Independent study · no certification. Independent study. Not an official course or certification. Details
Compass Global is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by IMO, IHO, IALA, World Sailing, or any national authority. It does not award certification.
Compass Global study companion
Racing Rules 2025–2028 Study Companion
Direct answer
Original visual preparation for the 2025–2028 racing-rules cycle, including right-of-way, limitations, mark-room, penalties, protests, and race signals. Compass provides independent knowledge preparation only. It does not administer an official examination, award certification, demonstrate practical competence, or replace current instructions from an authorized provider or authority. National prescriptions, class rules, notices of race, sailing instructions, and official interpretations remain separate.
- Price
- £19.99 once
- Course size
- 9 modules
- Access
- Lifetime access
- Format
- Independent online study companion
Product tour
Try the revision loop here
This working, course-specific sample uses the same three primary steps and feedback timing as the revision app: learn the idea, use Practise for immediate help, then Test at the end.
Open the full free moduleLearn · teaching first
Build the Rule Set Before Solving the Incident
From Rules, Definitions, and Sportsmanship
What you will learn
Identify the current governing rule set and separate source facts, defined relationships and conduct duties before selecting an incident rule.
Explanation
A racing-rules answer starts with the event's current sources and the rulebook's defined language; fleet habit, an old diagram or the apparent tactical winner is not the rule set.
Use EVENT/DISCIPLINE — CURRENT RRS AND CORRECTIONS — APPLICABLE APPENDIX/DEVELOPMENT RULE — DESIGNATED REGULATION — NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION — CLASS/RATING RULE — NOTICE OF RACE — SAILING INSTRUCTIONS/OTHER GOVERNING DOCUMENT — PERMITTED CHANGE/CONFLICT — SOURCE/TIME. The current core edition is the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025–2028, effective from 1 January 2025 subject to the rulebook's stated transitional exception. World Sailing may publish urgent changes and corrections during the cycle, so the year range alone is not a complete version check.
The defined term Rule is broader than the numbered rules in Parts 1–7. It includes the book's Definitions, Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and relevant appendices; designated World Sailing Regulations; applicable national prescriptions; class or rating rules; the notice of race; the sailing instructions; and other documents that govern the event. The Basic Principles and titles are expressly outside that defined list, even though the Basic Principles still govern the sport in their own stated role.
Build the event source card
Before racing, the crew needs one current list of the core rules, corrections and every event-specific layer.
Sense check: The card is incomplete if it says only '2025–2028 RRS and local rules'.
Common mistake
Treating the year range as proof that the file includes current corrections
Recap
- Establish the complete current rule set.
- Name the authority for every event-specific change.
- Translate observations into defined relationships.
More ways to revise
Flashcards, audio and interactive tools remain optional support inside the module; they do not replace the Learn → Practise → Test route.
Course route
Learn the knowledge, then take it afloat with an instructor
Rules, Definitions, and Sportsmanship
The current 2025–2028 Racing Rules source stack, event-document change authority, exact definition tests, the unchangeable Basic Principles, Rules 1–3 and a reconstructable incident-and-conduct brief.
Open modulePort/Starboard and Windward/Leeward
A current World Sailing Rules 10–17 decision sequence for Part 2 scope, tack, the Rule 13 tacking interval, clear-ahead/astern and overlap geometry, right-of-way acquisition, course changes, proper-course limits, room to keep clear and contact avoidance.
Open moduleStarts, Recalls, and Course Signals
A current World Sailing start decision sequence for visual Rule 26 timing, Racing and Start definitions, P/I/Z/U/black consequences, Rules 29.1 and 29.2 recalls, Rule 21.1 return traffic and bounded event-process handover.
Open moduleMark-Room
A current World Sailing Rule 18 decision sequence for mark and zone scope, first-zone-entry overlap, inside and outside duties, the defined condition-sized Mark-Room path, Rules 18.2–18.4 transitions, right of way, contact and bounded exoneration.
Open moduleObstructions and Room to Tack
A current World Sailing Rules 19–20 decision sequence for Obstruction and Continuing Obstruction scope, Rule 18/19 selection, side choice, overlap and ability, late-inside-overlap consequences, qualified hails, mandatory responses, relays, signals, right of way and contact.
Open moduleContact, Penalties, and Exoneration
A current World Sailing Rules 14, 21, 43 and 44 decision sequence for contact control, damage and injury classification, one- and two-turn penalties, retirement, prompt execution, compelled breaches and exact exoneration paths.
Open moduleProtests, Redress, and Hearings
A current Rules 60–63 and 69–71 decision sequence for protest intention, delivery and validity; redress gates; evidence and hearing procedure; reopening; appeals; and the separate misconduct path.
Open moduleRace-Management Signals
A current Race Signals and Rules 25–27 and 32–37 decision sequence for postponement, abandonment, shortening, changed legs, missing marks, finishing, safety communication, and the boundary between visual signals, sounds, and event documents.
Open moduleAnimated Scenario Decisions
A current World Sailing Rules 11–18 and 43 frame sequence for clear-astern and overlap transitions, acquiring right of way, luffing, proper-course limits, the first-zone mark-room snapshot, contact, exoneration and evidence boundaries.
Open moduleWhat the companion includes
Clear knowledge and practical boundaries
- Original lessons and explanations
- At least 18 explained questions and 12 flashcards per module
- Three 40-question mixed knowledge assessments
- Worldwide terminology, jurisdiction, and primary-source context
- Practical-awareness prompts clearly separated from assessed knowledge
Not included
- A national licence, certificate, endorsement, or official examination
- National inland rules, prescriptions, notices, or sailing instructions
- Copied rulebook, chart, assessment, or official diagram content
- A substitute for lookout, seamanship, or current local information
- A guarantee of acceptance by an authority, club, school, or operator
Editorial record
Primary-source review
International principles are reviewed against current primary sources. National law, prescriptions, sailing instructions, equipment requirements, and local notices must be checked separately.
- World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing 2025–2028
Current rules cycle and official changes-and-corrections source. Compass uses original diagrams and paraphrased teaching.
- World Sailing Racing Rules 2025-2028 with changes and corrections
Official consolidated rules edition used to verify definitions, encounter rules, penalties, hearings, and race signals.