Outside help, fairness and the environment
World Sailing · 2025–2028Outside assistance is generally prohibited during racing, but exceptions cover danger or injury, help to separate after a collision, information freely available to all boats and unsolicited information from a disinterested source. A private tactical instruction from a coach is not made acceptable merely because it arrives by radio or phone.
The rule
Outside assistance is generally prohibited during racing, but exceptions cover danger or injury, help to separate after a collision, information freely available to all boats and unsolicited information from a disinterested source. A private tactical instruction from a coach is not made acceptable merely because it arrives by radio or phone.
In practice
Competitors and support people must not deliberately put rubbish into the water while afloat. Fair sailing also requires respect for recognised sportsmanship, and a deliberate unfair advantage can carry serious consequences. When an exceptional incident harms a result, use the redress process where its conditions are met; receiving help does not automatically produce either disqualification or compensation.
Sources & approach ↗