If you're a sailboat racer, or what to become one, you need to become familiar with the Racing Rules of Sailing. Here are some references to help you learn. Note that the rules are updated every 4 years; new version came out in 2021

Learn Racing Rules of sailing

Links and Resources:

Basic:

Free download of 2021 -2024 racing rules of sailing (PDF) from World Sailing: https://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/WSRRS20212024FinalwithChgsandCorrecns201113-[26798].pdf
Free One page reference Rules Chart (2021-2024): https://www.allenbrothers.co.uk/product/racing-rules-of-sailing-2021-2024/
"Basic Racing Rules PDF" (link below)
Videos with simulations addressing 2021-2024 Racing Rules: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkY1g4viKOpyVRRCrqX-ixZF36SgaNSv1

Advanced:

Study Version of the Racing Rules for 2021-2024 by World sailing. If you really want to understand all the changes, etc. 291 pages long! https://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/StudyVersion20212024WorldSailingRacingRulesofSailing-[26383].pdf
Racing Rules quiz game (free, basic to advanced): http://game.finckh.net/indexe.html

Basic Racing Rules PDF

by Ken Quant, 2009

BasicRacingRules (pdf)Download

Racing Signal Flags

Flags are used for signaling during racing.

Here are some common flags used by the Race Committee to communicate with the boats racing, or about to race. If you are a beginning racer, these are the first flags you'll want to learn. Thanks to UGA Sailing for this fun, informative video!

How a Race Works

Fun video overview of how a sailboat race works, using example of dinghy racing.

Example: Start of Keelboat Race

2nd horn blast and "X" flag (described in video above) hoisted on the committee boat indicate one or more boats (perhaps not shown) are over start line early (OCS)

The dangers of barging

"Jimmy shut us out!"

Failing to keep clear while tacking

Wild Oats and Comanche in Sydney-Hobart race.

Protest: Failed to keep clear, failed to take two turn penalty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDpvoNup-uM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-1NJjkwVXo

"Hooking"

America's Cup: Spithill 'hooks' Team New Zealand

Mark Rounding: Overlap at the Zone

Animation of mark rounding and overlaps at the zone. Prada Cup

Kinetics

"Kinetics" means propelling a sailboat by pumping the sails, rocking and 'ooching' the boat with your body. Generally forbidden or limited by the Race Rules of Sailing #42, but allowed in the 470 class in winds over 8 knots. So... an excellent illustration of what it can look like.

Race Committee Training Example

Training specifically for Eugene YC, but good general introduction and nice example of what specifics should be included in training new Race Committee members.

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