S I GNI F I CANT CHANG E S TO THE RUL E S 5
• Rule 32 (Shortening or Abandoning After the Start) and rule 35 (Race Time Limit and Scores) adds the term” race” before “time limit” to clarify the rule is referring to the race time limit.
• Rule 33 (Changing the Next Leg of the Course) and rule 34 (Mark Missing) adds the phrase “while boats are racing” to clarify the race committee must make the required actions only when acting while boats are racing.
• Rule 37 (Search and Rescue Instructions) New rule 37 states: “When the race committee displays flag V with one sound, all boats and official and support vessels shall, if possible, monitor the race committee communication channel for search and rescue instructions.” Flag V has been added to Race Signals.
• Part 4 (Other Requirements When Racing) This section has been reorganized into two distinct sections: Section A, General Requirements (rules 40–47), and Section B, Equipment-Related Requirements (rule 48 – 55), with an attempt to consolidate all the racing rules pertaining to a boat’s equipment in Section B.
• Rule 40 (Personal Flotation Devices) New rule 40 has been significantly reorgan- ized, with some minor changes in its meaning. Note that rule 40.1, which, when in effect, requires each competitor to wear a personal flotation device (PFD), can be put in effect by the notice of race or the sailing instructions. And if flag Y is displayed ashore, it must be accompanied by a sound signal (see rule 40.2(b)).
• The previous US Sailing prescription to rule 40 requiring every boat to carry life-saving equipment conforming to government regulations that apply in the rac- ing area while racing has been deleted. That does not change any legal requirement a boat may have under laws that pertain in the sailing area. It just means that boats cannot be penalized under the racing rules for the failure to do so. US Sailing continues to support compliance with the applicable laws, including laws on carry - ing required life-saving equipment, adding this statement to the beginning of the US Sailing edition of the rule book: “As the national authority for the sport, US Sailing is committed to promoting compliance with applicable government regu- lations regarding life-saving equipment.”
The racing rule which creates the standard for the PFDs that boats are required to carry onboard is rule 1.2 (Life-Saving Equipment and Personal Flotation Devices) which states: “A boat shall carry adequate life-saving equipment for all persons on board, including one item ready for immediate use, unless her class rules make some other provision.” If a boat is protested, it is up to the protest committee to determine whether its life-saving equipment is “adequate.” It is generally accepted that approximately 50 Newtons of floating capability is “adequate.” Boats carry - ing “life-saving equipment” that is clearly not adequate, with no other adequate device onboard, are breaking rule 1.2 and can be penalized.
Note that a class, or the notice of race or sailing instructions for an event, can require competitors to wear U.S. Coast Guard Approved lifejackets (PFDs) as US Sailing does for its championships. See rule J2.2(5) (Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions).
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