The rules only apply so long as people agree to follow them. US Sailing has no army to enforce them. If you want to make up your own rules that say port has right of way over starboard and then invite all your friends to an event under those rules, no one is going to stop you. Similarly if you want to amend the rules as you see fit, no one is going to stop you. They may tell you that you can’t do it, but that’s about all they can do. It’s a classic case of "stop or I'll say stop again."
OK, say the port/starboard rules are reversed (port has ROW) in the SIs. This is contrary to RRS 86.1 which says that the SIs cannot change a rule in Part 2 (ROW rules).
We get into a P/S confrontation. I'm on stbd, you're on port. You "win" because of the SIs, but I immediately request redress because of the rule 86 violation. I win, you lose. No jury would think twice about it.
As far as the PFD issue is concerned, the IHCA Class Rules state:
Quote
8. SAFETY EQUIPMENT 8.1 Each person on board shall carry a lifesaving device or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) approved by their country’s national authority or by the national authority having jurisdiction. The IHCA strongly recommends that life jackets or PFDs be worn at all times.
So if you wear one of the non-USCG approved PFDs, you are violating the US Sailing prescription and the class rules. That might even call for a Rule 2 / Rule 69 action.
