APPENDIX B - WINDSURFING COMPETITION RULES

Windsurfing races shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix. The term ‘boat’ elsewhere in the racing rules means ‘board’ or ‘boat’ as appropriate. The term ‘heat’ means one elimination race, a ‘round’ consists of several heats, and an ‘elimination series’ consists of one or more rounds. However, in speed competition, a ‘round’ consists of one or more speed ‘runs’.
A windsurfing event can include one or more of the following disciplines or their formats::

In racing or expression competition, boards may compete in elimination series, and only a limited number of them may advance from round to round. A marathon race is a race scheduled to last more than one hour.
In expression competition a board’s performance is judged on skill and variety rather than speed and is organized using elimination series. Either wave performance or freestyle competition is organized, depending on the wave conditions at the venue.
In speed competition a board’s performance is based on her speed over a measured course. Boards take turns sailing runs over the course.

CHANGES TO THE DEFINITIONS
The definitions Mark-Room, and Tack, Starboard or Port are deleted and replaced by:

Mark-Room
Mark-Room for a board is room to sail her proper course to round or pass the mark. However, mark-room for a board does not include room to tack unless she is overlapped inside and to windward of the board required to give mark-room and she would be fetching the mark after her tack.

Proper Course
A course a board would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of other boards referred to in the rule using the term, except that during the last 30 seconds before her starting signal, the proper course for a board shall be the shortest course to the first mark. A board has no proper course until 30 seconds before her starting signal.

Tack, Starboard or Port
A board is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to the competitor’s hand that would be nearer the mast if the competitor were in normal sailing position with both hands on the wishbone and arms not crossed. A board is on starboard tack when the competitor’s right hand would be nearer the mast and is on port tack when the competitor’s left hand would be nearer the mast.

The definition Zone is deleted.

Add the following definitions:

Capsized
A board is capsized when she is not under control because her sail or the competitor is in the water.

Rounding or Passing
A board is rounding or passing a mark from the time her proper course is to begin to manoeuvre to round or pass it, until the mark has been rounded or passed.

B1 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 1
[No changes.]

B2.13 WHILE TACKING
Rule 13 is changed to:
After a board passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boards until her sail has filled. During that time rules 10, 11 and 12 do not apply. If two boards are subject to this rule at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear.

B2.17 ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE
Rule 17 is deleted and replaced by
When, at the warning signal, the course to the first mark is approximately ninety degrees from the true wind, a board overlapped to leeward of another board on the same tack during the last 30 seconds before her starting signal shall not sail above the shortest course to the first mark while they remain overlapped if as a result the other board would need to take action to avoid contact, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other board.

B2.18 MARK-ROOM
Rule 18 is changed as follows:
The first sentence of rule 18.1 is changed to:
Rule B2.18 applies between boards when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is rounding or passing it.

Rule 18.2(b) is changed to:
(b) If boards are overlapped when the first of them is rounding or passing the mark, the outside board at that moment shall thereafter give the inside board mark-room. If a board is clear ahead when she is rounding or passing the mark, the board clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.

Rule 18.2(c) is changed to:
(c) When a board is required to give mark-room by rule B2.18.2(b), she shall continue to do so even if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins. However, if the board entitled to mark-room passes head to wind, rule B18.2(b) ceases to apply.

B2.18.4 Gybing or Bearing Away
Rule 18.4 is changed to:
When an inside overlapped right-of-way board must gybe or bear away at a mark to sail her proper course, until she gybes or bears away she shall sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail that course. Rule B2.18.4 does not apply at a gate mark.

B2. 23 CAPSIZED; AGROUND; RESCUING

Rule 23 is changed to:
B2. 23.1 If possible, a board shall avoid a board that is capsized or has not regained control after capsizing, is aground, or is trying to help a person or vessel in danger.

B2. 23.2 If possible, a board that is capsized or aground shall not interfere with another board.

B2. 24 INTERFERING WITH ANOTHER BOARD; SAIL OUT OF WATER

Add new rule B2. 24.3:
B2.24.3 In the last minute before her starting signal, a board shall have her sail out of the water and in a normal position, except when accidentally capsized.

PART 2 RULES DELETED
Rule 18.3 is deleted.

B3 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 3

B3.26 STARTING RACES
Rule 26 is changed to:

B3.26.1 System 1
Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

Minutes before starting signal	Visual signal	Sound signal	Means
5*	Class flag	One	Warning signal
4	P, I, Z, Z with I, U or black flag	One	Preparatory signal
1	Preparatory flag removed	One long	One-minute
0	Class flag removed	One	Starting signal

*or as stated in the sailing instructions
The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class.

B3.26.2 System 2
Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

B3.26.3 System 3 (for Beach Starts)
(a) When the starting line is on the beach, or so close to the beach that the competitor must stand in the water to start, the start is a beach start.

(b) The starting stations shall be numbered so that station 1 is the most windward one. Unless the sailing instructions specify some other system, a board’s starting station shall be determined

(1) for the first race or round of the event, by draw, or

(2) for any race or round after the first one, by her place in the previous race or heat (The first place on station 1, the second place on station 2, and so on.).

(c) After boards have been called to take their positions, the race committee shall make the preparatory signal by displaying a red flag with one sound. The starting signal shall be made, at any time after the preparatory signal, by removing the red flag with one sound.

(d) After the starting signal each board shall take the shortest route from her starting station to the water and then to her sailing position without interfering with other boards. Part 2 rules will apply when both of the competitor’s feet are on the board.

B3.31 TOUCHING A MARK
Rule 31 is changed to:
A board may touch a mark but shall not hold on to it.

B4 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 4

B4.42 PROPULSION
Rule 42 is changed to:
A board shall be propelled only by the action of the wind on the sail, by the action of the water on the hull and by the unassisted actions of the competitor. However, significant progress shall not be made by paddling, swimming or walking.

B4.43 COMPETITOR CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Rule 43.1(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.

B4.44 PENALTIES AT THE TIME OF AN INCIDENT
Rule 44 is changed to:
B4.44.1 Taking a Penalty
A board may take a 360°-Turn Penalty when she may have broken one of more rules of Part 2 in an incident while racing. The sailing instructions may specify the use of some other penalty. However, if the board caused injury or serious damage or, despite taking a penalty, gained a significant advantage in the race or series by her breach her penalty shall be to retire.

B4.44.2 360°-Turn Penalty
After getting well clear of other boards as soon after the incident as possible, a board takes a 360°-Turn Penalty by promptly making a 360° turn with no requirement for a tack or a gybe. When a board takes the penalty at or near the finishing line, she shall sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing.

PART 4 RULES DELETED

Rules 43.2, 44.3, 45, 47.2, 48.1, 49, 50, 51, 52 and 54 are deleted.

B5 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 5

B5.60 RIGHT TO PROTEST; RIGHT TO REQUEST REDRESS OR RULE 69ACTION

Rule 60.1(a) is changed by deleting ‘or saw’.

B5.61 PROTEST REQUIREMENTS
The first three sentences of rule 61.1(a) are changed to:
A board intending to protest shall inform the other board at the first reasonable opportunity. When her protest will concern an incident in the racing area that she was involved in or saw, she shall hail ‘Protest’. She shall also inform the race committee of her intention to protest as soon as practicable after she finishes or retires.

B5.62 REDRESS
Rule 62.1(b) is changed to:
(b) injury, physical damage or capsize because of the action of
(1) a board that broke a rule of Part 2 and took the appropriate penalty or was penalized, or
(2) a vessel not racing that was required to keep clear.

B5. 64 DECISIONS
Rule 64.3(b) is changed to:
(b) When the protest committee is in doubt about a matter concerning the measurement of a board, the meaning of a class rule, or damage to a board, 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.

B6 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 6

B6.78 COMPLIANCE WITH CLASS RULES; CERTIFICATES
Add to rule 78.1:
‘When so prescribed by World Sailing, a numbered and dated device on a board and her centreboard, fin and rig shall serve as her measurement certificate.’

B7 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 7

B7.90 RACE COMMITTEE; SAILING INSTRUCTIONS; SCORING
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.’

B8 CHANGES TO APPENDIX A

B8.A1 NUMBER OF RACES; OVERALL SCORES
Rule A1 is changed to:
The number of races scheduled and the number required to be completed 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 the notice of race or sailing instructions shall state how the overall scores are to be calculated.

B8.A2.1 SERIES SCORES
Rule A2.1 is changed to:
Each board’s series score shall, subject to rule 90.3(b), be the total of her race scores excluding her
(a) worst score when from 5 to 11 races have been completed, or
(b) two worst scores when 12 or more races have been completed.

(The the notice of race or sailing instructions may make a different arrangement. A race is completed if scored; see rule 90.3(a).) If a board has two or more equal worst scores, the score(s) for the race(s) sailed earliest in the series shall be excluded. The board with the lowest series score wins and others shall be ranked accordingly.

B8.A8 SERIES TIES
Rule A8 is changed to:
B8.A8.1 If there is a series-score tie between two or more boards, they shall be ranked in order of their best excluded race score.

B8.A8.2 If a tie remains between two or more boards, each board’s race scores, including excluded scores, shall be listed in order of best to worst, and at the first point(s) where there is a difference the tie shall be broken in favour of the board(s) with the best score(s). These scores shall be used even if some of them are excluded scores.

B8.A8.3 If a tie still remains between two or more boards, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in the last race. Any remaining ties shall be broken by using the tied boards’ scores in the next-to-last race and so on until all ties are broken. These scores shall be used even if some of them are excluded scores.

B9 CHANGES TO APPENDIX G

B9.G1 WORLD SAILING CLASS BOARDS
B9.G1.3 Positioning
Rule G1.3(a) is changed to:
(a) The class insignia shall be displayed once on each side of the sail in the area above a line projected at right angles from a point on the luff of the sail onethird of the distance from the head to the wishbone. The national letters and sail numbers shall be in the central third of that part of the sail above the wishbone, clearly separated from any advertising. They shall be black and applied back to back on an opaque white background. The background shall extend a minimum of 30 mm beyond the characters. There shall be a ‘–’ between the national letters and the sail number, and the spacing between characters shall be adequate for legibility.

APPENDIX G RULES DELETED
The first sentence of rule G1.3(b) is deleted. Rules G1.3(c), G1.3(d) and G1.3(e) are deleted.

B10 CHANGES TO RULES FOR EVENTS THAT INCLUDE ELIMINATION SERIES

B10.29 RECALLS
For a race of an elimination series that will qualify a board to compete in a later stage of an event, rule 29 is changed to:
(a) When at a board’s starting signal any part of her hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line, the race committee shall signal a general recall.

(b) If the race committee acts under rule B10.29(a) and the board is identified, she shall be disqualified without a hearing, even if the race is abandoned. The race committee shall hail or display her sail number, and she shall leave the course area immediately. If the race is restarted or resailed, she shall not sail in it.

(c) If the race was completed but was later abandoned by the protest committee, and if the race is resailed, a board disqualified under rule B10.29(b) may sail in it.

B10.37 ELIMINATION SERIES INCLUDING HEATS
Add new rule B10.37:
Rule B10.37 applies in elimination series in which boards compete in heats.
B10.37.1 Elimination Series Procedure
(a) Competition shall take the form of one or more elimination series. Each of them shall consist of either rounds in a single elimination series where only a number of the best scorers advance, or rounds in a double elimination series where boards have more than one opportunity to advance.

(b) Boards shall sail one against another in pairs, or in groups determined by the elimination ladder. The selected form of competition shall not be changed while a round remains uncompleted.

B10.37.2 Seeding and Ranking Lists
(a) When a seeding or ranking list is used to establish the heats of the first round, places 1–8 (four heats) or 1–16 (eight heats) shall be distributed evenly among the heats.

(b) For a subsequent elimination series, if any, boards shall be reassigned to new heats according to the ranking in the previous elimination series.

(c) The organizing authority’s seeding decisions are final and are not grounds for a request for redress.

B10.37.3 Heat Schedule
The schedule of heats shall be posted on the official notice board no later than 30 minutes before the starting signal for the first heat.

B10.37.4 Advancement and Byes
(a) In racing and expression competition, the boards in each heat to advance to the next round shall be announced by the race committee no later than 10 minutes before the starting signal for the first heat. The number advancing may be changed by the protest committee as a result of a redress decision.

(b) In expression competition, any first-round byes shall be assigned to the highest-seeded boards.

(c) In wave performance competition, only the winner of each heat shall advance to the next round.

(d) In freestyle competition, boards shall advance to the next round as follows: from an eight-board heat, the best four advance, and the winner will sail against the fourth and the second against the third; from a four-board heat, the best two advance and will sail against each other.

B10.37.5 Finals
(a) The final shall consist of a maximum of three races. The race committee shall announce the number of races to be sailed in the final no later than 5 minutes before the warning signal for the first final race.

(b) A runners-up final may be sailed after the final. All boards in the semi-final heats that failed to qualify for the final may compete in it.

B10.63 HEARINGS
For a race of an elimination series that will qualify a board to compete in a later stage of an event, rules 61.2 and 65.2 are deleted and rule 63.6 is changed to:
B10.63.6 Taking Evidence and Finding Facts
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 following the race. The protest committee may take evidence in any way it considers appropriate and may communicate its decision orally.

B10.70 APPEALS AND REQUESTS TO A NATIONAL AUTHORITY
Add new rule B10.70.7:
B10.70.7 Appeals are not permitted in disciplines and formats with elimination series.

B10.A2.1 SERIES SCORES
Rule A2.1 is changed to:
Each board’s elimination series score shall, subject to rule 90.3(b), be the total of her race scores excluding her
(a) worst score when 3 or 4 races are completed,
(b) two worst scores when from 5 to 7 races are completed,
(c) three worst scores when 8 or more races are completed.
Each board’s final series score shall be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score when 3 races are completed. (The notice of race or sailing instructions may make a different arrangement. A race is completed if scored; see rule 90.3(a).) If a board has two or more equal worst scores, the score(s) for the race(s) sailed earliest in the series shall be excluded. The board with the lowest series score wins and others shall be ranked accordingly.

B10.A4 LOW POINT SYSTEM
Add at the end of the first sentence of rule A4.2:
‘or, in a race of an elimination series, the number of boards in that heat’.

Add new rule B10.A4.3:
B10.A4.3 When a heat cannot be completed, the points for the unscored places
shall be added together and divided by the number of places in that heat.
The resulting number of points, to the nearest tenth of a point (0.05 to be
rounded upward), shall be given to each board entered in the heat.

B11 CHANGES TO RULES FOR EXPRESSION COMPETITION
Add the following definitions:

Coming In and Going Out
A board sailing in the same direction as the incoming surf is coming in. A board sailing in the direction opposite to the incoming surf is going out.

Jumping
A board is jumping when she takes off at the top of a wave while going out.

Overtaking
A board is overtaking from the moment she gains an overlap from clear astern until the moment she is clear ahead of the overtaken board.

Possession
The first board sailing shoreward immediately in front of a wave has possession of that wave. However, when it is impossible to determine which board is first the windward board has possession.

Recovering
A board is recovering from the time her sail or, when water-starting, the competitor is out of the water until she has steerage way.

Surfing
A board is surfing when she is on or immediately in front of a wave while coming in.

Transition
A board changing tacks, or taking off while coming in, or one that is not surfing, jumping, capsized or recovering is in transition.

B11.PART 2 – WHEN BOARDS MEET
The rules of Part 2 are deleted and replaced by:
(a) COMING IN AND GOING OUT
A board coming in shall keep clear of a board going out. When two boards are going out or coming in while on the same wave, or when neither is going out or coming in, a board on port tack shall keep clear of the one on starboard tack.

(b) BOARDS ON THE SAME WAVE, COMING IN
When two or more boards are on a wave coming in, a board that does not have possession shall keep clear.

(c) CLEAR ASTERN, CLEAR AHEAD AND OVERTAKING
A board clear astern and not on a wave shall keep clear of a board clear ahead. An overtaking board that is not on a wave shall keep clear.

(d) TRANSITION
A board in transition shall keep clear of one that is not. When two boards are in transition at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear.

(e) JUMPING
A board that is jumping shall keep clear of one that is not.

B11.26 STARTING AND ENDING HEATS
Rule 26 is changed to:
Heats shall be started and ended by using the following signals:
(a) STARTING A HEAT
Each flag shall be removed when the next flag is displayed.

(b) ENDING A HEAT

B11.38 REGISTRATION; COURSE AREA; HEAT DURATION; ADVANCEMENT AND BYES
Add new rule B11.38:
(a) Boards shall register with the race committee the colours and other particulars of their sails, or their identification according to another method stated in the sailing instructions, no later than the starting signal for the heat two heats before their own.

(b) The course area shall be defined in the sailing instructions and posted on the official notice board no later than 10 minutes before the starting signal for the first heat. A board shall be scored only while sailing in the course area.

(c) Any change in heat duration shall be announced by the race committee no later than 15 minutes before the starting signal for the first heat in the next round.

(d) Rule B11.37.4 applies.

B11.41 OUTSIDE HELP
Change the number of rule 41 to B11.41.1 and add new rule B11.41.2:
B11.41.2 An assistant may provide replacement equipment to a board. The assistant shall not interfere with other competing boards. A board whose assiswerden tant interferes with another board may be penalized at the discretion of the protest committee.

APPENDIX A – SCORING
The rules of Appendix A are deleted and replaced by:
B11.A1 EXPRESSION COMPETITON SCORING
(a) Expression competition shall be scored by a panel of three judges. However, the panel may have a greater odd number of members, and there may be two such panels. Each judge shall give points for each manoeuvre based on the scale stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions.

(b) The criteria of scoring shall be decided by the race committee and announced on the official notice board no later than 30 minutes before the starting signal for the first heat.

(c) A board’s heat standing shall be determined by adding together the points given by each judge. The board with the highest score wins and others shall be ranked accordingly.

(d) Both semi-final heats shall have been sailed for an elimination series to be valid.

(e) Except for members of the race committee responsible for scoring the event, only competitors in the heat shall be allowed to see judges’ score sheets for the heat. Each score sheet shall bear the full name of the judge.

(f) Scoring decisions of the judges shall not be grounds for a request for redress by a board.

B11. A2 SERIES TIES
(a) In a heat, if there is a tie in the total points given by one or more judges, it shall be broken in favour of the board with the higher single score in the priority category. If the categories are weighted equally, in wave performance competition the tie shall be broken in favour of the board with the higher single score in wave riding, and in freestyle competition in favour of the board with the higher score for overall impression. If a tie remains, in wave performance competition it shall be broken in favour of the board with the higher single score in the category without priority, and in freestyle competition it shall stand as the final result.

(b) If there is a tie in the series score, it shall be broken in favour of the board that scored better more times than the other board. All scores shall be used even if some of them are excluded scores.

(c) If a tie still remains, the heat shall be resailed. If this is not possible, the tie shall stand as the final result.

B12 CHANGES TO RULES FOR SPEED COMPETITION
The rules of Part 2 are deleted and replaced by:
B12.PART 2 – GENERAL RULES
(a) WATER STARTING
A board shall not water start on the course or in the starting area, except to sail off the course to avoid boards that are making, or about to make, a run

(b) LEAVING THE COURSE AREA
A board leaving the course area shall keep clear of boards making a run.

(c) COURSE CONTROL
When the race committee points an orange flag at a board, she is penalized and the run shall not be counted.

(d) RETURNING TO THE STARTING AREA
A board returning to the starting area shall keep clear of the course.

(e) MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RUNS FOR EACH BOARD
The maximum number of runs that may be made by each board in a round shall be announced by the race committee no later than 15 minutes before the starting signal for the first round.

(f) DURATION OF A ROUND
The duration of a round shall be announced by the race committee no later than 15 minutes before the starting signal for the next round.

(g) CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHING A RECORD
The minimum distance for a world record is 500 metres. Other records may be established over shorter distances. The course shall be defined by posts and transits ashore or by buoys afloat. Transits shall not converge.

(h) VERIFICATION RULES
(1) An observer appointed by World Sailing Speed Record Council shall be present and verify run times and speeds at world record attempts. The race committee shall verify run times and speeds at other record attempts.

(2) A competitor shall not enter the timing control area or discuss any timing matter directly with the timing organization. Any timing question

B12.26 STARTING AND ENDING A ROUND
Rule 26 is changed to:
Rounds shall be started and ended by using the following signals. Each flag shall be removed when the next flag is displayed.

(a) STARTING A ROUND

(b) ENDING A ROUND

B12.64 DECISIONS
Rule 64.1 is deleted and replaced by:
B12.64.1 Penalties
(a) If a board fails to comply with a rule, she may be warned. If a board is warned a second time during the same round, she shall be excluded by the race committee from the remainder of the round A list of the sail numbers of boards that have received warnings or have been excluded shall be posted on a notice board near the finishing line.

(b) A board observed in the course area after having been excluded from a round shall be excluded from the competition without a hearing, and none of her previous times or results shall be valid.

(c) Any breach of the verification rules may result in exclusion from one or more rounds or from the competition.

APPENDIX A -- SCORING
The rules of Appendix A are deleted and replaced by:
B12.A1 SPEED COMPETITON SCORING
(a) On Standard Offshore Speed Courses, the speeds of a board’s fastest two runs in a round shall be averaged to determine her standing in that round. The board with the highest average wins and others shall be ranked accordingly. If boards are tied, the tie shall be broken in favour of the board with the fastest run in the round.

(b) On Speed Crossings and Alpha Speed Courses, boards shall be ranked based on their fastest run in the round.

(c) If there is a series-score tie between two or more boards, it shall be broken in favour of the board(s) with the fastest run during the competition. If a tie remains, it shall be broken by applying rules B8.A8.2 and B8.A8.3

64 DECISIONS
Rule 64.1 is deleted and replaced by:

64.1 Penalties
(a) If a board fails to comply with a rule, she may be warned. If a board is warned a second time during the same round, she shall be excluded by the race committee from the remainder of the round A list of the sail numbers of boards that have received warnings or have been excluded shall be posted on a notice board near the finishing line.

(b) A board observed in the course area after having been excluded from a round shall be excluded from the competition without a hearing, and none of her previous times or results shall be valid.

(c) Any breach of the verification rules may result in exclusion from one of more rounds or from the competition.

APPENDIX A -- SCORING
The rules of Appendix A are deleted and replaced by:

A1 SPEED COMPETITON SCORING
(a) On Standard Offshore Speed Courses, the speeds of a board’s fastest two runs in a round shall be averaged to determine her standing in that round. The board with the highest average wins and others shall be ranked accordingly. If boards are tied, the tie shall be broken in favour of the board with the fastest run in the round.

(b) On Speed Crossings and Alpha Speed Courses, boards shall be ranked based on their fastest run in the round.

(c) If there is a series-score tie between two or more boards, it shall be broken in favour of the board(s) with the fastest run during the competition. If a tie remains, it shall be broken by applying rules A8.2(b) and (c) in rule B8.