Guidance & good practice

When a Protest Committee includes a person having a conflict of Interest, whose interest has not been disclosed to the parties and who takes part in the hearing, the subsequent failure of a party to the protest to object to that member as soon as possible is irrelevant and any decision made is improper.

The word ‘side’ in rule 19.2(a) (as also in rule 18.1) refers to the side of the boat on which the obstruction (or mark) is to be passed, and not to any ‘side’ that the obstruction (or mark) may happen to have. There is no zone at an obstruction that is not also a mark. Rule 19.2 applies even when boats are approaching an obstruction on widely different courses.

When reasonable doubt exists as to the interpretation of a sailing instruction it must be resolved in favour of the competitor. A person with a conflict of interest cannot be a member of a protest committee unless the parties consent or the protest committee decides that the conflict is not significant.

After the start of the first race of an event or series, a boat or competitor can only be excluded by a protest committee’s decision

Recommendations for Protest Committees (RRS Appendix M with further advisory notes from the RYA) has been updated to include further information in section M3.1 regarding the application of RRS 64.1(c)

When a right-of-way boat changes course in response to a wind shift, and her new course would prevent a give-way boat from keeping clear, she will comply with rule 16.1 if she makes a further change to a course that gives the other boat room to keep clear.

Includes wording that is recommended by the RYA to be included in the Notice of Race. Risk statement; inspections statement; entry declaration and privacy statement.

An explanation of who may choose advertising for a boat, sailboard or clothing at an event; how class rules, rating systems and handicapping systems may vary advertising rules, and the reservations for advertising by event sponsors.

Questions and answers about the appeals and requests processes.

Addressed primarily to boats with asymmetric spinnakers, the paper explains the obligations of such boats and of other boats sailing in the vicinity.

Guidance on delivering a high quality results service at championship events.

Guidance on the information required to be included in a notice of race and an example of how the minimum requirements may be met for simple club racing

Guidance on discretionary penalties which are becoming increasingly common for a breach of some rules.

Guidance for race committees on time limits for competitors retiring or withdrawing a retirement.

Guidance on the Basic Principle, Environmental Responsibility, and rule 47, Trash Disposal.

Guidance on the use of Gate Marks

Guidance on a technical area that is becoming more common.

Guidance on how to operate a Gate Start

The main changes to the Racing Rules of Sailing effective from January 2021.

Supplementary guidance to the RYA Race Management Guide for Organising Authorities looking to run inshore and offshore keelboating events.

Guidance (on one page, to facilitate handing it out) for people who may be classified as a ‘Support Person’ as defined in the RRS 2021-2024. This definition includes a parent or guardian, a coach, a medical or paramedical practitioner, a boat maintainer, a personal assistant to a disabled competitor or any other person working with or assisting a sailor prepare for or compete in a race.

Guidance for race officials about their obligations and responsibilities regarding the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulations

Options for, and limits on, sailing instructions allowing the use of an engine for propulsion.

Guidance on protests concerning alleged breaches of measurement rules. It does not directly address protests concerning other aspects of class rules, although some of the principles are applicable to such protests.

Where evidence of possible equipment cheating is identified it is important that swift action is taken to investigate and if necessary follow disciplinary processes otherwise the opportunity to take action may be lost.

Guidance about racing under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS), the effect of Traffic Separation Schemes on race management and competitors, and the differences between the racing rules and the IRPCAS.

Methods and penalties to inhibit interference by boats that are not racing with boats that are in their starting sequence.

Guidance on protests concerning alleged breaches of IRC measurement rules (should be read in conjunction with the RYA guidance on Measurement Protests below).

Guidance on how to conduct redress hearings when other boats may be affected by the decision.

Extended guidance on Appendix M regarding protest committee procedure with examples of appropriate actions in described circumstances.

Emphasises that everyone is required to give help to any person or boat that may be in danger, and that the recipient of such help does not necessarily break racing rule 41 which limits the help a boat may receive.

Guidance on Rule 69 (Misconduct) for Judges at Club and Class events

Guidance on the limited number of circumstances where it is good practice to restrict protests by boats. Restriction of request of redress by boats is not recommended.

The paper explains the correct methods for race managers to protect their own and borrowed boats used as committee boats.

Frequently asked questions that arise when advisory meetings or arbitration are adopted.

About the use of the exoneration penalty, advisory meetings and RYA arbitration.

Guidance about what and when redress can and cannot be given.

Guidance on use of the Speed Charts.

Race committees should be aware of the potential for damage and injury resulting from the use of starting cannons and similar devices. Due consideration should be given to the necessity of their use, their placement and where competitors may reasonable be expected to be at the time of firing.

Describes alternatives to returning to start correctly for boats that are over the starting line at the starting signal (OCS)

Guidance on the role and involvement of a complainent, the roles of a PC member who is the complainant, when the PC should consider a warning and what to include when publishing a rule 69 (misconduct) decision.

A diagrammatic guide to the RYA Rules Disputes process.

Guidance and detailed explanations of the scoring rules and examples of their application

Guidance to show the range of potential solutions to control the timing and starts for clubs and open event racing.

Judge Manuals, Jury Policies, Misconduct Guidance, Decision Standard Wordings and International Judges Manual

Guide to Certification Control, Guide to Equipment Inspection, Equipment Inspection Policies and Measurers Manual

Race Management Guide and Race Management Policies

Rapid response calls for team and match racing

Rule 42 Interpretations and common breaches for a range of classes

Umpire Manuals for Fleet, Match and Team Racing.