The Racing Rules of Sailing includes two main sections.
The first, Parts 1–7, contains rules that affect all competitors. The second,
Appendices A–P, provides details of rules, rules that apply to
particular kinds of racing, and rules that affect only a small number of competitors
or officials.
Revision The racing rules are revised and published
every four years by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the international
authority for the sport. This edition becomes effective on
1 January 2005. Marginal markings indicate important changes to Parts 1–7 and
the Definitions of the 2001–2004 edition. No changes are contemplated before
2009, but any changes determined to be urgent before then will be announced
through national authorities and posted on the ISAF website (www.sailing.org).
ISAF Codes The ISAF Eligibility, Advertising and Anti-Doping Codes (Regulations 19, 20 and 21) are referred to in the definition Rule but are not included in this book because they can be changed at any time. New versions will be announced through national authorities and posted on the ISAF website.
Cases and Calls The ISAF publishes interpretations of
the racing rules in The Case Book for 2005–2008 and recognizes them as
authoritative interpretations and explanations of the rules. It also publishes
The Call Book for Match Racing for 2005–2008 and The Call Book for
Team Racing for 2005–2008, and it recognizes them as authoritative only
for umpired match or team racing. These publications are available on the ISAF
website.
Terminology A term used in the sense stated in the Definitions is printed in italics or, in preambles, in bold italics (for example, racing and racing). ‘Boat’ means a sailboat and the crew on board. ‘Race committee’ includes any person or committee performing a race committee function. Other words and terms are used in the sense ordinarily understood in nautical or general use.
Appendices When the rules of an appendix apply, they
take precedence over any conflicting rules in Parts 1–7. Each appendix is
identified by a letter. A reference to a rule in an appendix will
contain the letter and the rule number (for example, ‘rule A1’). There is no
Appendix I or O.
Changes to the Rules The prescriptions of a national authority, class rules or the sailing instructions may change a racing rule only as permitted in rule 86.
Changes to National Authority Prescriptions A national authority may restrict changes to its prescriptions as provided in rule 87.