Summary of the Facts
Boats in the XYZ Class have hulls 8 m long. Rule 5 in the XYZ Class Rules states:
The requirement in racing rule 61.1 to display a red flag shall not apply to the XYZ Class unless specifically required in writing in the sailing instructions of a race or series of races.
In a race for XYZ Class boats, boat A protested boats B and C and noted on her protest form that she did not display a red flag because it was not required by her class rules. The protest committee, relying on class rule 5, decided the protest was valid and B objected to that decision on the grounds that class rule 5 was not valid. Despite B's objection, the protest committee proceeded with the hearing and disqualified B and C. B appealed.
Decision
B's appeal is upheld. Paragraph (d) of the definition
Rule makes it clear that class rules apply to a race. Class rules may change racing rules, but only the rules listed in rule
86.1(c) and, with the approval of World Sailing, a rule in Appendix G (see rule
G5). Rule
61 is not one of those rules, and therefore class rule 5, which attempts to change rule
61.1, is not valid and can not apply. The sailing instructions might have changed rule
61.1 as permitted in rule
86.1(b), but did not do so. Therefore, A's protest was invalid and should have been refused. Accordingly, the protest committee's decisions are reversed, and the two boats are reinstated in their finishing places.
USA 1994/299