Hi! Under RRS
Radio Communication
Except in an emergency, a boat that is racing shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats.
Does bluetooth headsets or personal / team communication devices fall under this clause, hence can't be used for team communications?
Thank you!
It is not specific to radios, although many regattas specify that in the Sailing Instructions. Your national prescriptions and some class rules may also further restrict what you can do with transmissions. If you are using this headset for team racing, between boats on a team. That also could be problematic.
Ordinarily if the signal starts and ends in the boat you are perfectly legal. This would apply to intercoms, wireless networks for data, wireless sensors, etc. I've heard stories of boats with wired headset jacks at the bow and up the mast... If you are using this headset for team racing, between boats on a team. That also could be problematic.
Intercom allowed. Boat to boat transmisson forbidden.
Team Racing Rules appendix D
Add to rule 41: ‘However, a boat may receive help from
another boat on her team provided electronic communication is
not used.’
The restrictions on outside assistance obviously apply, and some clubs choose to add their interpretation of how electronic communications would be considered. Locally, one discussion topic was whether 'freely available to all boats' meant 'free of charge' (boats with deep pockets could use satellite communications to download large files that were free of charge - but the airtime is not) or just accessible to all boats (eg downloading a small grib file from an inexpensive subscription service that is accessible to all who pay the subscription). One approach taken to this is:
RRS41 does permit receipt of communication, albeit in very specific circumstances ('unsolicited information from a disinterested source, which may be another boat in the same race'), so there is no absolute prohibition.