ISAF Pravidlá jachtngu

CASE 109

Part 2, Preamble
Rule 56, Fog Signals and Lights; Traffic Separation Schemes International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

The IRPCAS or government right-of-way rules apply between boats that are racing only if a rule in the notice of race says so, and in that case all of the Part 2 rules are replaced. An IRPCAS or government rule, other than a right-of-way rule, may be made to apply by including it in the notice of race, the sailing instructions or another document governing the event.

Question 1

What are the ‘government rules’ to which the preamble to Part 2 and rule 56.1 refer? How do those rules differ from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS)?

Answer 1

The IRPCAS apply only ‘upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels’ (IRPCAS Rule 1(a)). On a country’s harbours, rivers, lakes and other inland waters, governments and other government authorities may establish other rules. Those other rules are the ‘government rules’ to which the Part 2 preamble and rule 56.1 refer. Such rules, which may apply nationally on all inland waters or only on specific inland waters, may restate, replace, change or add to the IRPCAS (IRPCAS rules 1(b) a 1(c)).

Question 2

When the notice of race, sailing instructions and other documents that govern an event do not mention the IRPCAS or government rules, do any rules of the IRPCAS or government rules apply to a boat racing under The Racing Rules of Sailing?

Answer 2

Yes. When a boat sailing under the Part 2 rules meets a vessel that is not, the IRPCAS or government right-of-way rules apply between them (Part 2 preamble).

In addition, a boat racing shall comply with rule 10, Traffic Separation Schemes, of the IRPCAS (rule 56.2). Finally, if a boat is equipped with sound signals and lights required by the IRPCAS or applicable government rules, she shall, while racing, sound those fog signals and show those lights as required by the IRPCAS or applicable government rules (rule 56.1).

Question 3

May the notice of race, sailing instructions or another document that governs the event make the IRPCAS or government right-of-way rules or other rules of the IRPCAS or government rules applicable?

Answer 3

Yes, in three ways:

(1) Only the notice of race may state that the right-of-way rules of the IRPCAS or government rules replace all of the rules of Part 2 (Part 2 preamble and rule J1.2(12)). This is often done for oceanic races and also for racing at night.

(2) The notice of race or the sailing instructions may state that a particular rule from the IRPCAS or government rules (other than a right-of-way rule) will apply to the event and include the text of that rule (rule J2.2(29)).

(3) The definition Rule includes ‘(g) any other documents that govern the event.’ Such a document may include the text of a particular rule or rules from the IRPCAS or government rules (other than a right-ofway rule) that will apply to the event. To govern an event, a document must be listed in the notice of race (rule J1.1(3)), stating where or how it may be obtained.

A boat that breaks a rule of the IRPCAS or a government rule can always be prosecuted by an authority responsible for its enforcement, but a protest may be made under such a rule only when the rule concerned ‘governs the event’.

Question 4

If a rule in the notice of race states that the right-of-way rules of the IRPCAS replace the rules of Part 2, which rules of Part 2 are replaced by which rules of the IRPCAS ?

Answer 4

All the rules of Part 2 are replaced. Part B of the IRPCAS contains the IRPCAS ‘Steering and Sailing Rules’, which are, in effect, ‘right-of-way rules’. However, Part B of the IRPCAS must be read in conjunction with the whole of the IRPCAS, particularly Part A. For example, many terms used in Part B are defined in Part A.

Question 5

Is it possible to provide for a wider or narrower range of replacements of right-of-way rules that apply between competing boats?

Answer 5

The notice of race may only replace all the rules of Part 2 with all the rightof- way rules of the IRPCAS or government rules. A wider or narrower range of replacements of right-of-way rules that apply between competing boats is not permitted (see rule 86.1(b)).