Page 2 - Case Book 2017 - 2020 April 18

INTRODUCTION

This is the seventh edition of the RYA Case Book difficult or doubtful; from clubs and classes (under rule
revised for the latest version of the Racing Rules of 70.4) in the form of questions; and, of course, from
Sailing. It was first published in a single volume in competitors or race committees in the form of appeals
1993 under the late Mary Pera’s editorship and the (under rule 70.1). The RYA Racing Rules Committee
following three editions were edited by Trevor Lewis deals with about thirty such referrals each year and
up to the 2005 - 2008 version. would encourage more where they will add clarity to
the interpretation of the rules
This useful reference work was brought into the digital
age in 2013 (thanks to Michael Short) by hyperlinking To support the operation of the Racing Charter the
the various parts so that users can move from item to RYA provides various ways by which rule
item with a single ‘click’*. This is available for viewing understanding, observance and dispute resolution may
on, or downloading from, the RYA website at be tackled:
www.rya.org.uk/go/casebook. This version is updated  The Racing Rules Committee’s Rules Advisory
each time a new case is published. Furthermore, the new Service deals with a wide range of questions. The
cases can be downloaded and printed to supplement answers, from a panel of members of the Racing
hard copies of this book. Rules Committee, are provided only to the
questioner, and with the caveat that the answer
The Racing Rules of Sailing 2017 – 2020 have made cannot be taken as authoritative. However, when
further refinements to the rules, mainly for questions raise important issues the RYA may
clarification. The RYA Cases have been edited to seek to have them submitted under rule 70.4 so
reflect these changes. that the answers can be more widely published.
The World Sailing (WS) Cases have also been  The RYA publishes guidance notes on numerous
reviewed and some new ones added. The WS Case aspects of the rules on the RYA website (go to
Book is published on the WS website at www.rya.org.uk/go/RRSguidance) including, inter
www.sailing.org. The WS Cases’ abstracts are alia: the new rules; scoring under Appendix A;
included in Section 2 of this book together with those discretionary penalties; outside help; rules
of the RYA Cases and both are included in the ‘Cases disputes; and redress. The guidance notes are
by Rules’ index in Section 1. Some WS Cases lack added to and updated regularly throughout the
proper abstracts, because the cases are such that the four-year rules cycle.
whole case is needed for a proper understanding and  The RYA has promoted alternative forms of
should be referred to for that reason. dispute resolution so that reluctant competitors are
WS Regulation 31.3 states that “the [WS] cases are no longer obliged to appear in the protest room.
authoritative interpretations and explanations of the These include arbitration hearings, the exoneration
rules for all racing”. RYA Case 2002/13 states that penalty and advisory hearings and further
“The RYA cases are illustrative and persuasive but not guidance on these are available from the RYA
binding on any protest committee or jury. However, if website and, also, through RYA Regional Rules
a decision was contrary to an RYA case on the same or Advisors whose role is to promote rules
very similar facts, and if the decision were appealed, it knowledge and operation of the alternative
is likely that the appeal would be upheld. Many cases, processes in all RYA affiliated clubs.
however, turn on a narrow, particular set of facts, and a In all of the foregoing the Case Book will serve a
different decision may be correct where the facts are useful purpose in ensuring consistency of
only slightly different”.
interpretations and decisions.
There are some conventions that are followed in the The RYA is most grateful to the members of the
reported cases: boats are treated as female and Racing Rules Committee for their work on the cases
competitors as male when no suitable unisex word is decided, and, particularly, to Carol Haines, Michael
available; all protests are valid and all collisions are Short and Peter Johnson for their very hard work and
assumed not to have resulted in damage, unless the time commitment to the review and editing of cases
case says otherwise. Therefore, where there is contact throughout the production of this book.
it may be that the right-of-way boat will have broken
rule 14, Avoiding Contact, but, because the rule says Chris Simon, Editor
that she is to be exonerated in the absence of damage,
the case may not address that point.

It is important for the successful operation of the RYA *To go to a linked reference place the cursor on the
Racing Charter, and for other reasons, that there is reference (shown in blue and underlined) and left click.
uniform interpretation of the racing rules. To assist in The document will move to the linked text. To return
that process references to the RYA are encouraged: to the reference hold down the ‘Alt’ and the ‘’ key
from protest committees (under rule 70.2) of any on your keyboard.
decisions that may be useful to others or which were

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