New Quad, New Racing Rules of Sailing
Happy New Year, and Happy New Rules! Every four years, World Sailing updates the Racing Rules of Sailing. It’s good timing because we’re just starting the new Olympic quadrennial, so 2028 aspirant racers will have three full sailing years to sail under the updated rules before the Los Angeles Games.
I always like to take time over the winter to reread the Racing Rules. It’s an annual refresher on how to play the game of sailing, and it’s a fun way to stay connected to the sport when opportunities to get out on the water are more limited than during the standard racing season here on the Chesapeake. And with the issuance of a new version of the Racing Rules, it’s even more important.
A subtle evolution
That said, a new edition doesn’t mean the Racing Rules are completely different. In fact, they really represent a subtle evolution. Most of the changes just clarify, codify, or simplify the way we have competed for many years. Many updates are made thanks to suggestions from sailors to help make our rules cleaner and more effective.
Of particular interest to small boat and dinghy racers:
There are a few changes, however, that are interesting to those of us who race small boats and dinghies. (Big boat folks, be sure to check out updates including the changes to definition of “continuing obstruction” and Rule 60.2, Intention to Protest, for what that means about when you need to fly a protest flag.) Let’s take a (very) brief look:
Definition of “Mark-Room.” There are a few tweaks to this definition, including adding a clarification—that the boat that is entitled to mark room gets it until it leaves the mark astern. There had been no clear time or location certain to when mark room ended before, so it’s helpful to know how long mark room lasts.
Rule 14, Avoiding Contact. We love our boats. We don’t want to bang them up, so for safety and for happiness, the rule that we “shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible” has been in effect. The new rules include two more ways we need to behave. Basically, don’t run into other boats, and now also don’t make other boats run into other boats or other things! If you feel you have been wronged, you can likely protest under another rule(s) without having made contact.
Rule 17, One the Same Tack; Proper Course. The last sentence of the 2020-2024 rule has been deleted; that removes a time when this rule does not apply. This could make it a little bit easier for starboard tack-boats to slam dunk port-tack boats. We all love that tight racing!
Rule 18.2(s), Giving Mark-Room. The change to this rule helps racing boats know who gets room at the mark a little earlier than before. Now, when two boats are approaching the zone, mark-room is settled when the first of the two boats enters the zone. If they are overlapped, the inside boat gets room at the mark from the outside boat. If they are not overlapped—no matter which boat is clear ahead or clear astern of the other—the boat that enters the zone first gets mark room. This could make it less attractive to wait until the very last moment to choose which gate mark you want to round.
Rule 20.1, Hailing for Room To Tack. When you need to tack because you’re going to run into an obstruction, you’ve got to let the boat on your hip know that. But Rule 20.1 only says that “A boat may hail for room to tack…by hailing “Room to Tack.” It doesn’t say “shall,” which would make that wording mandatory (rather than something less formal, like “hey, I’ve gotta go here”). How this will play out remains to be seen, but if you need to say something, I’d go with “Room to Tack” anyway!
Rule 40.2(c) re Personal Flotation Devices. This was the “Y flag means you have to wear your lifejacket” rule. Now it clarifies that a rule in your one-design class’s rule or in item in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions can specify that you need to wear your lifejacket.
Again, updates to the Racing Rules of Sailing are evolutions, not revolutions. There are other changes that have been made that give more flexibility to regatta organizers for where they include information. That means it’s more important than ever to read the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions carefully.
Eager to learn more?
Even though the new quadrennial has just started, there are already lots of resources to help you navigate 2025-2028. Personally, I benefit from learning about the new Racing Rules from several sources. You never know which description in words or drawings will resonate with you, so try a few and see which you like!
The 2025-2028 Racing Rules of Sailing are published by World Sailing and available at sailing.org/racingrules. In addition, for essentially a “track changes” version to help you see where all the changes have been made, check out the “Study Pack” section at that site.
US Sailing has not only the new rules, but also books and quizzes about the new rules, available at ussailing.store/. Dave Perry’s “Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2028” is an outstanding dive into what the rules mean. Many a sailor (like me) carries this book instead of the actual rule book to regattas because it contains the full rule book and explanations, too. But it’s hefty, so it has to stay onshore!
I also enjoy resources written by Bryan Willis such as “The Rules in Practice, 2025-2028.” Willis does a thorough job walking readers through situations around the racecourse.
Want a deeper dive? Keep an eye out for webinars, both live and recorded, from sources such as Dave Dellenbaugh (speedandsmarts.com). Your local sailmaker or your one-design fleet may offer workshops, too.
By Kim Couranz
About the Author: Kim Couranz has earned several national and world titles in Laser Radials (ILCA 6), Snipes, and Lightnings. She has also raced J/22s, J/24s, and Ynglings on an international level.
