Racing Rules of Sailing

When stated in the notice of race, wingfoiling course races shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix. The term ‘boat’ elsewhere in the rules means ‘wingfoil’ or ‘boat’ as appropriate.

Note: Rules for other wingfoiling competitions (such as Freestyle, Wave, Big Air, Speed) are not included in this appendix

Version 3.0 January 2025

Note: Rules for other wingfoiling competitions (such as Freestyle, Wave, Big Air, Speed) are not included in this appendix

Version 3.0 January 2025

The definitions Clear Astern and Clear Ahead, Overlap, Continuing Obstruction, Finish, Mark-Room, Obstruction, Start, Tack, Starboard or Port and Zone are changed to:

Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap One wingfoil is clear astern of another when her hull is behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other wingfoil’s hull. The other wingfoil is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a wingfoil between them overlaps both. If there is reasonable doubt that two wingfoils are overlapped, it shall be presumed that they are not. These terms always apply to wingfoils on the same tack. They apply to wingfoils on opposite tacks only when both wingfoils are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

Continuing Obstruction An obstruction is a continuing obstruction when a wingfoil will pass alongside it for at least 20 metres. However, the following are not a continuing obstruction: a vessel under way, a wingfoil racing, or a race committee vessel that is also a mark.

Finish A wingfoil finishes when, after her starting signal, while the competitor is in contact with the hull, any part of her hull, or the competitor, or equipment, crosses the finishing line from the course side. However, she has not finished if after crossing the finishing line she

(a) takes a penalty under rule 44.2,
(b) corrects an error in sailing the course made at the line, or
(c) continues to sail the course.

After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely. The sailing instructions may change the direction in which wingfoils are required to cross the finishing line to finish.

Keep Clear A wingfoil keeps clear of a right-of-way wingfoil

(a) if the right-of-way wingfoil can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and,
(b) if the right-of-way wingfoil can also change course in both directions without immediately making contact.

Mark-Room Room for a wingfoil to sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail her proper course to round or pass a mark on the required side, and room to pass a finishing mark after finishing.

Obstruction An obstruction is

(a) an object that a wingfoil could not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing directly towards it and 10 metres from it;
(b) an object that can be safely passed on only one side; or
(c) an object, area or line that is so designated in a rule.

However, a wingfoil racing is not an obstruction to other wingfoils unless they are required to keep clear of her or, if rule 22 applies, avoid her.

Start A wingfoil starts when, having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, any part of her hull, the competitor, or equipment crosses the starting line from the pre-start side to the course side.

Tack, Starboard or Port A wingfoil is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to the competitor’s hand that would be forward if the competitor were in normal riding position (riding heel side with both hands on the wing and arms not crossed). A wingfoil is on starboard tack when the competitor’s right hand would be forward and is on the port tack when the competitor’s left hand would be forward.

Zone The area around a mark within a distance of 20 metres. A wingfoil is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.

Add the following definitions:

Capsized A wingfoil is capsized if her wing or the competitor is in the water.

Jumping A wingfoil is jumping when her hull, its appendages and the competitor are clear of the water.

The last sentence of rule 90.2(c) is changed to: ‘Oral instructions may be given only if the procedure is stated in the sailing instructions.’

Rule A1 is changed to:

The number of races scheduled and the number required to be scored to constitute a series shall be stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions. If an event includes more than one discipline or format, the notice of race or sailing instructions shall state how the overall scores are to be calculated; see rule 90.3(a).

Appendix G is changed to:

APPENDIX G - IDENTIFICATION

Every wingfoil shall be identified as follows:

(a) Each competitor shall be provided with and wear a bib with a personal competition number of no more than three digits. The bib shall be worn as intended with the competition number clearly displayed.
(b) The numbers shall be displayed as high as possible on the front, back and sleeves of the bib. They should be at least 20 cm tall on the back and at least 6 cm tall on the front and the sleeves.
(c) The numbers shall be Arabic numerals, all of the same solid colour, clearly legible and in a commercially available typeface giving the same or better legibility as Helvetica. The colour of the numbers shall contrast with the colour of the bib.

Rule 16 is changed to:

When a right-of-way wingfoil changes course, she shall give the other wingfoil room to continue keeping clear.

Rule 17 is changed to:

When, at the warning signal, the course to the first mark is approximately ninety degrees from the true wind, during the last 30 seconds before her starting signal a wingfoil overlapped to leeward of another wingfoil on the same tack shall not sail above her shortest course through the starting line to the first mark while they remain overlapped if as a result the other wingfoil would need to take action to avoid contact, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other wingfoil.

Rule 18 is changed to:

(a) Rule 18 applies between wingfoils when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not apply
- (1) between wingfoils that are on opposite tacks when the first wingfoil reaches the zone, or
- (2) between a wingfoil approaching a mark and one leaving it, or
- (3) if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case rule 19 applies.
(b) Rule 18 no longer applies between wingfoils when mark-room has been given.

(a) When the first of two wingfoils reaches the zone,
- (1) if the wingfoils are overlapped, the outside wingfoil at that moment shall give the inside wingfoil mark-room;
- (2) if the wingfoils are not overlapped, the wingfoil that has not reached the zone at that moment shall give the other wingfoil mark-room.

When a wingfoil is required to give mark-room by this rule, she shall continue to do so for as long as this rule applies, even if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins.

(b) Rule 18.2(a) no longer applies if either wingfoil referred to in this rule changes tack.
(c) If the wingfoil entitled to mark-room leaves the zone, the entitlement to mark-room ceases and rule 18.2(a) is applied again if required based on the relationship of the wingfoils at the time rule 18.2(a) is re-applied.

Rule 19.2(a) is changed to:

(a) A right-of-way wingfoil may choose to pass an obstruction on her port or starboard side. If a right-of-way wingfoil changes course when choosing on which side to pass the obstruction, she shall give the other wingfoil room to continue keeping clear.

The preamble to Section D is changed to:

When rule 21 or 22 applies between two wingfoils, Section A and C rules do not.

Rule 21.3 is changed and new rule 21.4 is added:

During the last minute before her starting signal, a wingfoil that stops, slows down significantly, or one that is not making significant forward progress, shall keep clear of all others unless she is accidentally capsized.

A wingfoil that is jumping shall keep clear of one that is not.

Rule 22 is changed to:

If possible, a wingfoil shall avoid a wingfoil that is capsized, is aground, or is trying to help a person or vessel in danger.

Minutes before starting signal	Visual signal	Sound signal	Means
3	Class flag	One	Warning signal
2	U or black flag	One	Preparatory signal
1	U or black flag removed	One long	One minute
0	Class flag removed	One	Starting signal

Rule 29.1 is deleted.

Rules 30.1 and 30.2 are deleted.

In rules 30.3 and 30.4 ‘hull’ is changed to ‘hull, the competitor, or equipment’.

In rule 30.4, ‘sail number’ is changed to ‘competitor number’.

Rule 42 is changed to:

Except when permitted in rule 42.2, a wingfoil shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed.

(a) A wingfoil may be propelled by unassisted actions of the competitor on the hull.
(b) A competitor may swim, walk or paddle while capsized, provided that the wingfoil does not gain a significant advantage in the race.
(c) Any means of propulsion may be used to help a person or another vessel in danger.

Rules 44.1 and 44.2 are changed to:

A wingfoil may take a penalty in accordance with rule 44.2 when she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 or rule 31 in an incident while racing. However,

(a) when a wingfoil may have broken a rule of Part 2 and rule 31 in the same incident she need not take the penalty for breaking rule 31; and
(b) if the wingfoil caused injury or serious damage or, despite taking a penalty, gained a significant advantage or caused significant disadvantage to the other wingfoil in the race or series by her breach, her penalty shall be to retire.

After getting well clear of other wingfoils as soon after the incident as possible, a wingfoil takes a penalty by:

(a) Except on a beat to windward, by promptly tacking and bearing away to a course that is more than ninety degrees from the true wind.
(b) When on a beat to windward, by promptly gybing and then luffing to a close-hauled course.

When a wingfoil takes a penalty at or near the finishing line, she shall sail completely to the course side of the line before she finishes.

Rule 50.1(a) is changed to:

(a) Competitors shall not wear or carry clothing or equipment for the purpose of increasing their weight. However, a competitor may wear a drinking container that shall have a capacity of at least one litre and weigh no more than 1.5 kilograms when full.

Rules 45, 48.2, 49, 50.2, 51, 52, 54, 55 and 56.1 are deleted.

Rule 60.5(d)(1) is changed to:

(d) If the protest committee decides that a wingfoil has broken a class rule:
- (1) the wingfoil shall not be penalized if any deviations in excess of acceptable manufacturing tolerances were caused by damage or normal wear and they did not improve the performance of the wingfoil.

Rule 63.5(d) is changed to:

(d) When the protest committee is in doubt about any matter concerning the measurement of a wingfoil, the interpretation of a class rule, or a matter involving damage to a wingfoil, it shall refer its questions, together with the relevant facts, to an authority responsible for interpreting the rule. In making its decision, the committee shall be bound by the reply of the authority.

Add new rule 63.8:

For a race of an elimination series that will qualify a wingfoil to compete in a later stage of an event:

(a) Rule 61.4(b)(1) is changed to:

an improper action or improper omission of a committee or the organizing authority, but not by a protest committee’s decision or its procedures,
(b) A wingfoil intending to protest or request redress based on an incident while racing, shall also inform the race committee of her intention to protest or request redress as soon as practicable after she finishes. However, if the wingfoil retires from the race or the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment, she shall inform the race committee at the first reasonable opportunity.

For all other protests and requests for redress, the wingfoil shall inform either the race committee or protest committee of her intention at the first reasonable opportunity.
(c) Hearing procedures (except for hearings under rule 69.2):
- (1) Protests and requests for redress need not be in writing. They shall be made orally to a member of the protest committee as soon as reasonably possible, which may be after the race. This changes rules 60.3 and 61.2.
- (2) The protest committee may schedule the hearing and inform the parties in any way it considers appropriate and may communicate this orally. This changes rule 63.1.
- (3) The protest committee may take evidence and conduct the hearing in any way it considers appropriate and may communicate its decision orally. This changes rule 63.1, 63.2, 63.4 and 63.6.
- (4) If the protest committee decides that the outcome of a hearing would not affect the further qualification, it may postpone the hearing or make any arrangement it decides is equitable. This changes rule 60.5, 61.4(a) and (c), 63.1 and 63.2(a).
- (5) Rule 63.7 is deleted.

Add new rule 70.6:

70.6 Appeals are not permitted in disciplines and formats with elimination series.

Rule A5.2 is changed to:

A5.2 A wingfoil that did not sail the course, retired or was disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of wingfoils entered in the series or, in a race of an elimination series, the number of wingfoils in that heat.

When an inside overlapped right-of-way wingfoil must change tack at a mark to sail her proper course, until she changes tack she shall sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail that course if by so doing she affects the course of another wingfoil. Rule 18.3 does not apply at a gate mark or a finishing mark.

APPENDIX WF - WINGFOILING RACING RULES

APPENDIX WF - WINGFOILING RACING RULES