both tack from port in the zone, the inside boat (let's assume 2nd to pass HTW) got exonerated for breaking Part 2/Section A and 15, 16, 31 ... the moment she passed HTW so was exonerated for breaking rules 13, 15 and 31 (if sailing in the MR she was entitled to).  The inclusion of 13 and 15 there currently provides exoneration for Inside tacking too close to Outside-STB and if there was not room left for inside to round the mark, exoneration for hitting the mark. 

As I read it now .. that's completely changed.  Now if inside causes outside to alter course before she completes her tack, inside is not exonerated. 

Also, now outside-STB does not need to anticipate that she will need to tack to STB in a way to eventually provide inside mark-room at the mark. 

It's going to make tacking late inside the zone harder to do and a larger gamble (which should help discourage it and make roundings more orderly at the windward mark). 

It makes things clearer too  ... as no matter where outside tacks (in/out of zone), only the boat that enters the zone on STB is entitled to MR if she's inside at the mark. 

For those that haven't already made their own list, this may help.

 Significant sidelined changes are as follows.

Definitions

Definitions: Continuing Obstruction Definition added. Not a game changer.

Definitions: Finish Now appears to allow buttonhook finishes if specified in the SI (prolly needs pretty clear words)

Definitions: Mark-Room Mark-room now stops when a boat 'leaves the mark astern'.

Definitions: Obstruction Now says that an area or line specified in the SI/NOR as prohibited is an obstruction, without the words 'this is an obstruction'.

Definitions: Proper Course now defined to be 'to complete the leg she is on as soon as possible': no longer refers to finish.

Definitions Rules Basic Principles Sportsmanship and the Rules and Environmental Responsibility are no longer rules.

Sail the Course Express requirements to start and finish is now included in Sail the Course.

Part 1 Fundamental Rules No change.

Part 2 When Boats Meet
RRS 14 Avoiding Contact cause contact added.

This may be a pretty big deal

RRS 17 Proper Course last sentence deleted 'This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear'.

Section C Preamble Reworded: no apparent game change.

RRS 18.2 Giving Mark-Room Completely restructured'. Prolly worth discussing in another post.

RRS 18.3 Tacking in the Zone. Restored so it looks very much like the 2013 version, but applying only at a Port hand mark. Test is once again the Other boat, not the tacking boat fetching.

RRS 19.1 When Rule 19 Applies Slightly restructured, no apparent game change.

RRS 19.2 Giving Room at an Obstruction

RRS 19.2(a) New sentence added If a right-of-way boat changes course when choosing on which side to pass the obstruction, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.'' This appears just to restate RRS 16.1.

RRS 20.1 Hailing [for room to tack] requirement for specific words 'Room to tack' added.

RRS 20.1 says Á boat ... may hail 'Room to tack'...

RRS 20.2 says A boat shall ... [reply] Ýou tack'

RRS 60.2 says [a b0at] 'shall hail 'Protest'

Seemingly a boat may refrain from hailing 'Room to tack' and use other words. We'll have to see the rewrite of Case 54.

Part 3 Conduct of a Race
RRS 28 Sailing the Course Changed to correspond with changed Definition: Sail the Course

RRS 32.1 Shortening or Abandoning Descriptions of Race Signals for Shorten Course and Abandon deleted.

RRS 32.2 Shortening Course Race Signals for Shorten Course added. Restructured no apparent game change.

RRS 32.3 Abandoning Race Signals for Abandoning added.

RRS 40.2(c) Personal Flotation Devices Reference to requirement stated in Class Rules added.

Part 4 Other Requirements While Racing
RRS 44.3 (a) Scoring Penalty Requirement for applicability of Scoring Penalty to be specified in the NOR/SI repeated from RRS 44.1.

RRS 44.3(c) [Calculation of] Scoring Penalty Reference to 'places' replaced by 'points'.

RRS 50.1(b) Competitor Clothing and Equipment Description changed to include reference to Equipment Rules of Sailing

RRS 55.2 Spinnaker Poles; Whisker Poles Description changed to include reference to Equipment Rules of Sailing

RRS 56 ... Tracking Systems

RRS 56.3 added

When a rule requires a boat to be equipped with an Automatic Identification System transponder or any other tracking device, it shall not be turned off or its effectiveness intentionally reduced.

Part 5 Protests, Redress, Hearings, Misconduct and Appeals
Completely restructured. Probably deserves a thread on its own.

Part 6 Entry and Qualification
RRS 76.1(b) Exclusion of Boats or Competitors Requirement that reason for exclusion be 'proper' added

RRS 76.3 Redress for Exclusion for improper reason Entitlement to request redress added.

RRS 78.1 Compliance with Class rules; Certificates New final sentence added

When a rule provides that the penalty for a breach of a class rule may be less than disqualification, the same penalty will apply to a breach of this rule.

Part 7 Event Organisation

RRS 86 Changes to the Racing Rules

No significant changes except:

MNA Prescriptions can now change RRS 4 Acceptance of the Rules, but NOR/SI can NOT change RRS 4.

Class Rules can change RRS 78.2 Certificates.

RRS 89.2 Notice of Race NOR now required to be written.

RRS91(a) Protest Committee added

(A national authority may prescribe a minimum number of committee members for specified events within its jurisdiction.);

Appendices

Note that changes in Appendices are not Sidelined.

There are numerous changes.

Appendix M has had it's well deserved complete rewrite to conform with the rewrite of Part 5. 

Thanks John A.  I had missed the 'room to tack' addition.  That's very a nice add IMO. 

In regards to 18.3, what did you mean by "Test is once again the Other boat, not the tacking boat fetching."?

Ang 2025 RRS 18.3

2013 RRS 18.3 was
18.3 Tacking in the Zone
If a boat in the zone passes head to wind and is then on the same tack as a boat that is fetching the mark, rule 18.2 does not thereafter apply between them. The boat that changed tack
(a) shall not cause the other boat to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact or prevent the other boat from passing the mark on the required side, and
(b) shall give mark-room if the other boat becomes overlapped inside her.

2021 RRS 18.3 is
18.3 Passing Head to Wind in the Zone
If a boat in the zone of a mark to be left to port passes head to wind from port to starboard tack and is then fetching the mark, she shall not cause a boat that has been on starboard tack since entering the zone to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact and she shall give mark-room if that boat becomes overlapped inside her. When this rule applies between boats, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.

As we look at the new 18.3, I was reminded of a thread that I started back in 2020 2019 here: New Scenario - 18.2 vs 18.3 and "Cause"

It's a fairly long thread chock-full-o goodies.  One particular tasty morsel is where our friend Rob Overton gives us one of his historical perspectives of the evolution of a rule ... in this case rule 18.3.

Again it's one of those deep-dive threads that we sometimes get into ... it's worth picking through if you have a moment ... but if you don't ... scroll down until you see Rob O's post and then maybe back up and read the preceding 5-6 comments to put it in context.

PS: The new 18.3 removes 18.2 from this 2019 OP scenario.  Here is the OP scenario pic ... it might jog some memories.