RYA Handy Guide to the Racing Rules 2025-2028

The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) are revised and published every four years by the World Sailing, the international authority for the sport.

This pocket guide is a simplified view of the basic racing rules and has been updated to reflect the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028. It is essential reading if you are new to racing and covers the following key areas:

• Principles
• When boats meet
• Penalty turns
• Propulsion
• Protesting
• The race committee

For simplicity, this guide does not cover all of the rules and exceptions; sailors are strongly recommended to study the RYA Racing Rules of Sailing (code YR1) in addition to this publication.