New rules highlights

Those new RRS 2013-16 are well underway, and since there's a few changes I thought I'd read them. If you don't have them yet, then get them from www.sailing.org.

A nice evening read with...

First quick flip through reveals few changes. All is good; We're in the comfort zone. Oh wait, - section D seems to have been rewritten. Not that I do a lot of team racing, so who cares. No really, - it is a fun discipline. Maybe we should take it up. Virtual teamracing. Whoopsidaisy and the Linden Labs have their gaming platform. Teehee...

 an unreal sunset and

Back to more important stuff; It begins with changes in definitions. The definition of "finish", "keep clear" and "mark-room" has been changed. Then on to what matters in part two: "When boats meet".

a lovely scent of roses plus...

Rule 14: Avoiding contact is different. Rule 18: Mark room has changed too. Rule 20: Room to tack at an obstruction has changed, - as has rule 21: Exoneration. In part three, rule 28: Sailing the course is also changed, and rule 44: Taking a penalty has also been improved, and that's about it for the racing rules.

ocean waves blending with splashes from the fountain makes...

There's a couple of weird things added about not littering the sea. Sportsmanship now includes the notion of reducing environmental impact to a minimum. Rule 55 says "A competitor shall not intentionally put trash in the water". Isn't this a bit silly and unrelated to racing? Next they'll add rule 56: Sailors must wear sunscreen, especially red heads, because they're more susceptible to sunburn. Duh.

the RRS 2013-16 much easier to digest.

Later in the book, there's changes to rule 61: Protest requirements, rule 64: Decisions and rule 69: Allegations of gross misconduct. Then there's alotta stuff for windsurfers and kiteboards, until we finally reach some of the last changes, - and they are related to appeals.

That pretty much covers it. Go read, preferably in a nice place like this small italian island or your favourite armchair. See you out there...

More on racing rules here...