ISAF Case Book Updated and Available to Download

by ISAF on 11 Jun 2008 The Case Book, which details interpretations of The Racing Rules of Sailing, has been updated to include all 2008 Cases and published on the ISAF website - www.sailing.org.

For over 40 years ISAF has been publishing interpretations of The Racing Rules of Sailing. The interpretations are published in a printed publication, The Case Book, that is sent to all ISAF Race Officials and made available for purchase by sailors. A revised edition of The Case Book is published every four years to coincide with the publication of the revised edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing. Then, in each of the following three years a supplement to The Case Book is published and sent to those who have received The Case Book.

In recent years, both The Case Book and the annual supplements have been available on the ISAF website, as individual publications, to read and to download.

In order to make The Case Book a more useful tool for sailors and race officials, the edition published on the ISAF website is now and will be in the future a fully up-to-date edition. It includes the annual supplements that have been issued since The Case Book was published, as well as corrections and revisions made to individual cases. Thus, a sailor or race official who wants an up-to-date copy of The Case Book can now access it at the ISAF website and, if he would like a copy on his own computer, can simply download it from the website.

The Case Book complements The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), providing details on the application of the RRS to around 100 scenarios. The principal aims of the Cases are to clarify an important meaning in a rule or to increase the understanding of a complex rule. The Case Book is prepared by the ISAF Case Book Working Party, with any new Cases made through the ISAF Submissions process and, therefore, subject to the approval of the ISAF Council.

The current online version of The Case Book contains the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Supplements. These include six new Cases (Cases 105-110), an extensive revision of Case 45 (relating to Rule 62.1(a), Redress and Rule 64.2, Decisions: Decisions on Redress) and the correction of typographical errors in Case 88 and Case 98.

Click on the following link to download the current on-line version of The Case Book for 2005-2008. http://www.sailing.org/9506.php

The latest and archive versions of the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing and the ISAF Case Book are available from the ISAF Documents & Rules area under 'Racing Rules of Sailing'.

New Case Summary

Below is a brief abstract of each new Case added in the latest update of the Case Book.

CASE 105 - added in 2006

Rules Interpreted: Rule 10, On Opposite Tacks, Rule 14, Avoiding Contact, Rule 15, Acquiring Right of Way, Rule 16.1, Changing Course

Abstract: When two boats are running on opposite tacks, the starboard-tack boat may change course provided she gives the port-tack boat room to keep clear.

CASE 106 - added in 2006

Rule Interpreted: Rule 28.1, Sailing the Course

Abstract: When a boat's 'string' lies on the required sides of starting marks, finishing marks or gate marks, it is not relevant that the marks also have been looped.

CASE 107 - added in 2006

Rules Interpreted: Rule 14, Avoiding Contact, Rule 44.1, Penalties for Breaking Rules of Part 2: Taking a Penalty, Rule 44.4(b), Penalties for Breaking Rules of Part 2: Limits on Penalties

Abstract: A boat that is not keeping a lookout may thereby fail to do everything reasonably possible to avoid contact. Hailing is one way that a boat may 'act to avoid contact'. When a boat that has broken a rule of Part 2 retires she has taken a penalty and may not be penalized further for the same incident.

CASE 108 - added in 2007

Rules Interpreted: Rule 28.1, Sailing the Course, Rule 31.2, Touching a Mark

Abstract: When exonerating herself after touching a mark, a boat need not complete a full 360° turn, and she may make her penalty while simultaneously rounding the mark. Her turn to round the mark may also rank as her exoneration if it includes a tack and a gybe, if it is carried out promptly after clearing the mark and other boats, and when no question of advantage arises.

CASE 109 - added in 2007

Rules Interpreted: Part 2 Preamble, Rule 48, Fog Signals and Lights, International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

Abstract: The IRPCAS or government right-of-way rules apply between boats that are racing only if the sailing instructions say so, and in that case all of the Part 2 rules are replaced. An IRPCAS or government rule may be made to apply by including it in the sailing instructions or in another document governing the event. A boat may protest another boat for a breach of the IRPCAS or government right-of-way rules, but not if the incident is one in which a
boat sailing under the Part 2 rules meets a vessel that is not.

CASE 110 - added in 2008

Rule Interpreted: Rule 62.1(b), Redress

Abstract: A boat physically damaged from contact with a boat that was breaking a rule of Part 2 is eligible for redress only if the damage itself significantly worsened her score. Contact is not necessary for one boat to cause injury or physical damage to another. A worsening of a boat's score caused by an avoiding manoeuvre is not, by itself, grounds for redress. 'Injury' refers to bodily injury to a person, and 'damage' is limited to physical damage to a boat or her equipment.