INTRODUCTION

The Racing Rules of Sailing includes two main sections. The first, Parts 1–7, contains rules that affect all competitors. The second, the appendices, provides details of rules, rules that apply to particular kinds of racing, and rules that affect only a small number of competitors or officials.

Terminology A term used in the sense stated in the Definitions is printed in italics or, in preambles, in bold italics (for example, racing and racing).
Each of the terms in the table below is used in The Racing Rules of Sailing with the meaning given.

Other words and terms are used in the sense ordinarily understood in nautical or general use. For a source of the nautical sense of a word, a reader may refer to The Equipment Rules of Sailing.

Hails A language other than English may be used for a hail required by the rules provided that it is reasonable for it to be understood by all boats affected. However, a hail in English is always acceptable.

Notation The notation ‘[DP]’ in a rule means that the penalty for a breach of the rule may, at the discretion of the protest committee, be less than disqualification. Guidelines for discretionary penalties are available on the World Sailing website.

Revision The racing rules are revised and published every four years by World Sailing, the international authority for the sport. This edition becomes effective on 1 January 2025 except that for an event beginning in 2024 the date may be postponed by the notice of race. Marginal markings indicate important changes to Parts 1–7 and the Definitions in the 2021–2024 edition. No changes are contemplated before 2029, but any changes determined to be urgent before then will be announced through national authorities and posted on the World Sailing website.

Appendices When the rules of an appendix apply, they take precedence over any conflicting rules in Parts 1–7 and the Definitions. Each appendix in this book is identified by a letter. Other appendices are available on the World Sailing website and are identified by two or three letters. A reference to a rule in an appendix will contain the letter or letters, and the rule number (for example, ‘rule A1’ or ‘rule MR1’). The letters I, K, L, O and Q are not used to designate appendices in this book.

Development Rules Development Rules may be approved by World Sailing for specific events or categories of events. They are available on the World Sailing website and are identified by the letters DR.

Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions Guides and templates for writing a notice of race and sailing instructions are available, in various file formats, on the World Sailing website at www.sailing.org/racingrules. National authorities are encouraged to translate these guides and templates.

World Sailing Regulations The Regulations are referred to in the definition Rule and in rule 6, but they are not included in this book because they can be changed at any time. The most recent versions of the Regulations are published on the World Sailing website; new versions will be announced through national authorities.

Interpretations World Sailing publishes the following authoritative interpretations of the racing rules:

• The Case Book – Interpretations of the Racing Rules,
• The Call Books, for various disciplines,
• Interpretations of Rule 42, Propulsion, and
• Interpretations of the Regulations, for those Regulations that are rules.

These publications are available on the World Sailing website. Other interpretations of the racing rules are not authoritative unless approved by World Sailing.