Changes in the 2021-24 Racing Rules of Sailing have led race officials to question World Sailing about what forms part of a boats hull.

The term ‘hull’ is now mentioned in many places in the Racing Rules of Sailing. This will be found in many definitions, such as those relating to clear astern or overlap, start, finishing, zone and obstructions. There are also mentions in rules relating to being on the same tack or on a proper course, starting penalties and taking penalties. Race officials have asked what the definition of ‘hull’ is, and what it includes.

In response to this World Sailing issued a Q&A that sought to answer those questions. The full Q&A can be read at https://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/QA2021.002v2-[26962].pdf, and the answers were simply that ‘hull’ is not defined in the RRS and that it would not include bowsprits, but does include wings, for example.

Whilst there are potential hidden complexities with classes whose rules explicitly include bowsprits or other features as part of the hull, generally this Q&A provides race officials and competitors a simple explanation that can be easily accepted.

The World Sailing Q&A service can be found at https://www.sailing.org/raceofficials/qandaservice/index.php
Australian Sailing’s RSG Opinions can be found at https://www.sailingresources.org.au/class-assoc/rsg/
The Racing Rules of Sailing can be found at https://www.sailingresources.org.au/class-assoc/racing-rules/

By Glen Stanaway