{"id":66342,"date":"2018-03-08T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-09T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=66342"},"modified":"2023-05-06T21:36:59","modified_gmt":"2023-05-07T01:36:59","slug":"the-hidden-dangers-of-casual-race-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/how-to\/the-hidden-dangers-of-casual-race-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hidden Dangers of Casual-Race Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

World Sailing recently added an unusual new case to The Case Book<\/em>. It deals with rules that are rarely discussed or even read but could have a big effect, especially if you sail in continental or world championships or aspire to sail in the Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The new case, Case 143, got its start from a routine protest following a race at a sailing club in Canada. In the incident, two competitors, Abel and Cain, tangled near a mark. Abel consequently protested Cain. Abel thought he had a strong case, but to his surprise, the protest committee disqualified him and did not penalize Cain. The notice of race and the sailing instructions each stated that the race would be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing<\/em> (RRS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Abel thought that the protest committee\u2019s decision was not correct so, as apparently permitted by Rule 70.1(a), he wrote up an appeal of the decision and promptly sent it to Sail Canada, the national authority for all sailboat races in Canada. Then the fun began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

It turns out the club that had organized the race previously declined to join Sail Canada and had no connection to or affiliation with Sail Canada. When the appeal arrived in the mail, officials at Sail Canada questioned whether they had any obligation to consider an appeal from a club that was not a member of the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"powerful <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n When No. 37298 entered the zone, she was clear ahead of the blue boat with the white chute. Under the RRS, No. 37298 had right of way, she was entitled to mark-room, and she broke no rule by luffing from a run to a reach. Under the IRPCAS, she had right of way but, because she was being overtaken by the blue boat behind her, she was required by IRPCAS Rule 17(a) to hold \u201cher course and speed.\u201d By luffing, she broke that IRPCAS rule. This is just one example of many situations in which the IRPCAS and RRS are strikingly different.<\/span>\n Paul Todd\/Outside Images<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Their attempt to decide this question led them to parts of the rulebook rarely needed or studied. They found their answer in Rules 70.3, 84 and 89.1. Rule 70.3\u2019s first sentence states: \u201cAn appeal under rule 70.1 … shall be sent to the national authority with which the organizing authority is associated under rule 89.1.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Rule 89.1 does not permit any old club to organize a race. In fact, Rule 89.1 lists eight types of organizations that are permitted to organize a race: \u201cWorld Sailing; a member national authority of World Sailing; an affiliated club; an affiliated organization other than a club, and if so prescribed by the national authority, with the approval of the national authority or in conjunction with an affiliated club; an unaffiliated class association, either with the approval of the national authority or in conjunction with the affiliated club; two or more of the above organizations; an unaffiliated body in conjunction with unaffiliated club where the body is owned and controlled by the club. The national authority of the club may prescribe that its approval is required for such an event; or if approved by World sailing and the national authority of the club, and unaffiliated body in conjunction with an affiliated club where the body is not owned and controlled by the club.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Because the club was located in Canada, Sail Canada was “the national authority of the venue.” Since the club was not in any way affiliated with Sail Canada, the decisions made by the protest committee for a race at that club were not eligible under Rule 70 to be appealed to Sail \u00adCanada or, indeed, to any<\/em> national authority. For these \u00adreasons, Sail Canada declined to consider Abel’s\u00a0appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Sail Canada thought their \u00addecision was interesting and that it deserved to be a World Sailing case. Proposing a case based on their decision had an extra benefit for Sail Canada \u2014 it could, effectively, determine whether World Sailing agreed with its decision. The\u00a0World \u00adSailing \u00adRacing Rules Committee did indeed agree. It upheld Sail Canada\u2019s decision to decline to consider Abel\u2019s appeal, and World Sailing\u2019s view of that decision is now described in detail in new Case\u00a0143.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

In that case, World Sailing goes beyond Sail Canada\u2019s decision on Abel\u2019s appeal to discuss Rule 75, Entering a Race. This rule has two parts. Rule 75.1 puts limitations on the boats that can be entered in a race, and Rule 75.2 requires competitors to comply with World Sailing Regulation 19, Eligibility Code. I\u2019ll bet you\u2019ve never taken any notice of Rule 75 or the World Sailing Eligibility Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n

Rule 75.1 requires the \u00adperson who enters a boat in a race to be \u201ca member of a club or other organization affiliated to a World Sailing member national authority\u201d or a member of a national authority. This means that in order to enter your boat in any race in the United States, you must be a member of a club or organization affiliated to US Sailing or you yourself must be a member of US Sailing.<\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n

Rule 75.1 requires the person who enters a boat in a race to be \u201ca member of a club or other organization affiliated to a World \u00adSailing member national authority\u201d or a member of a national authority. This means that in order to enter your boat in any race in the United States, you must be a member of a club or organization affiliated to US\u00a0\u00adSailing or you yourself must be a member of US Sailing. Most clubs in the United States are members of an regional sailing association (such as the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound) and all RSAs I\u00a0know of are members of US Sailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Beware, however, because some organizations that organize races in the United States have no affiliation whatsoever with US Sailing. In my experience, these are informal so-called beer-can races, organized by a group of sailors or a commercial organization like a restaurant, marina or dealership. Those informal races sometimes use the RRS, but not always. There is one in \u00adSeattle where there are only a handful of vague, simple rules, one of which is: \u201cNever make a duck change its course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Rule 75.2 requires every \u00adcompetitor in every race, no matter how small or \u00adinconsequential, to comply with the World Sailing Eligibility Code. Rule\u00a084 requires organizing authorities to follow the rules<\/em>, and one of the rules is Rule 89.1. If the organizing authority for a race is not one of\u00a0the permitted organizations listed in Rule 89.1, then, according to Regulation 19.20 in World Sailing’s Eligibility Code, that\u00a0race is a “\u00adprohibited” race.\u00a0That sounds ominous. Let’s explore what it\u00a0means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Suppose you are a competitor who hopes someday to compete in the Olympics, the Pan-Am Games, or a world or continental championship of one of the World Sailing Classes (classes that have achieved World Sailing class \u00adstatus include the Olympic classes as well as most popular one-designs). The \u00adEligibility Code contains three rules worthy of your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n

If the RRS do not apply, the International Regulations for \u00adPreventing Collisions at Sea govern the race. If you have studied the IRPCAS at all, you know the rights and obligations of boats under the IRPCAS are vastly different from the rights and obligations under the RRS.<\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n

First, you must have \u201cWorld Sailing \u00adEligibility\u201d to compete in the events listed above. Anyone in the world can easily obtain World Sailing Eligibility, and few ever lose that status. That status can, however, be suspended or revoked if 1) you break Rule 69.1(a) by committing misconduct and part of your penalty is suspension of your eligibility by US Sailing or World \u00adSailing (see Rule 69.3); 2) you break Rule 5, the Anti-Doping Rule; or 3) you compete in a race that you \u201cknew or should reasonably have known was prohibited\u201d (see \u00adRegulation 19.19 in the Eligibility Code). That code lists six types\u00a0of events that are Prohibited Events; one of\u00a0those six is an event that \u201cdoes not conform to the requirements of Rule 89.1.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Therefore, each of the competitors who sailed in the aforementioned race in \u00adCanada who knew, or should reasonably have known, that the club that organized it was not affiliated with Sail Canada could have been penalized by suspension for a year or more, or permanent revocation of their World \u00adSailing Eligibility. Suspension or revocation of World Sailing Eligibility is exceedingly rare, but it is a possibility and, if it happened to an aspiring Olympian, it would be devastating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s one more problem that can occur\u00a0in informal racing that does not use the RRS. In\u00a0such a race, you expose yourself to added financial risk. Suppose you or your crew were injured or your boat was \u00adseriously damaged in a casual or informal race that did not use the RRS. When the RRS do not apply, the International Regulations for \u00adPreventing \u00adCollisions at Sea govern the race. If you have studied the IRPCAS at all, you know that the rights and obligations of boats under the \u00adIRPCAS are vastly different from the rights and obligations under the RRS. What seems like the simplest of maneuvers, like tacking from port to \u00adstarboard, might violate the IRPCAS, even when the maneuver was carried out in full compliance with the RRS. This means, if there is injury or damage during a race, responsibility for the costs of that injury or damage will be based on fault as determined by application of the IRPCAS and not the RRS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

A few years ago, in an incident between two keelboats, there was damage that cost several thousand dollars to repair. The boats were on opposite tacks, racing under the IRPCAS and not the RRS, and there was no protest committee. An insurance \u00adcompany for one of the boats asked me to apply the IRPCAS to the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Under the racing rules, there would have been no doubt that the port-tack boat would have broken Rule 10 and been responsible for all, or almost all, of the costs of repair. But, applying the IRPCAS, I found that the \u00adstarboard-tack boat was at fault. The lesson from this is clear: Sail with great care in any race that does not use the \u00adRacing Rules of Sailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

E-mail for Dick Rose may be sent to rules@sailingworld.com.<\/em><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

World Sailing recently added an unusual new case to The Case Book. It deals with rules that are rarely discussed or even read but could have a big effect, especially if you sail in continental or world championships or aspire to sail in the Olympics. The new case, Case 143, got its start from a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30642,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Dick Rose","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"20180308","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"156","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"The Racing Rules of Sailing exist to maintain order.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"The Hidden Dangers of Casual-Race Rules %%sep%% %%sitename%%","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"5FDOGIVRLJGCVMWOR5LUNCB2OI","arc_website_url":"casual-race-rules\/","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"right-sidebar","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":0,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[177,908,294,183],"class_list":["post-66342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","tag-racing","tag-racing-rules-of-sailing","tag-rules","tag-sailing-how-to"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66342\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}