The Yacht Racing Rules

Excerpt from Handbook on American Yacht Racing Rules: An Explanation of Their Meaning and Application The object of this work is to guide the beginner and aid others to an understanding of the underlying principles of the yacht racing rules, and to explain, as clearly as possible, their interpretations, as accepted by helmsmen of experience. The Rules of the International Yacht Racing Union, while substantially the same as those in use in the United States, differ in some particulars. When no difference exists between the American and the International Rules, it has been found advisable to accept the interpretations of the Council of the Y. R. A. of Great Britain. The Authors have confined themselves to an interpretation of the rules as at present in existence, and have refrained from any expression of opinion on the excellence of the rules as they stand. As it is perfectly well understood, that all Race Committees are omniscient, hydra-headed, and, therefore, all-seeing, and that all yachtsmen, at the end of their first season's racing, are thoroughly conversant with the intricacies of the Racing Rules, it may well be asked why this book was written. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Rules in Practice has been the best-selling guide to the racing rules for the last 40 years. Now, in its 10th edition, it has been updated for (and contains in full) the 2021-2024 Racing Rules of Sailing and features a brand new chapter on the luffing rules and how they are being applied. The latest rule changes are also described, along with their impact on you as a sailor. With over 20 new scenarios, reflecting the courses we now sail, it is as up-to-date and relevant as the first edition was in 1985. Unlike other rules guides which take you through the rules in order, this book tackles the subject from the sailors' point of view. It takes you around the race course, from start to finish, through the key situations that occur repeatedly showing, from the point of view of each boat in turn, what you may, must, or cannot do. You don't have to know all the rules off by heart, but you do need to know your rights and obligations on the water – the rules can be looked up afterwards. This knowledge will build your confidence while racing and enable you to make the most of opportunities when they arise. Colour diagrams throughout ensure concepts are easily understood. If you are going to buy one rule book – make it this one! (As dictated by World Sailing, the eBook does not contain the Racing Rules of Sailing but has a link to them.)

'This book is a must-have for any serious racing sailor' – Sir Ben Ainslie, four-time Olympic gold winning sailor Paul Elvstrom is arguably the greatest Olympic sailor of all time. Proving that understanding the rules is crucial to winning, he devised this unique approach to explaining them using bird's-eye diagrams. His detailed explanations are applied to myriad racing situations, each cross-referenced to relevant case studies provided by World Sailing (formerly ISAF). Included with the book are a set of plastic boats, for use during protest hearings. They are transparent but coloured differently so can also be used with an overhead projector. This edition is completely revised to cover the new rules issued for 2021–24. It includes the full text of the latest rules, with a handy quick-reference guide highlighting the latest changes. There is also a confidence-building section on how to present your case in a protest, and the back cover shows the signal flags for instant easy reference on the race course. Long established as the most accessible and most trusted guide to the racing rules, Paul Elvstrom Explains is a must-have. Whether racing in a dinghy, keelboat or large yacht, it is the perfect pocket reference for those who want to win.