At the Worlds in France they were going to toss you for any rule that you did not meet. There was a run on paddles and compasses at all the sailing related stores, and they ran critically low on lead weights at the dive store. At that time they were able to use the main halyard as a tow line providing it was 5mm. I do not think that is allowed anymore, as they were going to discuss that at the follow up meeting. I would place money that the tow line is needed this year. I remember it was required to be 5mm then. It is 6mm now, but still the same 15 meters. There were teams tossed that came in 1 kg light after racing all day. I would not tempt them.

Later,
Dan