A SERIES of nationwide seminars to explain the most fundamental changes to the racing rules for 50 years begins next week at locations across Ireland.
Top rules experts, including an international judge and umpire, will deliver eight seminars that hope, not only to give an outline of the implications of the rule changes, but are also designed to help delegates filter the new rules, which will be in force until the year 2001, throughout Ireland's yacht club network.
ISA speakers Norman Long, Billy Lacy, Tony O'Gorman and Ron Hutchieson are targeting eight venues and up to 400 sailors with a flip chart presentation that will focus on the ISAF's serious attempt to make sailing a "no contact" sport.
"More than anything else," says international judge Norman Long, the new rules are framed to ensure that "boats shall not hit other boats."
Following their attendance at the International Sailing Federation's rules seminar two weeks ago, Long and the seminar hosts have all the latest details gleaned from the Brighton conference, which attracted 140 race officials from 50 countries.
While the majority of next week's seminars will focus on part two of the rules which deals with the issue of when boats meet, Long believes discussion in this area may focus on the new restrictions imposed on right of way boats.
Despite the fact the ISAF claim the new rules are simpler and more readily understood, there are now even more than before. An additional 11 regulations bring the total count to 89 racing rules.
Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive
Published in
News From the Afloat.ie Archive
About The Author
Afloat.ie Team
Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.
Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.
We've got a favour to ask
More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.
Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.
So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.
