PART 7


Subjects of possible conflict between the class rules and the notice or race or the sailing instructions include: • Whether the notice of race or the sailing instructions can require VHF radios, mobile phones or other electronic aids to be carried for reasons of safety or for communicating courses and course changes when these are not allowed in the class rules


• Whether cushions and other items prone to mildew in damp conditions can be left ashore, particularly in winter


• Whether the notice of race or the sailing instructions can change a class rule that says that, to be in class, the owner must be a member of the class association


• Whether class rules that set out event specifications, often called ‘championship rules’, can be varied. • Whether class rules concerning sail limitations and sail numbering and lettering can be varied by the notice of race or the sailing instructions in classes that are not World Sailing classes


Rule 88 88.1 NATIONAL PRESCRIPTIONS Prescriptions that Apply


The prescriptions that apply to an event are the prescriptions of the national authority with which the organizing authority is associated under rule 89.1. However, if boats will pass through the waters of more than one national authority while racing, the notice of race or sailing instructions shall identify the prescriptions that will apply and when they will apply.


88.2 Changes to Prescriptions


The notice of race or sailing instructions may change a prescription. However, a national authority may restrict changes to its prescriptions with a prescription to this rule, provided World Sailing approves its application to do so. The restricted prescriptions shall not be changed.


The first default is that national prescriptions apply, and this does not need to be said, since a prescription is a rule, which applies because of rule 3. Rule 90.2 then requires the sailing instructions to include the applicable national prescriptions in English when entries from other countries are expected. Most national authorities have prescriptions, some do not.


The second default is that an event can change the national prescriptions in the notice of race or the sailing instructions. However, most national authorities then avail themselves of the right to restrict changes to their prescriptions, subject to World Sailing approval. World Sailing publishes all approved restrictions to changes, so the options open to event organisers are easily available1


. Some classes see national prescriptions as an


unnecessary burden on their international events, and are still known to purport to exclude the application of all national prescriptions despite there being a restriction to changes in the national authority’s prescription to rule 86.2 – and, as rule 85.1 says, a change to a rule (and prescriptions are rules) includes partial or total deletion. This is clearly not permitted.


In choosing which prescriptions need not apply, a coastal national authority should take note of rule 88.1, to avoid needlessly imposing domestic restrictions on ‘passing trade’. The term ‘pass through’ is unclear. Does it apply only to situations where boats race from country A to C, and in the process sail through the waters of country B? Or does it also include (as it should) a race just from country A to country B (usually followed by a return race from B to A)?


1 The current RYA prescription to rule 88.2 is: ‘Notices of race and sailing instructions shall not change a prescription of the RYA. However, when an international jury has been appointed for an event, only the prescriptions to rules 3, 5, 67, 86.3 and 88.2 shall apply.’ The RYA prescriptions are a relatively light burden.


238 RYA The Racing Rules Explained


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