Racing Rules of Sailing

All or part of this appendix applies only if the notice of race or sailing instructions so state.

The protest committee may appoint observers, including protest committee members, to act in accordance with rule P1.2. A person with a significant conflict of interest shall not be appointed as an observer.

If an observer appointed under rule P1.1 decides that a boat has broken rule 42, the boat may be penalized by, as soon as reasonably possible making a sound signal, pointing a yellow flag at her, and clearly identifying her by hailing, even if she is no longer racing. A boat so penalized shall not be penalized a second time under rule 42 for the same incident.

If a boat has been penalized under rule P1.2 and the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment, the penalty is cancelled, but it is still counted to determine the number of times she has been penalized during the event.

A boat shall not be given redress for an action by a member of the protest committee or its designated observer under rule P1.2 unless the action was improper due to a failure to take into account a race committee signal or a class rule.

When a boat is first penalized under rule P1.2 her penalty shall be a Two-Turns Penalty under rule 44.2. If she fails to take it she shall be disqualified without a hearing.

When a boat is penalized a second time during the event, she shall promptly retire. If she fails to do so she shall be disqualified without a hearing and her score shall not be excluded.

When a boat is penalized a third or subsequent time during the event, she shall promptly retire. If she does so her penalty shall be disqualification without a hearing and her score shall not be excluded. If she fails to do so her penalty shall be disqualification without a hearing from all races in the event, with no score excluded, and the protest committee shall consider calling a hearing under rule 69.2.

If a boat is penalized under rule P2.2 or P2.3 and it was not reasonably possible for her to retire before finishing, she shall be scored as if she had retired promptly.

Rule P5 applies if the class rules permit pumping, rocking and ooching when the wind speed exceeds a specified limit.

(a) The race committee may signal that pumping, rocking and ooching are permitted, as specified in the class rules, by displaying flag O before or with the warning signal.
(b) If the wind speed becomes less than the specified limit after flag O has been displayed, the race committee may postpone the race. Then, before or with a new warning signal, the committee shall display either flag R, to signal that rule 42 as changed by the class rules applies, or flag O, as provided in rule P5.2(a).
(c) If flag O or flag R is displayed before or with the warning signal, it shall be displayed until the starting signal.

After the starting signal,

(a) if the wind speed exceeds the specified limit, the race committee may display flag O with repetitive sounds at a mark to signal that pumping, rocking and ooching are permitted, as specified in the class rules, after passing the mark;
(b) if flag O has been displayed and the wind speed becomes less than the specified limit, the race committee may display flag R with repetitive sounds at a mark to signal that rule 42, as changed by the class rules, applies after passing the mark.

APPENDIX P - SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR RULE 42

APPENDIX P - SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR RULE 42

P1: OBSERVERS AND PROCEDURE

P1.1:

P1.2:

P2: PENALTIES

P3: POSTPONEMENT, GENERAL RECALL OR ABANDONMENT

P4: REDRESS LIMITATION

P5: FLAGS O AND R

P2.2: Second Penalty

P2.3: Third and Subsequent Penalties

P2.4: Penalties near the Finishing Line

P5.1: When Rule P5 Applies

P5.2: Before the Starting Signal

P5.3: After the Starting Signal