Page 8 - Race

5. REQUIREMENTS FOR RACING

World Sailing revises and publishes every four years the Racing Rules of Sailing under which racing
will be conducted. World Sailing owns the copyright of the RRS.

The MNA for the United Kingdom (abbreviated to GBR by World Sailing) is the Royal Yachting
Association.

Clubs, classes and other organisations are deemed to be ‘affiliated’ when affiliated to the MNA of
the venue at which the event is taking part. So, at an event in the UK, the organisation concerned is
only ‘affiliated’ when it is affiliated to the RYA. However, an organisation may also be ‘affiliated’ when
it is affiliated to the MNA of just one port of call when boats pass through the waters of more than
one MNA whilst racing.

5.1 Authority to Run Racing

Racing may only be conducted under the RRS if there is an organising authority and this can only
be:

World Sailing
It also appoints the Race Officials for some of the major events listed in its own regulations. These
events include the Olympic Games, Olympic Classes' World Championships and the Sailing World
Cup.

A Member National Authority (MNA)
Authority through the RRS is given to member national authorities (MNA) of World Sailing. It may
coordinate the dates and venues of national regattas, and may approve key regatta personnel such
as the Regatta Chairman, the (Principal) Race Officer(s), and the Protest Committee Chairman.

A Club Affiliated to an MNA
All clubs in the UK that organise racing should be affiliated to the RYA and as such can then act as
an Organising Authority.

A Class Association
A Class Association, whether affiliated to the RYA or not, may be an organising authority in the UK.
When unaffiliated the class association must either have the approval of the MNA or be in
conjunction with an affiliated club. Any Class Association will want to ensure that their class rules,
both in terms of measurement and their established practice for regatta organisation, are observed.

Another Organisation Affiliated to an MNA
An organisation other than a club, such as a private company, that is affiliated to the RYA may act
as an Organising Authority.

An Unaffiliated Body
An unaffiliated body may only be recognised as an Organising Authority when it acts in conjunction
with an affiliated club and where that body is owned and controlled by the club. The MNA may
prescribe that its approval is required (the RYA does not). Furthermore, if approved by World Sailing
and the MNA of the club, an unaffiliated body may be granted licence to act as an Organising
Authority where that body is not owned and controlled by the club.

Version March 2018 6