I can understand why the WSRC took Basic Principles out of def: rule; to remove the confusion of whether or not a boat could break them, and thus be protested for breaking them.
That said, shouldn't competitors, boat owners, OA's, race officials and support persons agree to "accept" them in RRS 4 & 5?
Something like this for instance ..
4.1 (a)
By participating or intending to participate in an event conducted under the rules, each competitor and boat owner agrees to accept the rules [and the Basic Principles].
(b) A support person by providing support, or a parent or guardian by permitting their child to enter an event, agrees to accept the rules [and the Basic Principles].
Perhaps a re-write of the introduction?
To read...
The Racing Rules of Sailing includes two main sections.
The FirstDefinitions, Basic Principles andParts 1–7 which contains rules that affect all competitors. The second, the
appendices, provides details of rules, rules that apply to particular
kinds of racing, and rules that affect
only a small number ofspecificcompetitors or officials.