Rules &
Appeals

中國香港帆船運動總會
9 RACING 9 Rules and Appeals

RULES & APPEALS

The Racing Rules of Sailing are designed to keep sailors and boats safe and to provide fair competition and are based on the principles of Sportsmanship. Competitors are expected to follow and enforce these rules, taking penalties where rules are broken, even if it means retiring from the race.

The Racing Rules of Sailing provides for appeals as a way to correct possible protest committee (PC) errors in interpreting the rules.

The Racing Rules of Sailing  2021-2024

The Racing Rules for 2021-2024 with HKSF Prescriptions, which became effective on 1 January 2021 are available for purchase at the HKSF Office. The price is $70 (members) or $80 (non-members).  

HKSF Prescriptions (PDF)

Racing Rules and Appeals Committee

The Racing Rules and Appeals Committee (RR&AC) is made up of up to 8 members of HKSF. The volunteers who form the committee are experienced sailors, drawn from as wide a range of the local sailing community as possible. The members of the Racing Rules and Appeals Committee in 2022 are:

  • Peter Davies, Chairman
  • Tom Sheppard
  • John Berry
  • Stephen Lam
  • Dave Campbell
  • Walder IP
  • Ben Harding
When to Appeal

Provided the right of appeal has not been denied under RRS70.5 (International Jury), a party to a hearing may appeal a protest committee’s decision or its procedures, but not the facts found. A protest committee may request confirmation of correction of its decision.

How to Appeal

With the exception of events that are run with an International Jury, sailors who are not satisfied with the results of a Protest Committee decision in relation to a local Hong Kong sailing event have the right to Appeal to HKSF. The appeals process is set out under RRS 70,71 and Appendix R.

While the Appeal procedure is well covered in RRS Appendix R, the basic process works like this:

  •  Appellants have 15 days in which to submit an appeal.
  • HKSF will then contact the parties and protest committee who has 15 days to make comments.
  • The HKSF RR&AC will then meet to review the appeal and make a decision.
  • This decision will be given in writing to all parties and the protest committee, who shall be bound by the decision.
  • While sometimes the decision may be final, it may equally involve a reopening of the protest hearing.

To initiate an appeal, an appellant should complete an appeal application form and submit it to HKSF together with a fee of $250. This fee is refundable unless the RR&AC consider the Appeal to be frivolous.

The appeal process is open to any sailor in Hong Kong, provided they are a member of HKSF, an affiliated club or association.

Past Appeals

As a reference to sailors considering making an appeal, a list of past Appeals including the decisions is available

List of Past Appeals

Note: Appeals received before Dec 31st 2012 were heard under the previous version of RRS, valid from 2009-2012.

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Date Appeal No Incident Rules Decision
23 Feb 2009 2009/001 PC’s Decision between RB VS Crystal Dolphin

pdf

23 Feb 2009 2009/002 PC’s Decision between Etchells HKG 1235 VS Etchells HKG 1344

pdf

9 Apr 2010 2010/001 PC’s Decision on ABC Waglan 9, the Farr Side VS Sex Drive and Kolwezi RRS 60.3, 61.1, 62.1, 64.2, 64.3

pdf

1 Jan 2011 2011/001 (Second Appeal No. 2010/001) Joint Appeal by Miss Salona II and Sex Drive VS PC’s Decision on ABC Waglan 9 Reopened Hearing RRS 28.1, 60.3, 61.1, 62.1, 64.2, 64.3

pdf

1 Mar 2011 2011/002 RHKYC Farquhar Series 2011, 26 Feb 2011(Etchells) Rule 2, 11, ISAF Case 73

pdf

10 Aug 2011 2011/003 HHYC Typhoon Series July 24th 2011 (Cruisers) RRS 11, ISAF Q&A Booklet J014

pdf

14 Sept 2011 2011/004 ABC Sunseeker Opening Regatta. (Dinghies) 3rd/4th September 2011 RRS 61.1, 61.2, 61.3, 63.4

pdf

19 Mar 2012 2012/1 Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Farquhar & Paddington Green Series 2012 (Etchells)

Rule 62.1(b), 64.2

ISAF RRS Q&A Booklet F04

pdf

21 May 2012 2012/2 Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Spring Regatta 5 & 6 May 2012, Race 2.
(IRC Big Boat)
Rule 63.6, 65

pdf

26 Nov 2012 2012/3 Typhoon Series Race 2 June 24th 2012.(IRC B) Rule 11,14,18.2b

pdf

22 Nov 2012 2012/4 Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Autumn Regatta 2012, Race 2 9 September. (Dragons) Rule 10,11,64.1c

pdf

19 Dec 2012 2012/005 FF15 Hong Kong Worlds Qualifers

SI 15.1

Rule 60.1, 61.3, 62.1(a), 62.2, 63.3, 63.4

pdf

13 Jun 2013 2013/3 Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Ruffian Spring Series, Race 2 – 23 February Rule 10,11,12,13,14,16,66,31,64.1a

pdf

22 Oct 2013 2013/001 FF15 Hong Kong Worlds Qualifers

SI 15.1

Rule 60.1, 61.3, 62.1(a), 62.2, 63.3, 63.4

pdf

22 Oct 2013 2013/002 FF15 Hong Kong Worlds Qualifers

SI 15.1

Rule 60.1, 61.3, 62.1(a), 62.2, 63.3, 63.4

pdf

4 Oct 2016 2016/001 Croucher Series Race 2 September 17th 2016 Rule 10
Rule 18.3 (a)
Rule 61.1 (a)
pdf
12 Dec 2016 2016/002 HHYC Sin Fung Winter Saturday Series 2016 Rule 90.3
Rule 86.1
pdf
1 May 2017 2016/003 ABC Waglan Race  Series 2016

Rule 3 (c)

Rule 11

Rule 13

Rule 14

Rule 18.2 (a) & (b)

Rule 63.3 (b)

Rule 66

pdf

4 Apr 2017

2017/001 Appalachian Series Race 2 March 4th 2016 (Etchells) Rule 14
Rule 18.2
pdf
21 Nov 2017 2017/003

HHYC Typhoon Series Mirs Bay Race July 29th 2017. (HKPN B)

Rule 63

Rule 66

Rule 14

Rule 11

pdf
14 Dec 2017 2017/004

HHYC Summer Series Race 9 August 5th 2017. (HKPN B & IRC)

Rule 14

Rule 18.2

pdf
23 October 2020 2020/001

Aberdeen Boat Club Opening Regatta 19 & 20 September 2020, Race 2. (HKPN A)

Rule 63.3

Rule 63.6

 pdf
18 October 2021 2021/001 Hebe Haven Yacht Club Typhoon Series 11 July 2021, Race 3. (IRC B)

Rule 11

Rule 14

pdf
27 November 2023 2023/001 Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Around the Island Race October 29th, 2023

Rule 62.2
Rule 63.4

pdf

Racing Resourses