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Published on October 8th, 2013 | by Editor

Trash Disposal: The Use of Sail Stops

Published on October 8th, 2013 by Editor -->

The 2013-2016 edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing provided by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) includes Rule 55 (Trash Disposal), which states that:

“A competitor shall not intentionally put trash in the water.”

Recently ISAF was asked whether letting broken spinnaker sail stops (broken bits of rubber bands or wool to contain the spinnaker during hoist) fall into the water after a spinnaker set broke new Rule 55, Trash Disposal. Shortly thereafter, the same question was asked of the US Sailing Appeals Committee.

The ISAF answer and the US Sailing appeal, which says the same thing, are below.

Note that the ISAF answer suggests some language that can be used in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions that will permit the use of sail stops. Note also there are emerging alternatives to break-away sail stops (North Sails is testing a Velcro system) for controlling spinnakers during sets that do not break Rule 55. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ISAF Racing Rules Question and Answer Service N 003 Q&A 2013-029 (Published August 5, 2013; revised August 27 2013)

Situation Q&A 2013-028 N002 confirms that the common practice of preparing spinnakers using elastic or wool bands at intervals to prevent them from filling during the hoist breaks rule 55 when the spinnakers are hoisted and sheeted and the bands break and end up in the water, even if the material used is bio-degradable.

Question What can be done to prevent boats from being protested under rule 55 each time they hoist spinnakers?

Answer Rule 55 was introduced to support a development of sailing in a direction towards a higher level of environmental responsibility. Event organizers and officials should also comply with the basic principle in the rulebook about environmental responsibility. Simply deleting rule 55 is the opposite of that.

Boats can use different systems when hoisting a spinnaker other than elastic bands or wool (i.e. snuffers or socks). However, if the OA of an event considers it is advisable to allow the use of elastic or wool bands for reasons of safety or proper seamanship, they may change rule 55 by, for example, including in the notice of race and sailing instructions words to the effect of:

Notice of Race RRS 55 will be changed in the sailing instructions by adding the following sentence to the rule: ‘However, discarding elastic or wool bands when setting a sail is permitted.’

Sailing Instructions RRS 55 is changed by adding the following sentence to the rule: ‘However, discarding elastic or wool bands when setting a sail is permitted.’ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

QUESTION 110 Interpretation Requested by the US Sailing Offshore/Big Boats Management Committee (September 2013)

Basic Principles, Environmental Responsibility: Rule 55, Trash Disposal Broken sail stops made of yarn or rubber bands that fall into the water are trash, even if they are biodegradable. Putting sail stops in the water breaks Rule 55. However, Rule 55 can be changed in the sailing instructions to permit their use.

Assumed Facts Boat A stops a sail using commercially available biodegradable yarn or rubber bands. When the sail is hoisted and the stops are broken, some of them fall into the water. Boat B protests A, alleging that she broke Rule 55. In the hearing, A argues that the stops are not trash because they are biodegradable.

Question Did Boat A break Rule 55?

Answer Yes. The broken sail stops that fall into the water, although biodegradable, are trash that the competitor intentionally put in the water; therefore Boat A broke Rule 55.

However, Rule 55 can be changed in the Sailing Instructions to permit putting sail stops in the water; see Rule 86.1(b). The change should also be noted in the Notice of Race; see Rule J1.2(1).

If Rule 55 is changed to permit putting sail stops in the water, then in keeping with the new Basic Principle, Environmental Responsibility, it would be appropriate to require that sail stops be biodegradable. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This decision, along with the entire US Sailing Appeals Book, can be read in its entirety at http://raceadmin.ussailing.org/Appeals.htm .

Tags: Racing Rules of Sailing , US Sailing , World Sailing

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The mission of the Superyacht Racing Rules Committee is to address all issues pertaining to the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and superyacht racing. The committee’s actions will include evaluating the RRS Appendix SY (the RRS appendix for superyacht racing) and recommending changes or additions when deemed in the best interest of safe and fair racing. Learn more

Safe Racing Meeting

Sailboat racing is meant to be a self-policing sport. Lately that concept has come under pressure in conventional racing for a number of different reasons, including fewer competitors being willing to protest.

In superyacht racing, abiding by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and Appendix SY is critical to safe racing, and safe racing is essential if this niche part of the sport is to thrive and grow. Learn more

Superyacht Racing Rules

The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2021 – 2024, Version 7.0, May 2021 This booklet is a useful tool when preparing to race in regattas where Appendix SY applies. It is a companion, not a replacement, for the full Racing Rules of Sailing and includes some study cases specific to Appendix SY Download Superyacht Racing Rules Version 7.0 here .

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Over seven years ago and with the approval of World Sailing, the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) Appendix SY made its debut at the 2011 St Barths Bucket. At that time, there was apprehension on how the 40 metre addition to keeping clear or giving room, and the restrictive overtaking provisions would work on the race course.

Fortunately for superyacht racing, the fundamentals of Appendix SY have stood the test of time. In subsequent years, there have been a number of minor changes and improvements made to the appendix. Review and refinements to the Superyacht rules continue. Learn more

Big Boats, Big Tactics

With high tonnage, there are long-game tactics to consider, but in high-stakes, high-ego superyacht racing, it’s never as simple as it appears. Read more here . By Tony Rey – December 30, 2016 SAILING WORLD

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Additional information on the Rules of Superyacht Racing: •  Appendix SY •  Case Studies •  ISAF Approvals (2011/2012) •  Information on Rule Compliance and Enforcement

Rule 55 Update

Date:            22 September 2014 From:          The Superyacht Racing Association To:                 All SYRA Members Subject:       Rule 55 (Trash Disposal)

The purpose of this memorandum is to update those involved in superyacht racing with regard to the very latest information on the issue of banding spinnakers and other sails.  Superyacht event organizers were put in a difficult position when ISAF created and implemented RRS 55 (background information provided below).

Beginning with the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in Virgin Gorda (March 2015), superyachts should be prepared to race without ‘banding’ sails – with elastic, wool or any other material.  Sailmakers are aware of Rule 55 and have been working on alternatives to banding (socks, zippers, Velcro, etc.) for some time now.  The SYRA and event organizers are intent on “doing the right thing” for the environment and want to avoid a potential last minute directive that may leave competitors with no banding alternative.

By way of this communication, we are relaying the intent of the organizers of the YCCS regattas, Bucket Regattas and Superyacht Cup Palma to adhere to Rule 55 in their 2015 regattas. This provides an additional six months for sailmakers and racing programs to prepare for the two March events. For the Antigua Superyacht Cup Regatta, the time frame leading up to that event is significantly shorter and hence the organizer is considering alternatives for their 2015 event.

Feel free to contact us and/or any of the organizers directly with any questions or concerns you may have.

Among the changes to the 2013-2016 edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) is the addition of a new Basic Principle, “Environmental Responsibility” which reads, “Participants are encouraged to minimize any adverse environmental impact of the sport of sailing.”  This is supported by new RRS 55 (Trash Disposal), “A competitor shall not intentionally put trash in the water.”

In August 2013 ISAF issued Q&A 2013-029 (revised 15 January 2014) which can be read in its entirety here:  http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/QA2013.029N003revisedJanuary152014-[16193].pdf 

The Q&A suggests the use of snuffers or socks in lieu of “elastic or wool” to stop spinnakers, however if an organizing authority of an event considers it advisable for “reasons of safety or proper seamanship, and provided that no national or local law or regulation is broken” they may change rule 55 by stating in their sailing instructions “RRS 55 is changed by adding the following sentence to the rule: ’However, discarding elastic or wool bands when setting a sail may not be considered a breach of rule 55.’

Given the lack of notice, it was not uncommon to see this rule change in event documents for regattas with large yachts, and it has generally gone without much notice over the past year. However, at a recent major event, which used the language from the Q&A, the organizer received a directive from the local environmental authority that it would need to change the event’s documents and prohibit the use of banding or the organizer could be held responsible for violating local environmental laws.

Activities and Status

The latest version of Appendix SY is on the ISAF website .

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The Racing Rules of Sailing govern sailboat racing around the world. They are published every four years by World Sailing (WS), and take effect on January 1 of the year following the Summer Olympic Games.

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US Sailing Guidance on Return to Competition (May 27, 2020)

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World Sailing Q&A 2020.010 (August 17, 2020)

This document from World Sailing's Question & Answer Service addresses how COVID-19 government regulations, protocols and guidance may be implemented in race documents.

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