Appendix B – Windsurfing Racing Rules

·         Windsurf races shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix.

B1- Introduction. Add

B1.1  Racing Rule Principles.

These rules are intended to ensure that the best competitor wins through individual racing skill, good fortune and quality of equipment alone and not as a result of procedural devices or legalistic argument. Racing in a manner that can be considered to be dangerous or a threat to the safety of other competitor’s will not be tolerated. All disputes under the rule shall be conducted under these principles.

B1.2 Terminology add

“Boat” means board.

Section A – Course Racing, Long Distance, Slalom

BA1 – Definitions.

Non-applicable definitions: Proper Course, Two-Length Zone

 Add the following definitions:

Capsized.  A sailboard is capsized when her sail or the competitor’s body is in the water.

Discipline. A Discipline is a type of race or competition.

Division. A group of Men, Women, Youth or Masters. Divisions may share a start or race separately.

Recovering.  A sailboard is recovering from the time her sail or, when water starting, the competitor’s body is out of the water until she has steerage-way.

Right of way line.  Is an imaginary line projected abeam from the nose of the board.

BA2 - Part 2 – When Boats Meet.

Rules 17 and 18 are not applicable.

BA2.1 - 11 On the Same Tack overlapped Change by:

11 - On the Same Tack.

11.1 - A board clear astern shall keep clear of a board clear ahead.

11.2 - When boards on different legs of a course meet, the board on a reach or a run shall keep clear of the board on a tack to windward


BA2.2 - 12 On the same Tack, Not overlapped change by:

12 - Room to pass

12.1 - An overtaking board shall keep clear.

12.2 – Outside board - A board on the outside gains right of way when its hull and rig are ahead of the right of way line of the inside board.

12.3 – Inside board - A board on the inside gains right of way when its right of way line is ahead of the right of way line of the outside board

12.4 – (a) When boards are overlapped, a board required to keep clear shall give a board with right of way room to pass a mark.

(b) If there is reasonable doubt that a board has gained right of way, it shall be presumed that it did not

BA2.3 - 13 While Tacking. Change by:

13 - Changing Tacks – Tacking or Gybing

A board, which is tacking or gybing shall keep clear of a board, which is on a tack, except when a board with right of way is gybing around a mark.

BA2.4 - 16 Changing Course. Change by:

16 - Changing Course

16.1 - When a board is required to keep clear of another, the board with right-of-way shall not alter course so as to prevent the other from keeping clear, or so as to obstruct it whilst it is keeping clear.

16.2 - Limitations on altering course are also applicable when boards are sailing in the direction of the starting line to start.

BA2.5 -  21 Capsized Boards

Delete last sentence of RRS21.

BA2.6 – 22 Interfering with another board. Add 22.3

22.3 A board shall not sail in the course area when races are taking place other then during its own race.

BA3 – Part 3 – Conduct of a Race.

Rule 31 is not applicable.

BA3.1 – 28 - Sailing the Course. Delete in 28.1:

“After finishing she need not cross the finish line completely.”


BA4 – Part 4 – Other requirement when racing.

Rules 42, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, do not apply.

BA4.1 - 40 Personal Buoyancy   - replace by

40 – Personal Buoyancy

When flag Y is displayed ashore at least one hour before the race or heat starts, competitors shall wear life jackets  or other adequate personal buoyancy. Wet suits or dry suits are not adequate personal buoyancy.

BA4.1 - 41 Outside Help – replace by

41 – Outside Help

A competitor may not change equipment or receive outside assistance while afloat after the preparatory signal, except as allowed in Wave and Freestyle competition. Caddies may not be in the course or starting area during the races of all divisions. The course and starting areas shall be posted on the Official Notice Board together with the Course Diagram. Competitors whose caddies fail to keep clear of these areas shall be protested.

BA4.2 – 42 Propulsion – replace by:

42 - Propulsion

A board shall be propelled only by the action of the wind on the sail, by the action of the water on the hull and by the unassisted actions of the competitor.

B4.3 – 43 Competitors Clothing and Equipment. Replace RRS 43.2 by:

43.2 - A drinking container may be worn or carried by a competitor. The container shall be capable of carrying not more than 1 liter of fluid and shall not weigh more than 1.5 kg when full.

BA4.4  - 44.2 Turn Penalty change RRS 44.2 by:

44.2    360° Turn Penalty.

After getting well clear of other boards as soon after the incident as possible, a board takes a 360° Turn Penalty by promptly making one complete 360° turn. When the board takes the penalty at or near the finishing line, the board shall return completely to the course side of the line before finishing.

BA6 – Part 6 – Entry and qualification.

BA6.1 – 78 Compliance with the class rules. Replace 78.2 by:

78.2 When so prescribed by the class rules a numbered and dated devise on sailboard, daggerboard, skeg and sail serve as her measurement certificate.


BA7 – Part 7 Race Organization

BA7.1 – Sailing Instructions. Change 88.2 © last sentence by:

“Changes to the sailing instructions may be communicated orally, but only if the procedure is stated in the Sailing Instructions.”

BA7.2 – Add 90 – Minimum wind conditions.

90 - Minimum Wind Conditions

90.1 – The minimum wind conditions shall be as laid down in the class rules.

91.2 The Principal Race Officer shall be the sole judge of wind strength and the suitability of wind direction and wave conditions. Protests regarding wind strength and suitability of wind direction or wave conditions shall be disallowed.


Section B – Wave Performance and Freestyle.

·         Wave Performance is a unique discipline. The board is judged for skill and variety, rather than speed.

·         Freestyle is a judged competition which usually takes place when and where wave conditions are not suitable for Wave Performance contests.

BB1 – Definitions.

Coming in/going out. A board is going out when it is sailing in the opposite direction of the incoming surf. A board sailing in the same direction as the incoming surf is coming in.

On a tack. A board is on a tack except when it is capsized or in the process of transition.

Overtaking. A board is overtaking from the moment it gains an overlap from clear aster until the moment itis clear ahead of the overtaken board.

Possession. A board which is the first to sail shoreward immediately in front of the wave/swell is said to have possession of that wave. When it is impossible to determine possession based on the above, that board which is to windward shall have possession.

Surfing, Jumping and Transition. A board which is coming in shall be scored in the surfing category. A board which is going out shall be scored in the jumping category. A board which is neither surfing, jumping or capsized, shall be scored in the transition category. However, jumps made while coming in and made without using the energy of the wave shall be scored in the transition category.

BB2 - Right of way rules.

BB2.1 – Coming in and going out.

A board coming in shall keep clear of a board going out. When two boards are going out or coming in while on the same wave, or when neither is going out or coming in, the competitor on port tack shall keep clear of the competitor on starboard tack.

BB2.2 - Boards on the same wave, coming in.

When two or more boards are on a wave coming in, a competitor who does not have possession shall keep clear.

BB2.3 – Clear astern, clear ahead and overtaking.

Boards clear astern and not on a wave shall keep clear of a board clear ahead. An overtaking board who is not on a wave shall keep clear.


BB2.4 – Transition.

A board which is in transition shall keep clear of a board on a tack. When two boards are in transition at the same time, the one on the others port side shall keep clear.

BB3 – Competition area and outside assistance.

BB3.1 Check in.

Each competitor shall register their sail colours and particulars of the sail to be used while competing, to the race committee, at least two heats prior to their heat, unless the Sailing Instructions prescribe another identification method.

BB3.2 Course area.

The competition area shall be defined in the Sailing Instructions and illustrated on the official notice board before the competition begins. A competitor shall only be scored while sailing in the Course Area.

BB3.3 Cadies.

When a board suffers an equipment breakage during a heat, an assistant (caddy) may supply replacement equipment both in and out of the competition area, keeping clear of all other competing boards. A caddy shall attempt to remove from the competition area any abandoned equipment. A caddy may also assist with an equipment change.

BB4 – Signals for Starting and Finishing a Heat.

BB4.1 – The start and finish of a heat shall be signalled as follows:

     Warning Signal (2 minutes)                       Red flag displayed                                 Preparatory Signal (1 minute)                                 Yellow flag displayed Start Signal                                          Green flag displayed         End of heat warning (1 min. remaining)                    Green flag lowered           End of heat, and Warning Signal (2 minutes) for next heat           Red flag displayed

Each signal will be lowered when the next is raised.

BB4.2 – Programme break.

The Postponement Signal (AP) shall be used to indicate a break in the competition and it shall be lowered one minute before the next Warning Signal.

BB4.3 – Heat Duration.

The first round heats shall be of 5 minutes duration. The final heats may be up to 12 minutes in duration. Any change in heat duration shall be announced before the beginning of each round.

BB4.4 – Abandonment.

The raising of Abandonment Signal (N) means: “This heat is abandoned. Competitors shall report to the Race Committee for further instructions.”

 


Section C – Speed Rules.

A Speed competition is a race against the clock only. Competitors take it in turn to sail down the course at intervals.

BC1 – General rules.

BC1.1 – Beach and Water Starting.

No beach or water starting is allowed on the course. Boards leaving the course area must keep clear of boards still competing. No beach or water starting is allowed in the start area, except to sail off the course by the shortest route possible to avoid hindering competitors who are starting.

BC1.2 – Course Control.

When a Course Official points a furled amber flag at a board, the board shall immediately leave the course without hindering other competitors.

BC1.3 – Returning to the Start.

Competitors returning to the start on the water, shall keep clear of the course.

BC1.4 – Weight Jackets.

Weight vests and weight harnesses with a specific density greater than the water sailed on are prohibited.

BC2 – Flag Signals.

     Red            Course closed, race committee on standby.                                                  Red & Yellow   Course will open in 5 minutes.                                                                    Green         Course is open.                                                      Green & Yellow   The course will be closed in 5 minutes                                    Flag L     The current round has been extended by 15 minutes.                    AP and Red   The course is closed for a short time, but will be reopened.                 Red & L      Another round will be started shortly.

BC3 – The Course.

BC3.1 – The length of a round shall be as stated in the Sailing Instructions.

BC3.2 -The “record” shall be established over a minimum of half a kilometre. The course may be defined by posts and transits ashore, or by buoys afloat. Transits shall not converge.

BC4 – Duration of a race.

90 minutes wth maximum two extensions of 15 minutes each, or as stated in the Sailing Instructions.

BC4 – Scoring.

The 2 best speeds of each competitor will be averaged to determine the racers position for the ranking of a round.


BC5 – Penalties.

BC5.1 – If any competitor fails to observe the Start Judge or Principle Race Officer’s (PRO) warnings for what ever reason, they may be cautioned and their sail number will be posted on a board near the finish line.

BC5.2 – The sail number will remains on the board for the duration of the round. If the competitor receives another caution during the round, they will be suspended by the PRO from the round.

BC5.3 – Any competitor observed on or near the course during a suspension period will be disqualified from the competition. None of their previous times and results will be valid.

BC5.4 – Any infringement of the verification rules may result in a suspension from the competition for any period.

BC6 – Verifications.

BC6.1 – The race committee and a WSSRC Observer when present, will verify all run times and speeds they deem necessary. E.g. World and National records, personal bests, top man, top woman.

BC6.2 – No competitor may discuss any timing question directly with the timing organisation. Any timing question should be directed to the PRO.

BC6.3 - At no time is a competitor allowed in the timing control.

BC6.4 – A competitor may request the verification of their time, if video recorded. If the race committee consider the request valid, the run will be checked on video where possible.

 

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