The Rules in Practice 2025-2028

The racing rules bible for 40 years, fully updated for 2025 with the complete rules, changes, fundamental rules and a chapter on luffing and keeping clear. This best-selling guide then goes around the course, from start to finish, going through the key situations that occur repeatedly, explaining the rights and obligations of each boat in turn.

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Rules in Practice has been the best-selling guide to the racing rules of sailing for the last 40 years. Now, in its 11th edition, it has been updated for (and contains in full) the 2025-2028 Racing Rules of Sailing.
These latest rules feature significant re-writing of the sections on sailing the course, proper course, mark room, obstacles, continuing obstacles and protests. Now is the time to refresh your knowledge of the rules, how they have changed and what this means to you.
To begin, Rules in Practice describes the latest rule changes and their implications for sailors. The book then covers the fundamental rules that always apply to sailors along with a detailed look at the rules around luffing and keeping clear – which were an eye-opener to many sailors when they were first published in the last edition.
As always, throughout the book, the emphasis is on the practical impact on you as a sailor, rather than a theoretical discussion of the rules themselves.
This is brought to life in the rest of the book, which takes you around the racecourse, from start to finish, through the key situations that frequently occur showing, from the point of view of each boat in turn, what you may, must or must not do. (Other rules guides take you through the rules in order which is just not how you come across them on the racecourse.)
You don’t have to know all the rules off by heart, but you do need to know your rights and obligations on the water – the rules can be looked up afterwards. This knowledge will build your confidence while racing and enable you to make the most of opportunities when they arise.
Colour diagrams throughout ensure concepts are easily understood.
If you are going to buy one rule book – make it this one!