Rules in Practice: 10th Edition

For four decades, sailors have turned to Rules in Practice as the definitive guide to racing rules — and this 10th edition keeps that tradition alive. Fully updated to cover the 2021-2024 Racing Rules of Sailing in their entirety, this edition introduces an all-new chapter dedicated to luffing rules and their real-world application. Every recent rule change is broken down, with clear explanations of what it means for you on the water. More than 20 fresh scenarios have been added to reflect the way courses are sailed today, keeping this edition just as sharp and relevant as it was when first published in 1985.

What sets this book apart is its approach. Rather than marching through the rulebook clause by clause, it puts you on the race course itself — following the action from start to finish through the situations you'll actually encounter. Each key moment is examined from every boat's perspective, laying out clearly what you may do, must do, and cannot do. There's no need to memorize the entire rulebook; what matters is understanding your rights and responsibilities in the moment. The finer details can always be checked later. That kind of practical knowledge sharpens your instincts mid-race and helps you seize opportunities as they appear. Full-colour diagrams throughout make even complex situations easy to grasp at a glance.

If there's only one rules book you ever buy, this is it.

About the Author
Bryan Willis stands among the foremost experts on yacht and dinghy racing rules. His résumé includes chief umpire and jury chairman roles at some of sailing's most prestigious events, from the Olympics to the America's Cup. He spent over 25 years contributing to the International Sailing Federation's (now World Sailing) Racing Rules Committee.

Includes 90 diagrams.

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