APPENDIX F - KITEBOARD RACING RULES 
Kiteboarding course races shall be sailed under The Racing
Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix. The term ‘boat’ elsewhere
in the rules means ‘kiteboard’ or ‘boat’ as appropriate.
Note: Links to kiteboard rules for some other formats or competitions can be
found on the World Sailing website.
CHANGES TO THE DEFINITIONS
The definitions Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap, Finish, Keep Clear, Leeward and Windward, Mark-Room, Obstruction, Start, Tack, Starboard or Port and Zone are changed to:
Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
One kiteboard is clear astern of another when her hull is behind a line abeam
from the aftermost point of the other kiteboard’s hull. The other kiteboard
is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also
overlap when a kiteboard between them overlaps both. These terms always apply
to kiteboards on the same tack. They do not apply to kiteboards on opposite
tacks unless both kiteboards are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true
wind.
Continuing Obstruction
An obstruction is a continuing obstruction when a kiteboard will pass alongside
it for at least 30 metres. However, the following are not a continuing obstruction:
a vessel under way, a kiteboard racing, or a race committee vessel that is also
a mark.
Finish
A kiteboard finishes when, while the competitor is in contact with the hull,
any part of her hull, or the competitor in normal position, crosses the finishing
line from the course side. However, she has not finished if after crossing the
finishing line she
(a) takes a penalty under rule 44.2,
(b) corrects an error under rule 28.2 made at the line, or
(c) continues to sail the course.
After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely. The sailing
instructions may change the direction in which kiteboards are required to cross
the finishing line to finish.
Keep Clear
A kiteboard keeps clear of a right-of-way kiteboard
(a) if the right-of-way kiteboard can sail her course with no need to take avoiding
action and,
(b) when the kiteboards are overlapped, if the right-of-way kiteboard can also,
without immediately making contact, change course in both directions or move
her kite in any direction.
Leeward and Windward
A kiteboard’s leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to
wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind,
her leeward side is the side on which her kite lies. The other side is her windward
side. When two kiteboards on the same tack overlap, the one whose hull is on
the leeward side of the other’s hull is the leeward kiteboard. The other
is the windward kiteboard.
Mark-Room
Room for a kiteboard to sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail her
proper course to round or pass the mark on the required side, and room to pass
a finishing mark after finishing.
Obstruction
An obstruction is
(a) an object that a kiteboard could not pass without substantially changing
her course or the position of her kite, if she were sailing directly towards
it and 10 metres from it;
(b) an object that is so designated in a rule;
(c) an object that can be safely passed on only one side; or
(d) an area or line in a rule that kiteboards are prohibited from entering or
crossing.
However, a kiteboard racing is not an obstruction to other kiteboards unless
they are required to keep clear of her or, if rule 22 applies, avoid her.
Start
A kiteboard starts when, her hull and the competitor having been entirely on
the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and
having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull, or the competitor
crosses the starting line in the direction of the first mark.
Tack, Starboard or Port
A kiteboard is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to the competitor’s
hand that would be forward if the competitor were in normal riding position
(riding heel side with both hands on the control bar and arms not crossed).
A kiteboard is on starboard tack when the competitor’s right hand would
be forward and is on the port tack when the competitor’s left hand would
be forward.
Zone
The area around a mark within a distance of 30 metres. A kiteboard is in the
zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.
Add the following definitions:
Capsized
A kiteboard is capsized if
(a) her kite is in the water,
(b) her lines are tangled with another kiteboard’s lines
Jumping
A kiteboard is jumping when her hull, its appendages and the competitor are
clear of the water.
Recovering
A kiteboard is recovering from the time she loses steerage way until she regains
it, unless she is capsized.
F1 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 1
[No changes.]
F2 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 2
PART 2 - PREAMBLE
In the second sentence of the preamble, ‘injury or serious damage’
is changed to ‘injury, serious damage or a tangle’.
13 WHILE TACKING
Rule 13 is deleted.
14 AVOIDING CONTACT
Rule 14(b) is changed to:
(b) shall be exonerated if she breaks this rule and the contact does not cause
damage, injury or a tangle.
16 CHANGING COURSE OR KITE POSITION
Rule 16 is changed to:
16.1 When a right-of-way kiteboard changes course or the position of her kite,
she shall give the other kiteboard room to keep clear.
16.2 In addition, when after the starting signal a port-tack kiteboard is keeping clear by sailing to pass astern of a starboard-tack kiteboard, the starboard-tack kiteboard shall not change course or the position of her kite if as a result the port-tack kiteboard would immediately need to change course or the position of her kite to continue keeping clear.
17 ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE
Rule 17 is deleted.
18 MARK-ROOM
Rule 18 is changed to:
18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between kiteboards when they are required to leave a mark on
the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not
apply
(a) between kiteboards that are on opposite tacks when the first kiteboard reaches
the zone; or
(b) between a kiteboard approaching a mark and one leaving it.
Rule 18 no longer applies between kiteboards when mark-room has been given.
18.2 Giving Mark-Room
(a) When the first of two kiteboard reaches the zone,
(1) if the kiteboards are overlapped, the outside kiteboard at that moment shall
give the inside kiteboard mark-room.
(2) if the kiteboards are not overlapped, the kiteboard that has not reached
the zone shall give mark-room.
(b) If the kiteboard entitled to mark-room leaves the zone, the entitlement
to mark-room ceases and rule 18.2(a) is applied again if required based on the
relationship of the kiteboards at the time rule 18.2(a) is re-applied.
18.3 Tacking and Gybing
When an inside overlapped right-of-way kiteboard must change tack at a mark
to sail her proper course, until she changes tack she shall sail no farther
from the mark than needed to sail that course. Rule 18.3 does not apply at a
gate mark or a finishing mark and a kitebaord shall not be penalized for breaking
this rule unless the course of another kiteboard was affected by the breach
of this rule.
19 ROOM TO PASS AN OBSTRUCTION
Rule 19.2(a) is changed to:
(a) A right-of-way kiteboard may choose to pass an obstruction on her port or
starboard side. If a right-ofway kiteboard changes course or the position of
her kite when choosing on which side to pass the obstruction, she shall give
the other kiteboard room to keep clear.
20 ROOM TO TACK AT AN OBSTRUCTION
Rule 20.1(a) is changed to:
(a) she is approaching an obstruction, and, to avoid it safely, will soon need
to make a substantial change of her course or the position of her kite, and
Rule 20.4 is changed to:
20.4 Additional Requirements for Hails
The following arm signals are required in addition to the hails
(a) for ‘Room to tack’, repeatedly and clearly circling one hand
over the head; and
(b) for ‘You tack’, repeatedly and clearly pointing at the other
kiteboard and waving the arm to windward.
SECTION D — PREAMBLE
The preamble to Section D is changed to:
When rule 21 or 22 applies between two kiteboards, Section A and C rules do
not.
21 STARTING ERRORS; TAKING PENALTIES; JUMPING
Rule 21.3 is changed and new rule 21.4 is
added:
21.3 During the last minute before her starting signal, a kiteboard that stops,
slows down significantly, or one that is not making significant forward progress
shall keep clear of all others unless she is accidentally capsized.
21.4 A kiteboard that is jumping shall keep clear of one that is not.
22 CAPSIZED; RECOVERING; AGROUND; RESCUING
Rule 23 is changed to:
22.1 If possible, a kiteboard shall avoid a kiteboard that
is capsized or has not regained control after capsizing, is aground, or is trying
to help a person or vessel in danger.
22.2 A kiteboard that is recovering shall keep clear of a kiteboard that is not.
F3 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 3
26 STARTING RACES
Rule 26 is changed to:
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 |
| 3 |
Class flag |
One |
Warning signal |
| 2 |
U or black flag |
One |
Preparatory signal |
| 1 |
Preparatory flag removed |
One long |
One-minute |
| 0 |
Class flag removed |
One |
Starting signal |
29 RECALLS
Rule 29.1 is deleted
30 STARTING PENALTIES
Rules 30.1 and 30.2 are deleted.
In rules 30.3 and 30.4, ‘hull’ is changed to ‘hull or competitor’.
In rule 30.4, ‘sail number’ is changed to ‘competitor number’.
36 RACES RESTARTED OR RESAILED
Rule 36(b) is changed to:
(b) cause a kiteboard to be penalized except under rule 2, 30.4 or 69 or under
rule 14 when she has caused injury, serious damage or a tangle.
F4 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 4
41 OUTSIDE HELP
Add new rules 41(e) and 41(f):
(e) help from another competitor in the same race to assist a relaunch;
(f) help to change equipment, but only in the launching area.
42 PROPULSION
Rule 42 is changed to:
42.1 Basic Rule
Except when permitted in rule 42.2, a kiteboard shall compete by using
only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed.
42.2 Exceptions
(a) A kiteboard may be propelled by unassisted actions of the competitor on
the kiteboard.
(b) A competitor may swim, walk or paddle while capsized or recovering, provided
that the kiteboard does not gain a significant advantage in the race.
(c) Any means of propulsion may be used to help a person or another vessel in
danger.
43 EXONERATION
Rule 43.1(c) is changed to:
(c) A right-of-way kiteboard, or one sailing within the room or mark-room to
which she is entitled, is exonerated for breaking rule 14 if the contact does
not cause damage, injury or a tangle.
Add new rule 43.1(d):
(d) When a kiteboard breaks rule 15 and there is no contact, she is exonerated
for her breach.
44 PENALTIES AT THE TIME OF AN INCIDENT
Rules 44.1 and 44.2 are changed to:
44.1 Taking a Penalty
A kiteboard may take a One-Turn Penalty when she may have broken one or more
rules of Part 2 or rule 31 in an incident while racing. Alternatively, the notice
of race or sailing instructions may specify the use of the Scoring Penalty or
some other penalty, in which case the specified penalty shall replace the One-Turn
Penalty. However,
(a) when a kiteboard may have broken a rule of Part 2 and rule 31 in the same incident she need not take the penalty for breaking rule 31; and
(b) if the kiteboard caused injury, damage or a tangle or, despite taking a penalty, gained a significant advantage in the race or series by her breach, her penalty shall be to retire.
44.2 One-Turn Penalty
After getting well clear of other kiteboards as soon after the incident as possible,
a kiteboard takes a One-Turn Penalty by promptly making one turn with her hull
in the water. The turn shall include one completed tack and one completed gybe.
Forward motion shall be established between the tack and the gybe (or vice versa)
with the competitor on the correct side of the hull in normal sailing position.
When a kiteboard takes the penalty at or near the finishing line, she shall
sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing.
50 COMPETITOR CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Rule 50.1(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.
PART 4 RULES DELETED
Rules 45, 48.2, 49, 50.2, 51, 52, 54, 55 and 56.1 are deleted
F5 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 5
60 PROTESTS
60.2 Intention to Protest
Rules 60.2(a), 60.2(b) and 60.2(c) are changed to:
(a) If a protest concerns an incident observed by the protestor in the racing
area:
(1) If the protestor is a kiteboard, she shall hail ‘Protest’.
(2) If the protestor is a committee, it shall inform the kiteboard after the
race within the protest time limit of its intention to protest her.
(b) However, if
(1) the protestee is not within hailing distance at the time of the incident,
(2) the incident was an error in sailing the course,
(3) the incident was not observed by the protestor in the racing area, or
(4) a protest committee decides to protest a kiteboard under rule 60.4(c),
then the only requirement for the protestor is to inform the protestee of its
intention to protest at the first reasonable opportunity.
(c) If at the time of the incident it is obvious to a protesting kiteboard that a member of either crew is in danger, or that injury, serious damage or a tangle has resulted, rules 60.2(a) and 60.2(b) do not apply to her, but she shall attempt to inform the other kiteboard within the protest time limit of her intention to protest.
60.5 Protest Decisions
Rules 60.5(d)(1) and 60.5(d)(2) are changed to:
(d) If the protest committee decides that a kiteboard has deviations in excess
of acceptable manufacturing tolerances:
(1) The kiteboard shall not be penalized if any deviations in excess of tolerances
specified were caused by damage or normal wear and they did not improve the
performance of the kiteboard.
(2) However, the kiteboard shall not race again until any such deviations have
been corrected unless the protest committee decides there is, or has been, no
reasonable opportunity to do so.
Add new rule 60.5(e):
(e) if a kiteboard has broken a rule and is not exonerated and, as a result,
caused a tangle for the second or subsequent time during the event, her penalty
shall be a disqualification that is not excludable.
63 CONDUCT OF HEARINGS
63.5 Decisions
Rule 63.5(d) is changed to:
(d) When the protest committee is in doubt about any matter concerning the measurement
of a kiteboard, the interpretation of a class rule, or a matter involving damage
to a kiteboard, 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.
Add new rule 63.8:
63.8 Hearing Procedure for an Elimination Series
For a race of an elimination series that will qualify a kiteboard to compete
in a later stage of an event:
(a) Rules 60.3(a) and (b), 61.2(a), 63.6(b) are deleted.
(b) Rule 63.4 is changed to:
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.
70 APPEALS AND REQUESTS TO A NATIONAL AUTHORITY
Add new rule 70.7:
70.7 Appeals are not permitted in disciplines and formats with elimination series.
F6 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 6
[No changes.]
F7 CHANGES TO THE RULES OF PART 7
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.’
F8 CHANGES TO APPENDIX A
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 ssailing instructions. If
an event includes more than one discipline or format, the notice of race or
sailing instructions shall state how the overall scores are
to be calculated.See rule 90.3(a)
A4 LOW POINT SYSTEM
Rule A4.2 is changed to:
A4.2 A kiteboard that did not sail the course, retired or was
disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the
number of kiteboards entered in the series or, in a race of an elimination series,
the number of kiteboards in that heat.
A11 SCORING ABBREVIATIONS
Add to Rule A11:
DCT Disqualified after causing a tangle in an incident
F9 CHANGES TO APPENDIX G
Appendix G is changed to:
Appendix G – Identification on Competitors
G1 Every kiteboard shall be identified as follows:
(a) Each competitor shall be provided with and wear a bib with a personal
competition number of no more than three digits. The bib shall be worn as intended
with the competition number clearly displayed.
(b) The numbers shall be displayed as high as possible on the front, back and
sleeves of the bib. They should be at least 20 cm tall on the back and at least
6 cm tall on the front and the sleeves.
(c) The numbers shall be Arabic numerals, all of the same solid colour, clearly
legible and in a commercially available typeface giving the same or better legibility
as Helvetica. The colour of the numbers shall contrast with
the colour of the bib.