Prescriptions cannot change the Definitions, the Introduction, Part 2 or Part 7, or rules 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 42, 43, 47, 50, 63.3, 69–72, 75, 76.2(b) or 79, or Appendices H and N. The notice of race and sailing instructions cannot change those either, nor rules 4, 76.1, 76.2(a) or Appendix R. Class rules may change only rules 42, 49, 51–55 and 78.2. World Sailing can authorise other changes for a specific international event, and national authorities may allow changes for testing new rules.
In practice: an event can change starting penalties, protest time limits, scoring and the penalty system; it cannot rewrite the right-of-way rules.
86.1
The limits on prescriptions, event documents and class rules.
86.2
World Sailing authorisations for international events.
86.3
Testing proposed rules.
Changed in 2025
The Basic Principles are no longer listed: they are principles, not rules, and the new preamble says they may not be changed.