Preview notice

Notice: This site is an early preview and may include errors or omissions. Verify against official sources and do not rely on this site alone when making decisions.

Notice: This site is an early preview and may include errors or omissions. Verify against official sources and do not rely on this site alone when making decisions.

Protest Room logoProtest Room
Appendix
  • Rules Explorer
  • Case Book
  • Prescriptions
  • Q&A
  • Guides
Navigation menu
  • Rules Explorer
  • Case Book
  • Prescriptions
  • Q&A
  • Guides
  1. Home/
  2. Cases/
  3. Case case-4

© 2026 Protest Room

Sources & AttributionPrivacy statement
← Back to all cases

World Sailing Official Case Book

Case 4

A competitor may hold a sheet outboard.

GBR 1962/41

Question

Is it permissible for a competitor to hold the sheet of a headsail or spinnaker outboard?

Answer

Rule 55.3 states ‘No sail shall be sheeted over or through any device that exerts outward pressure on a sheet.’ No part of a person’s body is a ‘device’. It is therefore permissible for a competitor to hold a sheet outboard, provided that rule 49 is complied with.

Related Rules

Rule 49: CREW POSITION; LIFELINESRule 55.3: Sheeting Sails
← Previous: 3Next: 5 →