The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) govern the sport of sailboat racing. The RRS is revised and published every four years by World Sailing. The current edition is The RRS 2017-2020 and is about to be replaced at the year end.

The RRS for 2021-24 will take effect on 1 January 2021.

You can download the complete document (RRS for 2021-24) and related publications using the link below

https://www.sailing.org/documents/racingrules/

The study version, also available thro the above link, is most readable as it highlighting the changes in red.

A printed version is essential for study by those not supported by the download process. This makes an excellent christmas present suggestion.

The RYA can provide – A handy Guide – if you just want a simple book or the full text if you want the comprehensive volume.

Many WEB sites assist with understanding the rules, so internet study will assist understanding however be careful to gain the best advice.

These rules include changes to the meaning of the orange flag and the blue flag – read their 2021 meanings through the RRS.

Flag V in 2021 has a specific meaning within RRS – hence EDYC shall consider its class flags and will likely adjust as much as possible to accommodate the new assignment of flag V.

In 2020 (remember we were running simpler racing) our words were:-

6 START FLAGS

Start flags shall be the following Code Flags:

Thus our EDYC Sailing Instructions for 2021 will be reviewed and rewritten accomodating changes re the V flag as required.

Remember the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) dominate our competitive sport hence are an essential read.