Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing
Changes in RRS 2021-24- Impact on Current Rule Positions
Tribhuwan Jaiswal
Nationality: India
Certifications:
- National Judge
- National Race Officer
5
The racing rules are revised and published every four years by the World Sailing, the international authority for the sport. The World sailing recently published the RRS 2021-24. This edition becomes effective on 1 January 2021
It would be of interest to know big and small put together there are close to a hundred changes in the RRS 2021-24. Whilst close to sixty five percent changes affect a rule or its application, the others are renumbering or rephrasing not affecting the essence of the rule in current form.
Starting with the definitions, now in Start and Finish only the hull needs to be watched out for crossing over the line. Sail the Course has been defined which would a help to keep out error in interpretation. Then there are additions and omissions in definitions of Mark, Mark room, Obstruction or Proper Course which does not change the essence of the current rule, albeit makes it easier to interpret and apply.
There are new inclusions like the term Hails, rule 42.3(c)(1) conditions for initiating foiling, rule 37 for Search and Rescue and flag V in race signals for communication channel monitoring and there are reversals too like DSQ removed from penalty for breach of rule 2. Role and responsibility of a support person has been further brought under the preview of these rules, a continuation of the last review process.
A lot of changes result in making the rules more comprehensive and would facilitate better conduct of events. For example like bringing the all exonerations together under rule 43 or rule 25.1 indicating the time NOR and SI be made available to the participants or even changes in use of NOR and SI to give instructions regarding applicability of certain rules.
The aspect of what is the change and its impact on the rule position is of interest to all of us, the sailors, coaches and the race officials. I have made an attempt to compile the changes that have been brought about in the RRS 2021-24 as well as discuss the impact on the current rule position.
Hope this document makes an interesting and useful reading. Your comments and recommendations are most welcome.
The link to the document as appended.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ExxifuTScHsHuSVCPYlyTUfmjfVptV6a/view?usp=sharing
The link to the document as appended.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ExxifuTScHsHuSVCPYlyTUfmjfVptV6a/view?usp=sharing
Happy Reading!
Comments
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Also, A5.1 states that a boat that did not sail the course as defined can be scored NSC without a hearing by the RC.
I see that Appendices K and L (model NOR and SI) are no longer included. These are supposed to be published in the WS Website in various editable forms.
Given the very substantial changes in Appendix J Contents of NOR and SI, and things like Orange and Blue Flags,, Appendices K and L with proven wordings are pretty important documents.
Does anyone know whether there are drafts of these Model Documents available for study yet?