2013-2016 US SAILING PRESCRIPTIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Add in the list of appendices
R Procedures for Appeals and Requests
S Sound-Signal Starting System
T Alternative Procedures for Dispute Resolution

INTRODUCTION 
Add as a new last paragraph in the Introduction:
Prescriptions US Sailing prescriptions are printed in bold italics, except Appendices R, S and T.
Those three appendices are US Sailing prescriptions.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 
Add at the end of the Introduction
Equal Opportunity
As the national authority for the sport of sailing, US Sailing is committed to providing an equal
opportunity to all sailors to participate in the sport of sailing.

Rule 34 Change rule 34 title to: MARK MISSING; RACE COMMITTEE ABSENT
After rule 34 add
US Sailing prescribes that, if a finishing mark is missing but another one remains in
place, the finishing line is a line through the remaining mark at a 90o angle to the last leg
and of the shortest practicable length. If the race committee is absent when a boat
finishes, she should report to the race committee her finishing time and her position in
relation to nearby boats at the first reasonable opportunity.

Rule 40 Change rule 40 title to: PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES; LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT
After rule 40 add
US Sailing prescribes that every boat shall carry life-saving equipment conforming to
government regulations that apply in the racing area. Go to
ussailing.org/racingrules/documents and click the ‘PFD’ link for more information.

Rule 48.1 After rule 48.1 add
US Sailing prescribes that the use of additional special-purpose lights such as spreader,
sail-trim and masthead wind-indicator lights shall not constitute a breach of this rule.

Rule 56 Add rule 56
56 FLAGS
US Sailing prescribes that a boat shall not display flags except for signaling. A boat shall
not be penalized for breaking this rule without prior warning and opportunity to make
correction.

Rule 60 After rule 60 add
US Sailing prescribes that when redress has been requested or is to be considered, any
boat may participate in the hearing provided she makes a written request before the
hearing begins. When she does so, the protest committee shall act under rule 60.3(b) to
consider redress for her at that hearing.

Rule 61.4 Add rule 61.4
61.4 Fees for Protests and Requests for Redress
US Sailing prescribes that no fees shall be charged for protests or requests for redress.

Rule 63.2 After rule 63.2 add
US Sailing prescribes that when redress has been requested or is to be considered, the
protest committee shall make a reasonable attempt to notify all boats of the time and place
of the hearing and the nature of the request or the grounds for considering redress.
Before holding the hearing, the committee shall allow reasonable time for boats to make
written requests to participate.

Rule 63.4 After rule 63.4 add
US Sailing prescribes that when practicable:
(a) no person who brings an incident to the attention of the protest committee or who
will give evidence regarding an incident shall be a member of the protest
committee for a hearing involving that incident; and
(b) a request for redress based on a protest committee decision shall be heard by a
committee that contains no members of the committee that made the original
decision.

Rule 64.3(b) After rule 64.3(b) add
US Sailing prescribes that the authority responsible for interpreting the rules of a
handicap or rating system is the organization that issued the handicap or the rating
certificate involved.

Rule 68 After rule 68 add
US Sailing prescribes that:
(a) A boat that retires from a race or accepts a penalty does not, by that action alone,
admit liability for damages.
(b) A protest committee shall find facts and make decisions only in compliance with
the rules. No protest committee or US Sailing appeal authority shall adjudicate
any claim for damages. Such a claim is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts.
(c) A basic purpose of the rules is to prevent contact between boats. By participating
in an event governed by the rules, a boat agrees that responsibility for damages
arising from any breach of the rules shall be based on fault as determined by
application of the rules, and that she shall not be governed by the legal doctrine of
‘assumption of risk’ for monetary damages resulting from contact with other
boats.

Rule 70.5(a) After rule 70.5(a) add
US Sailing prescribes that its approval is required. Go to
ussailing.org/racingrules/documents and click the ‘No Appeal’ link for more
information or to obtain approval.

Rule 76.1 After rule 76.1 add
US Sailing prescribes that an organizing authority or race committee shall not reject or
cancel the entry of a boat or exclude a competitor eligible under the notice of race and
sailing instructions for an arbitrary or capricious reason or for reason of race, color,
religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or age.

Rule 82 Add rule 82
82 INDEMNIFICATION OR HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENTS
US Sailing prescribes that the organizing authority shall not require a competitor to
assume any liabilities of the organizing authority, race committee, protest committee, host
club, sponsors, or any other organization or official involved with the event. (This is
commonly referred to as an ‘indemnification’ or ‘hold harmless’ agreement.) Go to
ussailing.org/racingrules/documents and click the ‘Indemnification’ link for more
information.

Rule 86.3 After rule 86.3 add
US Sailing prescribes that proposed rules may be tested, but only in local races. However,
proposed rules may also be tested at other events if, for each event, the organizing
authority first obtains written permission from US Sailing and the proposed rules are
included in the notice of race and sailing instructions.

Rule 88.2 After rule 88.2 add
US Sailing prescribes that sailing instructions shall not change or delete rule 61.4,
Appendix R, or its prescriptions to rules 40, 68 or 76.1. However, for an international
event the prescription to rule 40 may be deleted.

Appendix A At the end add the following note:
US Sailing Note on Scoring a Long Series: The scoring systems in Appendix A may be
inappropriate for a long series, such as a club’s season championship held over several
weeks or months, in which some boats do not compete in all of the races and in which more
boats compete in some races than in others. Go to ussailing.org/racingrules/documents and
click the ‘Scoring a Long Series’ link for an explanation of the scoring problems that occur
in such series, alternative scoring systems, and language for sailing instructions to
implement them.

Appendix G After rule G2 add
US Sailing prescribes that unless otherwise stated in her class rules, the sails of a boat
that is not in an ISAF International Class or Recognized Class shall comply with rule G1.
However, offshore racing boats not in a class that is subject to rule G1 shall carry
numbers allotted by US Sailing on mainsails, spinnakers and each overlapping headsail
having a luff-perpendicular measurement exceeding 130% of the base of the foretriangle.
This rule applies only to a boat whose owner’s national authority is US Sailing. Go to
ussailing.org/racingrules/documents and click the ‘Sail Numbers’ link for the full text of
the Sail Numbering System for offshore racing boats in the United States and for an
application for a sail number.
Appendix L At the end of the preamble to Appendix L add
US Sailing Note: US Sailing has produced a guide to simplified sailing instructions suitable
for events such as club or local regattas. Go to ussailing.org/racingrules/documents and
click the ‘Simple SIs’ link to read and download this guide.

Appendix L Add Instruction 5.6
This is a US Sailing prescription.
5.6 Flag A displayed, with no sound, while boats are
finishing means ‘No more racing today.’

Appendix L Add Instruction 16.10
This is a US Sailing prescription.
16.10 If the race committee posts a list of boats scored OCS,
ZFP or BFD on the official notice board before the
protest time limit, a request for redress based on such a
posted score shall be made no later than one hour after
the protest time limit. This changes rule 62.2.

Appendix R, Procedures for Appeals and Requests Replace ISAF Appendix R with Appendix R [see
Appendix R below]

Appendix S After Appendix R add Appendix S [see Appendix S below].

Appendix T After Appendix S add Appendix T [see Appendix T below].

Protest Form Replace the ISAF Protest Form with the US Sailing Protest Form.

INDEX At end of introductory paragraph add
US Sailing prescriptions are not included in the Index.
APPENDIX R – Procedures for Appeals and Requests
This appendix is a US Sailing prescription.
See rules 70 and 71. This appendix replaces Appendix R as adopted by the International
Sailing Federation for the purpose of creating a two-level appeals system. The US Sailing
Appeals Committee acts as the national authority under rule 71. An association appeals
committee may act as permitted by rule 71.2 and shall act as required by rule 71.3, subject
to further appeal as provided in rule R7.1(a).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the appeals system and their answers, including
advice on how to prepare an appeal, can be found on the US Sailing website. Go to
ussailing.org/racingrules/documents and click the ‘Appeals FAQ’ link.

R1 WHERE TO SEND AN APPEAL OR REQUEST
R1.1 All appeals and requests shall be sent to the Race Administration Director at US Sailing, at
either P.O. Box 1260 or 15 Maritime Drive, Portsmouth, RI 02871, or by e-mail to
RaceAdmin@ussailing.org.
R1.2 Except as provided in rule R1.4, the director will forward an appeal of a decision of a protest
committee or a request by a protest committee for confirmation or correction of its decision
to the association appeals committee for the place in which the event was held. However,
such an appeal or request arising from an event conducted under the procedural rules of the
Intercollegiate Sailing Association or the Interscholastic Sailing Association will be
forwarded to the association appeals committee for the ICSA and ISSA.
R1.3 The director will forward an appeal of a decision of an association appeals committee, a
request by an association appeals committee for confirmation or correction of its decision,
and a request for an interpretation of rules to the US Sailing Appeals Committee.
R1.4 The director will forward an appeal of a decision of a protest committee acting under rule
69.1, an appeal of a decision of a protest committee of a US Sailing national championship,
and a request by such a committee for confirmation or correction of its decision to the US
Sailing Appeals Committee.

R2 TO APPEAL OR MAKE A REQUEST
R2.1 To appeal,
(a) no later than 15 days after receiving the written decision being appealed or a
protest committee’s decision not to reopen a hearing, the appellant shall send an
appeal and a copy of the decision to US Sailing. The appeal shall state why the
appellant believes the committee’s decision or its procedures were incorrect;
(b) when the hearing required by rule 63.1 has not been held within 30 days after a
protest or request for redress was delivered, the appellant shall, within a further 15
days, send an appeal with a copy of the protest or request and any relevant
correspondence. The appeals committee to which the appeal is forwarded shall
extend the time if there is good reason to do so; or
(c) when the protest committee fails to comply with rule 65, the appellant shall,
within a reasonable time after the hearing, send an appeal with a copy of the
protest or request and any relevant correspondence.
If a copy of the protest or request is not available, the appellant shall instead send a
statement of its substance.
R2.2 The appellant shall also send, with the appeal or as soon as possible thereafter, all of the
following documents and information available:
(a) the written protest(s) or request(s) for redress;
(b) if the appeal is from a decision of an association appeals committee, the written
decision of the protest committee and the appeal to the association appeals committee;
(c) a diagram, prepared or endorsed by the protest committee, that shows
(1) the positions of all boats involved at relevant times, and their tracks;
(2) the course to the next mark and its required side;
(3) the speed and direction of the wind;
(4) any relevant mark, obstruction or zone; and
(5) if relevant, the depth of the water and the speed and direction of any current;
(d) the notice of race, sailing instructions, any other documents governing the event, and
any changes to them;
(e) the names, mailing addresses and e-mail addresses of the parties to the hearing, the
chairman of the protest committee and, if relevant, the chairman of the association
appeals committee; and
(f) any other relevant documents.
R2.3 To request confirmation or correction of its decision, a protest committee or association
appeals committee shall send to US Sailing a copy of its decision and all relevant documents
and comments (see rule R2.2).
R2.4 To request an interpretation of the rules, a club or other organization affiliated to US Sailing
shall send its request to US Sailing. The request shall include assumed facts and be endorsed
by an officer of the club or organization. A US Sailing committee is considered to be an
organization affiliated to US Sailing.

R3 FEES
R3.1 If the appeal or request is being made to an association appeals committee (see rule R1.2),
US Sailing charges no fee for forwarding that appeal or request. However, an association
appeals committee may charge a fee, in which case the association appeals committee will
send a notice to the appellant (or, for a request, to the protest committee) stating the fee, to
whom the fee is payable, and the address to which the fee must be sent.
R3.2 If the appeal is being made to the US Sailing Appeals Committee (see rules R1.3 and R1.4)
by a member of US Sailing or another national authority, US Sailing charges a fee of $25.
The fee is $75 for all others.
R3.3 A fee of $25 is charged for a request for an interpretation of the rules, but there is no fee for
such a request from a US Sailing committee. There is no fee for a request from an
association appeals committee for confirmation or correction of its decision.
R3.4 If a fee is required for an appeal or request, it must be received before the appeal or request
will be considered. For appeals and requests made to the US Sailing Appeals Committee, the
fee can be paid by check to “US Sailing” or electronically as described in the Appeals FAQ.

R4 NOTIFICATION OF THE COMMITTEE WHOSE DECISION IS BEING APPEALED
Upon receipt of an appeal, the appeals committee shall send a copy of the appeal to the
committee whose decision is being appealed, asking it for any documents required by rule
R2.2 not supplied by the appellant.

R5 COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
R5.1 Protest Committee
A protest committee whose decision is being appealed shall supply the documents requested
under rule R4 and any facts or other information requested under rule R5.4. If directed to do
so by the appeals committee, it shall conduct a hearing, or reopen the hearing, of the protest
or request for redress, or conduct a hearing to consider redress.
R5.2 Association Appeals Committee
(a) The association appeals committee shall send to all parties to the hearing, and to the
committee whose decision is being appealed or reviewed, copies of all relevant
documents, comments and clarifications it has received, except those supplied by that
party or committee.
(b) The association appeals committee shall send its decision in writing to all parties to the
hearing and the protest committee.
(c) An association appeals committee shall consider an appeal it has refused to decide if
directed to do so by the US Sailing Appeals Committee.
R5.3 US Sailing Appeals Committee
The US Sailing Appeals Committee shall send to all parties to the hearing, to the protest
committee and to the association appeals committee whose decision is being appealed or
reviewed, copies of all relevant documents, comments and clarifications it has received,
except those supplied by that party or committee.
R5.4 Inadequate Facts; Reopening
An appeals committee shall accept the protest committee’s finding of facts except when it
decides they are inadequate. In that case it shall require the protest committee to provide
additional facts or other information, or to reopen the hearing and report any new finding of
facts, and the protest committee shall promptly do so.

R6 COMMENTS
The parties to the hearing, the protest committee and, if relevant, the association appeals
committee may make comments on the appeal or request, on any of the documents listed in
rule R2.2, and on any clarifications received under rule R7.2(d). Comments shall be sent in
writing to the appeals committee no later than 15 days after the party or committee receives
the document. The appeals committee need not consider comments sent after that time or
comments on comments.
R7 PROVISIONS IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF RULES 70 AND 71
R7.1 Right to Appeal or Request Confirmation or Correction
(a) A party to a hearing may appeal an association appeals committee’s decision.
(b) An association appeals committee may request confirmation or correction of its
decision (see rule R2.3).

R7.2 Other Provisions
(a) No member of the association appeals committee shall take part in the discussion or
decision on an appeal or a request for confirmation or correction to the US Sailing
Appeals Committee.
(b) An appeals committee may direct a protest committee to conduct a hearing to consider
redress for an appellant or other boats.
(c) The US Sailing Appeals Committee may direct an association appeals committee to
consider an appeal it has refused to decide.
(d) An appeals committee may seek clarifications of rules governing the event from
organizations that are not parties to the hearing.

R8 EXPEDITED APPEALS
An expedited appeals system, which can only be used at US Sailing Protected Competitions
(see US Sailing Regulation 12.03), can be found on the US Sailing website. Go to
ussailing.org/racingrules/documents and click the ‘Expedited Appeals’ link.

APPENDIX S – SOUND-SIGNAL STARTING SYSTEM
This appendix is a US Sailing prescription.
US Sailing prescribes that, when the sailing instructions so indicate, the Sound-Signal Starting
System described below shall be used. This system is recommended primarily for small-boat racing
and makes it unnecessary for competitors to use stopwatches. Supplemental visual course and recall
signals are also recommended when practicable.
S1 Course and postponement signals may be made orally.
S2 Audible signals shall govern, even when supplemental visual signals are also used.
S3 The starting sequence shall consist of the following sound signals made at the indicated times:
Signal Sound Time before start
Warning 3 long 3 minutes
Preparatory 2 long 2 minutes
1 long, 3 short 1 minute, 30 seconds
1 long 1 minute
3 short 30 seconds
2 short 20 seconds
1 short 10 seconds
1 short 5 seconds
1 short 4 seconds
1 short 3 seconds
1 short 2 seconds
1 short 1 second
Starting 1 long 0
S4 Signals shall be timed from their commencement.
S5 A series of short signals may be made before the sequence begins in order to attract attention.
S6 Individual recalls shall be signalled by the hail of the sail number (or some other clearly
distinguishing feature) of each recalled boat. Flag X need not be displayed.
S7 Failure of a competitor to hear an adequate course, postponement, starting sequence or recall signal
shall not be grounds for redress.

APPENDIX T – ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
This appendix is a US Sailing prescription. One or more sections of
this appendix apply only if the sailing instructions so state.
The rules in this appendix are intended to improve compliance with the
Basic Principle, Sportsmanship and the Rules, and may be used for
fleets of boats in major or minor events.
Sections A and B provide alternative penalties that encourage
competitors to take a penalty when they may have broken a rule of Part
2 or rule 31. They can be used together or individually.
Sections C and D each provide a modified hearing procedure that is
less formal and less time-consuming than the usual hearing procedure.
They are designed to encourage boats to enforce the rules by
protesting. Sections C and D are not designed to be used at the same
event, but either Section C or Section D may be used with Section A or
B, or with both. 7ote however that, if Section D is used, Section B
automatically applies.
Please report your experiences with and evaluations of these rules to
US Sailing by sending an e-mail to rules@ussailing.org.

SECTION A
PENALTIES WHILE RACING
If Section A applies, rule T1 shall be included in the sailing
instructions.
T1 PENALTIES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDET
The first two sentences of rule 44.1 are changed to: ‘A boat may take a
One-Turn Penalty when she may have broken a rule of Part 2 or rule 31
while racing. However, when she may have broken a rule of Part 2
while in the zone around a mark other than a starting mark, her penalty
shall be a Two-Turns Penalty.’

SECTION B
POST-RACE PENALTIES
T2 PENALTIES TAKEN AFTER A RACE
T2.1 After a race, a boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 or rule 31
while racing may take a Post-Race Penalty for that incident. The
penalty shall be a Scoring Penalty, calculated as stated in rule 44.3(c).
However, rules 44.1(a) and (b) apply. A boat takes a Post-Race Penalty
by informing the race committee in writing and identifying the race
number and when and where the incident occurred.
T2.2 The Post-Race Penalty shall be
(a) 20%, if taken before the protest time limit, or
(b) 30%, if taken after the protest time limit but before the beginning
of a hearing involving the incident.

SECTION C
EXPEDITED HEARINGS
T3 INFORMING THE RACE COMMITTEE
A boat intending to protest or request redress based on an incident in
the racing area that she is involved in or sees shall, at the first
reasonable opportunity after she finishes, inform the race committee at
the finishing line of her intent to protest or request redress and, when
applicable, the identity of the protestee.
T4 CHANGES IN HEARING PROCEDURES
This rule applies to all hearings except hearings under rule 69.
T4.1 If the protest committee is able to assemble the parties to a hearing
before the protest or redress time limit, it may begin the hearing and
may waive the requirements of rule 61.2 or 62.2.
T4.2 The US Sailing prescriptions to rules 60, 63.2 and 63.4 are deleted.
T4.3 Rule 63.5 is changed to: ‘At the beginning of the hearing, if there is no
objection, the protest or request is valid and the hearing shall be
continued. If an objection is made, the protest committee shall take any
evidence . . . [no further change].’
T4.4 Insert a new sentence after the third sentence of rule 63.6: ‘However,
the committee may limit the number of witnesses and the time during
which parties may present evidence and ask questions.’
T4.5 The first sentence of rule 65.2 is changed to: ‘A party to the hearing is
entitled to receive the above information in writing, provided she asks
the protest committee for it no later than thirty minutes after being
informed of the decision or coming ashore following the last race of the
day, whichever is later.’
T4.6 The third sentence of rule 66 is changed to: ‘A party to the hearing may
not ask for a reopening.’

SECTION D
ARBITRATION
When Section D applies, a boat may take the applicable Post-Race
Penalty in Section B without participating in an arbitration meeting.
T5 PROTEST ARBITRATION
T5.1 An arbitration meeting will be held prior to a protest hearing for each
incident resulting in a protest by a boat involving a rule of Part 2 or rule
31, but only if each party is represented by a person who was on board
at the time of the incident. No witnesses will be permitted. However, if
the arbitrator decides that rule 44.1(b) may apply or that arbitration is
not appropriate, the meeting will not be held, and if a meeting is in
progress, it will be closed.
T5.2 Based on the evidence given by the representatives, the arbitrator will
offer an opinion as to what the protest committee is likely to decide:
(a) the protest is invalid,
(b) no boat will be penalized for breaking a rule, or
(c) one or more boats will be penalized for breaking a rule,
identifying the boats and the penalties.
T5.3 A boat that may have broken a rule may take a Post-Race Penalty as
provided in Section B. However, the penalty in rule T2.2(a) is available
only until the protest time limit or until the beginning of the arbitration
meeting, whichever is earlier. During a meeting, a boat may take a
penalty by acknowledging her acceptance of the penalty in writing.
T5.4 If a boat asks to withdraw her protest, the arbitrator may act on behalf
of the protest committee in accordance with rule 63.1 to accept the
withdrawal.