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Learning the Sailing Racing Rules By Mike Fahle  The very first instruction given in the rule book is about sportsmanship and the rules. It
states that competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are
expected to follow and enforce. How can anyone possibly follow, much less enforce, any rules
that they do not know? In addition, Fundamental Rule 3 instructs us that by participating in a
race conducted under the racing rules, each competitor and boat owner agrees to be governed
by the rules. So it follows that learning the rules is vital to our enjoyment of the sport as well as
our racing success. It is necessary to fulfill the social contract we all make to each other every
time we participate in a race.
So how can we learn the rules? It only makes sense to obtain a copy of the rule book so
that it can be read, marked with notes, and referred to as needed. Another big help is to obtain
instructional materials like magazine articles, books, CD ROM, videos, etc. that explain the rules.
Explanations provide the context of history, previous problems with old rules, situations not yet
encountered, and other background information that make us think “Oh, so THAT’S why that rule
is written that way; now it makes sense.” Membership in U.S. Sailing provides a rule book and a
year’s subscription to Sailing World that features Dick Rose’s (one of the authors of the new
rules) monthly rules column. Various internet sites post the rules and interpretive writings.
Books by Dave Perry (my favorite), Bryan Willis, and others are available on the internet and in
regular bookstores and Dave Perry’s is available through U.S.Sailing. Those who want to know
the fine details of the rules based on authoritative rulings will be interested in the U.S.Sailing
Appeals and the ISAF cases.
Now that you have assembled the materials, you have to read them. One way to make
this manageable is to do a little bit at a time on a frequent or regular basis. One trick that I use is
to keep a copy of the rules in the head so that I can read and consider a rule or two while a
“captive” audience. Repetition is a key element in any learning process, so be sure to expose
yourself to the rules often, especially at first, using any method that works for you. It is important
to keep in mind that each and every word in the rules means something and must not be
ignored. Any word used in a rule that is defined in the rules will be italicized. Any word that is
not italicized that you want a definition for is meant in the normal usage for that word which any
dictionary should be able to provide.
So now that you have read the rules and still feel uncertain about their application, what
next? Make sure that you write down your questions so that you do not forget them. Try to
answer them on your own later, sometimes just approaching the same problem with a different
outlook provides the answer. Read the interpretive material or ask someone knowledgeable for
help. Attending a seminar prepared with written questions can really move you quickly up the
learning curve. Try forming a study group with other interested sailors to keep you learning and
motivated. This could be part of an existing group meeting, a newsletter feature, an on-line
thing, phone calls when needed, or, again, any method that works for you. Another discipline to
try is to use sketches to visually aid comprehension about particular rules situations. That is why
protest forms include a drawing of the incident. Dave Perry’s book includes two full pages of
drawings just inside the front cover depicting rules situations all around a triangular race course
to summarize the rules pictorially. Besides serving as a pictorial index, it is a good way to
quickly reference the applicable rule(s) in a protest situation. Use the sketch method to apply the
rules to different scenarios that you have faced or witnessed so that you will know what to do in
regular situations on the course. Willis and Perry both do a good job of teaching by using many
clear, well explained drawings.
Keep in mind that an excellent indicator that more information is needed is anytime a
rule seems to make no sense, or worse, seems to create problems. Many people jump to a
conclusion that is not warranted by what is actually written. Maybe the greatest difficulty
involved with learning the rules correctly is to get rid of long held mistaken ideas or concepts.
STAY WITHIN THE RULES. That is easily written and hard to practice, but vital to easier
comprehension. If people would read the rules for themselves, read only, and everything, that is
written, most of the problems would be eliminated. After doing that, try to think of situations
where the rule makes sense before asking for help. Play devil’s advocate... argue against
yourself as if you are in a protest against yourself and see what support you can find for each
position. Try to extend outside your own sailing experiences to understand changes. For
example, the rules writers have reduced mandatory hails to just two situations; for protesting
another competitor and for room to tack at an obstruction. That is because the rules apply
around the world with many different languages and hails could be a serious source of confusion.
So does that mean that non-mandatory hails in local fleet races are bad practice? Of course not,
clear communication is always important and useful. Since clear communication cannot be
counted on in multinational regattas like the Olympics, for example, then it makes sense to
reduce mandatory hails to a minimum even though it may not be readily apparent to someone
who never races outside local regattas.
There are ways the rules can better serve or reflect your regatta. First, each national
authority, such as the USSA in the United States, can make prescriptions to certain rules that
they think serve their sailors best. The prescriptions to the rules are printed in bold italics. For
individual regattas or races, rule 86 instructs which rules can be changed by the sailing
instructions and by class rules. Two important examples for cat sailors is that class rules allow
trapezes which modify rule 49.1 which instructs that a boat shall use no device other than hiking
straps to project a competitor’s body overboard. Conversely, the USSA prescription to rule 86
specifies that sailing instructions shall not change the USSA prescription to rule 40 which
requires that every boat shall carry life-saving equipment conforming to governmental
regulations. That means that all boats 16’ and longer must carry type 5 throwables while racing.
Research indicates that very few states have regulations less stringent than federal
requirements. Already there has been misinformation spread about this requirement based on
people misreading the word governmental as highlighted above. That means any local, state, or
federal regulation, not just the Coast Guard’s.
This guide to learning the sailing racing rules has been offered to help explain why and
how to obtain understanding. It has offered some resources, learning techniques, study ideas,
and examples. The contract racers make with each other is only as good as each competitor’s
effort and the effort to learn the rules does not have to be difficult to be rewarding. We have a
unique sport that requires not only rules knowledge and conformance, but also self enforcement.
It is a great sport made better by each competitor’s proper understanding and sportsmanship.
Please email your vexing rules questions to On The Wire for answers and analysis.
Mike Fahle Toledo, OH MCFahle@worldnet.att.net Back to Features |