Racing Rules of Sailing Changes for 2009-2012 Affecting Race Management Presented by Bill Kirkpatrick December 7, 2008
Changes to RRS Summary - 1 PART 2, SECTION B General Limitations RRS 17 On the Same Tack; Proper Course PART 2, SECTION C At Marks and Obstructions RRS 18 Mark-Room RRS 19 Room to Pass an Obstruction RRS 20 Room to Tack at an Obstruction PART 2, SECTION D Other Rules RRS 21.2 - Boat taking penalty shall keep clear RRS 23.3 Interfering with a boat taking a penalty or sailing a proper course
Changes to RRS Summary - 2 PART 3 Conduct of a Race RRS 27.1 Removes redundant statement regarding when RRS 30 is applied RRS 28.1 Replaces track for wake and adds gate to string rule RRS 29.1 Reinforces that there are no individual recalls when rule 30.3 is in effect (words moved from 30.3) RRS 30.2 Reinforces that Z Flag penalties are cumulative RRS 31 Moves description of penalty for touching a mark to RRS 44.1 RRS 32.2 Reinforces that shortened course shall be signalled before the first boat crosses the finish line RRS 33 Clarifies that changed leg of course may begin at a gate
Changes to RRS Summary - 3 PART 4 Other Requirements When Racing RRS 40 Personal Flotation devices; Life-Saving Equipment (includes the exception about brief removal of PFDs while changing or adjusting clothing that we have often put in SIs) Adds US SAILING Prescription on life-saving equipment. RRS 41 Outside Help RRS 42 Propulsion 42.3 Exceptions adds (h) Sailing instructions may, in stated circumstances, permit propulsion using an engine or any other method, provided the boat does not gain a significant advantage in the race. RRS 43 Competitor Clothing and Equipment Moves wording formerly in 43.1(c) about race committee shall protest the boat of the competitor to RRS 60.2 RRS 44 Penalties at the Time of an Incident substantial revision RRS 51 Movable Ballast unset sails included as movable ballast
Changes to RRS Summary - 4 PART 5 SECTION A Protests; Redress; Rule 69 Action RRS 60 Right to Protest; Right to Request Redress or Rule 69 Action Changes 60.2 (a) to read [A race committee may] protest a boat, but not as a result of information arising from a request for redress or an invalid protest, or from a report from an interested party other than the representative of the boat herself; Moves RC protest requirement regarding inspector or measurer reports of clothing, equipment and measurement infractions to 60.2 from 43.1(c) and 78.3, respectively. Changes 60.3(a) to incorporate the above bolded wording also added to 60.2(a)
Changes to RRS Summary - 5 PART 5 SECTION A - Protests, Redress, Rule 69 Action (cont d) RRS 62 Redress Changes 62.1 (a) [request for redress] to append the words... but not by a protest committee decision when a boat was a party to the hearing; Changes 62.2 [redress time limit], which is apparently to clean up wording
Changes to RRS Summary - 6 PART 5 SECTION B Hearings and Decisions RRS 63 Hearings Makes minor wording change to RRS 63.3(b) [Right to be Present] Adds requirement in 63.4 for protest committee members to declare any possible self interest as soon as they are aware of it. Clarifies 63.5 [Validity of the Protest or Request for Redress] without changing the intent. RRS 64 Decisions Adds new 64.1 (b) that states If a boat has taken an applicable penalty, rule 64.1(a) does not apply to her unless the penalty for a rule she broke is a disqualification that is not excludable from her series score.
Changes to RRS Summary - 7 PART 5 SECTION C Gross Misconduct RRS 69 Allegations of Gross Misconduct Makes major revision to wording of 69.1 [Action by a Protest Committee] Adds ISAF to 69.2 Adds ISAF action to 69.3
Changes to RRS Summary - 8 PART 5 SECTION D Appeals RRS 70 Appeals and Request to a National Authority Adds new 70.3, requiring an appeal under 70.1 or a request by a protest committee under 70.2 to be sent to the relevant national authority (or authorities). Adds US Sailing Prescription to 70.5 that its approval is required to deny the right of appeal. [Denial of appeal is often invoked in events that are qualifiers for higher-level rungs on a championship ladder.] The prescription gives a URL for obtaining more information or approval
Changes to RRS Summary - 9 PART 6 Entry and Qualification RRS 78 Compliance with Class Rules; Certificates Moves requirement, formerly in 78.3, for the RC to protest reports of measurement infraction to 60.3 RRS 79 - Classification Adds new RRS 79 - If the notice of race or class rules state that some or all competitors must satisfy classification requirements, the classification shall be carried out as described in ISAF Regulation 22, Sailor Classification Code. RRS 81 Rescheduled Races Deletes references to RRS 36 and RRS 30.3. RRS 82 [US SAILING PRESCRIPTION] Indemnification or Hold Harmless Agreements URL added for obtaining more information
Changes to RRS Summary - 10 PART 7 Race Organization RRS 86 Changes to the Racing Rules Adds option for sailing instructions to change to two or four the number of hull lengths determining the zone around marks. Limits RRS rules that class rules may change Requires Class rules making allowable rule changes to refer specifically to the rule and state the change [effective 1 January 2011]. RRS 87 Changes to Class Rules Adds new RRS 87 - The sailing instructions may change a class rule only when the class rules permit the change, or when written permission of the class association for the change is displayed on the official notice board. RRS 88 National Prescriptions Adds rule and US SAILING prescription that clarify applicability of the prescriptions of a national authority and the extent to which US SAILING prescriptions may be changed.
Changes to RRS Summary - 11 PART 7 Race Organization (cont d) RRS 90 Race Committee; Sailing Instructions; Scoring Softens requirement in 90.2(b) for SIs of international events to include a copy of national prescriptions in English Changes wording in 90.2(c) to clarify that time limit for posting of changes to SIs is to be as specified in the SIs.
Changes to RRS Summary - 12 SOUND-SIGNAL STARTING SYSTEM US SAILING Prescription is now Appendix S (no changes) DEFINITIONS Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Fetching (new) Mark-Room (new) Obstruction Zone Changes default zone to three hull lengths. [RRS 86.1(b) allows the SIs to change the zone to two or four hull lengths.]
Major Changes Affecting Race Management Change to Default zone from two hull-lengths to three and option to change zone in SIs (to either two or four hull-lengths Requirement to obtain US Sailing approval to deny right of appeal Requirement to obtain and post class approval to change class rules at a regatta
Effect of Change to Zone and Options Defined zone was changed through experience, especially with higher-performance boats. Consider changing zone in SIs to two hulllengths for small race courses (e.g. frostbite racing). Consider changing zone in SIs to four hulllengths for very-high-performance boats (e.g. multihulls)
Effect of Change to Zone and Options Wind Set leeward gates in consideration of the zone Gate should be at least two zone radii plus one hull length for longest class or boat Gate should not be so wide as to favor one end excessively in a wind shift (typically no more than two zone radii plus three or four hull lengths). Wind
Error in Race Signals Race Signals is on the inside back cover. If you ve discarded the sticker, the complete corrected page and a correction sticker can be downloaded from www.ussailing.org/rules. Incorrect Corrected
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UPCOMING YRALIS SEMINARS Rules Seminars with Dave Perry February 26 at Pequot YC March 3 at Centerport YC March 12 at Manhasset Bay YC March 18 at Riverside YC US Sailing Race Management Seminars Advanced Seminar (date tbd) at Noroton YC Basic Seminar on March 14 at Centerport YC Watch for announcements from YRALIS