Paul Elvstrom - Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules: 2021-2024 Rules

ADLARD COLES

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP, UK

This electronic edition published in 2020 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

BLOOMSBURY, ADLARD COLES and the Adlard Coles logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

First published in Great Britain by Creagh-Osborne & Partners Ltd 1965

Second edition 1969, Third edition 1973

Fourth edition 1977, Fifth edition 1981

Sixth edition published by Adlard Coles 1985

Seventh edition 1989

Eighth edition published by Adlard Coles Nautical 1993

Ninth edition 1997, Tenth edition 2001

Eleventh edition 2005, Twelfth edition 2009

Thirteenth edition 2013, Fourteenth edition 2017

This edition published 2020

Copyright Paul Elvstrm and Richard Creagh-Osborne, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1981

Copyright Paul Elvstrm and William Collins & Co Ltd 1985, 1989

Copyright Paul Elvstrm and A&C Black (Publishers) Ltd 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009

Copyright Paul Elvstrm and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2013, 2017, 2020

World Sailing Racing Rules World Sailing 2020

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ISBN: 978-1-4729-8059-5 (PB)
ISBN: 978-1-4729-8060-1 (eBook)
ISBN: 978-1-4729-8061-8 (ePDF)

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CONTENTS

Rules are cross-referenced to the
Explanations and Interpretations by RED
numbers in the margins

FAST FIND DIAGRAM TO PART 2 RULES
WHEN BOATS MEET

Black numbers are the Rule numbers

Hyperlinked numbers refer to the Explanatory Section page numbers

A. Windward + Finishing Mark

Basic Rules if Opposite Tacks

Mark-Room if Same Tack

B. Running

Basic Rules (see above) +

Proper Course

C. Windward Leg

Basic Rules + 17

D. Reach

E. Leeward Mark

Mark-Room

Prestart, Start, Starting Marks

Basic Rules (see above)

Not Section C Rules 18, 19 and 20 at a Starting Mark when approaching to start

Not 17! Same Tack, Proper Course before the Starting Signal

FOREWORD

Every four years after the Olympic Games, the Racing Rules of Sailing are reviewed. Even if the games are postponed World Sailing have decided to follow the normal four year cycle. Despite constant efforts from the World Sailing Racing Rules Committee to keep the Rules simple and easy to read, they are still quite difficult to understand and may be ambiguous in some situations.

To help to clarify them and ensure uniform interpretation and understanding of their meaning, World Sailing publishes a number of official interpretations or Cases.

Elvstrm Explains the Racing Rules provides a ready-reference to the Rules, explanatory notes and drawings, and reference to the relevant World Sailing cases in a handy pocket-sized book and now also as an App. Its aim is to help officials and competitors alike to learn the Rules easily, to understand them, and to apply them correctly. It also enables protests and disputes to be resolved fairly.

Elvstrm Explains the Racing Rules is therefore an invaluable handbook, providing a concise guide to the racing rules for everyone involved in the sport.

Kim Andersen

President World Sailing

INTRODUCTION

The main object of Elvstrm explains the Racing Rules is to provide a handy and easily-read guide for all of us to understand and interpret the rules identically.

The Racing Rules are probably among the most complicated of any sport. They are hard to comprehend even if a great effort is made, when writing the Rules, to use language that is modern and easily read. There is also a constant flow of new interpretations, clarifications and changes to the Rules. Also, the use of the same Rules in match racing and the introduction of on the water judging in fleet races have introduced a more aggressive use of the Rules as a weapon against competitors. The best way to avoid problems is still to sail against others in the same way that you wish to be sailed against. This unwritten rule is the best way of preserving friendships and promoting the desire to participate in sailboat racing.

It is great to win in sailboat racing, but only if the other competitors join in the pleasure.

Paul Elvstrm

HOW TO GET THE BEST USE OUT OF THIS BOOK

The book is divided into three sections.

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