ADDENDUM Q
UMPIRED FLEET RACING
Under rule 86.2 and Regulation 28.1.3, World Sailing has approved the use of these sailing instructions as an addendum to the sailing instructions in World Sailing 200-Point and 100-Point Events from January 22, 2017 and until changed, for umpired fleet racing in the last race(s) of each series for the Olympic classes. Similar events are also encouraged to use the addendum. This can be done under rule 86.3 if the national authority prescribes that rule changes are allowed for the purpose of development and testing. Please note that the national authority may prescribe that such changes require its approval.
Races may be sailed under the sailing instructions in this addendum only if the notice of race and the sailing instructions so state, with reference to the relevant version, and that version is posted on the official notice board.
Use of this addendum is recommended for races in which about ten one-design boats compete with umpires present. There should be one umpire boat for every three or four boats in the fleet.
When Addendum Q is posted on the official noticeboard, this paragraph and the three paragraphs above should be deleted. Nothing below should be changed or deleted.
This addendum has been approved by World Sailing in accordance with rule 86.2 and Regulation 28.1.3. It applies to all medal races and all pre-race or post-race activities related to them.
Version: June 12, 2017
Marginal marks indicate important changes from the previous version.
These sailing instructions change the definition Proper Course, and rules 28.2, 60, 62, 64.1, 66, 70, and B5.
Q1. CHANGES TO RACING RULES
Additional changes to rules are made in instructions Q2, Q3, Q4, and Q5.
Q1.1. Changes to the Definitions and the Rules of Part 2 and Part 4
  1. Add to the definition Proper Course: ‘A boat taking a penalty or manoeuvring to take a penalty is not sailing a proper course.’
  2. When rule 20 applies, the following arm signals are required in addition to the hails:
    1. for ‘Room to tack’, repeatedly and clearly pointing to windward; and
    2. for ‘You tack’, repeatedly and clearly pointing at the other boat and waving the arm to windward
Instruction Q1.1(b) does not apply to boards.
Q1.2. Changes to Rules Involving Protests, Requests for Redress, Penalties and Exoneration
  1. The first sentence of rule 44.1 is replaced with: 'A boat may take a One-Turn Penalty in accordance with rule 44.2 when, in an incident while racing, she may have broken one or more of the rules of Part 2 (except rule 14 when she has caused damage or injury), rule 31 or 42.'
  2. For boards, the One-Turn Penalty is one 360° turn with no requirement for a tack or a gybe.
  3. Rule 60.1 is replaced with ‘A boat may protest another boat or request redress provided she complies with instructions Q2.1 and Q2.4.’
  4. The third sentence of rule 61.1(a) and all of rule 61.1(a)(2) are deleted. Rule B5 is deleted.
  5. Rules 62.1(a), (b) and (d) are deleted. In a race where this addendum applies, there shall be no scoring adjustments for redress given under any of these rules for a previous race.
  6. Rule 64.1(a) is changed so that the provision for exonerating a boat may be applied by the umpires without a hearing, and it takes precedence over any conflicting instruction of this addendum.
  7. Rules P1 to P4 shall not apply.
Q2. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS BY BOATS
Q2.1.
While racing, a boat may protest another boat under a rule of Part 2 (except rule 14) or under rule 31 or 42; however, a boat may only protest under a rule of Part 2 for an incident in which she was involved. To do so she shall hail ‘Protest’ and conspicuously display a red flag at the first reasonable opportunity for each. She shall remove the flag before, or at the first reasonable opportunity after a boat involved in the incident has taken a penalty voluntarily or after an umpire’s decision. However, a board need not display a red flag.
Q2.2.
A boat that protests as provided in instruction Q2.1 is not entitled to a hearing. Instead, a boat involved in the incident may acknowledge breaking a rule by taking a One-Turn Penalty in accordance with rule 44.2. An umpire may penalize any boat that broke a rule and was not exonerated, unless the boat took a voluntary penalty.
Q2.3.
At the finishing line, the race committee will inform the competitors about each boat’s finishing place or scoring abbreviation. After this has been done, the race committee will promptly display flag B with one sound. Flag B will be displayed for at least two minutes and then removed with one sound. If the race committee changes the scoring information provided at the finishing line while flag B is displayed, it will display flag L with one sound. Flag B will continue to be displayed for at least two minutes after any changes are made.
Q2.4.
A boat intending to
  1. protest another boat under a rule other than instruction Q3.2 or Q4.2(a), or a rule listed in instruction Q2.1,
  2. protest another boat under rule 14 if there was contact that caused damage or injury, or
  3. request redress
shall hail the race committee before or during the display of flag B. The same time limit applies to protests under instruction Q5.6. The protest committee may extend the time limit if there is good reason to do so.
Q2.5.
The race committee will promptly inform the protest committee about any protests or requests for redress made under instruction Q2.4.
Q3. UMPIRE SIGNALS AND IMPOSED PENALTIES
Q3.1.
An umpire will signal a decision as follows:
  1. A green and white flag with one long sound means ‘No penalty.’
  2. A red flag with one long sound means ‘A penalty is imposed or remains outstanding.’ The umpire will hail or signal to identify each such boat.
  3. A black flag with one long sound means ‘A boat is disqualified.’ The umpire will hail or signal to identify the boat disqualified.
Q3.2.
  1. A boat penalized under instruction Q3.1(b) shall take a One-Turn Penalty as described in rule 44.2..
  2. A boat disqualified under instruction Q3.1(c) shall promptly leave the course area.
Q4. PENALTIES AND PROTESTS INITIATED BY AN UMPIRE; ROUNDING OR PASSING MARKS
Q4.1.
When a boat
  1. breaks rule 31 and does not take a penalty,
  2. breaks rule 42,
  3. gains an advantage despite taking a penalty,
  4. deliberately breaks a rule,
  5. commits a breach of sportsmanship, or
  6. fails to comply with instruction Q3.2 or to take a penalty when required to do so by an umpire,
an umpire may penalize her without a protest by another boat. The umpire may impose one or more One-Turn Penalties to be taken in accordance with rule 44.2, each signalled in accordance with instruction Q3.1(b), or disqualify her under instruction Q3.1(c), or report the incident to the protest committee for further action. If a boat is penalized under instruction Q4.1(f) for not taking a penalty or taking a penalty incorrectly, the original penalty is cancelled.
Q4.2.
The last sentence of rule 28.2 is changed to ‘She may correct any errors to comply with this rule, provided she has not rounded the next mark or finished.’ A boat that does not correct any such error shall be disqualified under instruction Q3.1(c).
Q4.3.
An umpire who decides, based on his own observation or a report received from any source, that a boat may have broken a rule, other than instruction Q3.2 or rule 28 or a rule listed in instruction Q2.1, may inform the protest committee for its action under rule 60.3. However, he will not inform the protest committee of an alleged breach of rule 14 unless there is damage or injury.
Q5. PROTESTS; REQUESTS FOR REDRESS OR REOPENING; APPEALS; OTHER PROCEEDINGS
Q5.1.
No proceedings of any kind may be taken in relation to any action or non-action by an umpire.
Q5.2.
A boat may not base an appeal on an alleged improper action, omission or decision of the umpires. A party to a hearing may not base an appeal on the decision of the protest committee. In rule 66 the third sentence is changed to ‘A party to the hearing may not ask for a reopening.’
Q5.3.
  1. Protests and requests for redress need not be in writing.
  2. The protest committee may take evidence and conduct the hearing in any way it considers appropriate and may communicate its decision orally.
  3. If the protest committee decides that a breach of a rule has had no effect on the outcome of the race, it may impose a penalty of points or fraction of points or make another arrangement it decides is equitable, which may be to impose no penalty.
  4. If the protest committee penalizes a boat in accordance with instruction Q5.4 or if a standard penalty is applied, all other boats will be informed about the change of the penalized boat’s score.
Q5.4.
The race committee will not protest a boat.
Q5.5.
The protest committee may protest a boat under rule 60.3. However, it will not protest a boat for breaking instruction Q3.2 or 28, a rule listed in instruction Q2.1, or rule 14 unless there is damage or injury.
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