It occurred to me that the following information that I prepared for some RRS seminars for local yacht clubs recently might be interesting to the readers of this forum. The rules keep getting easier to learn and understand thanks to the various online resources like the ones I have listed below. Here you go:
BASIC PRINCIPLE
“Competitors in sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty, which may be to retire”.
FUNDAMENTAL RULES:
1 SAFETY
1.1 HELPING THOSE IN DANGER
A boat or competitor shall give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger.
1.2 LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT AND PERSONAL BUOYANCY
A boat shall carry adequate life-saving equipment for all persons on board, including one item ready for immediate use, unless her class rules make some other provision. Each competitor is individually responsible for wearing personal buoyancy adequate for the conditions.
2 FAIR SAILING
A boat and her owner shall compete in compliance with recognized principles of sportsmanship and fair play. A boat may be penalized under this rule only if it is clearly established that these principles have been violated. A disqualification under this rule shall not be excluded from the boat’s series score.
3 ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES
By participating in a race conducted under these racing rules, each competitor and boat owner agrees
(a) to be governed by the rules; (b) to accept the penalties imposed and other action taken under the rules, subject to the appeal and review procedures provided in them, as the final determination of any matter arising under the rules; and (c) with respect to such determination, not to resort to any court or other tribunal not provided in the rules.
4 DECISION TO RACE
A boat is solely responsible for deciding whether or not to start or to continue racing.
GOOD WEBSITES FOR RRS INFORMATION AND REFERENCE
International Sailing Federation website:
http://www.sailing.org/ISAF Rules:
http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?MenuID=d/q0GX28zoMoD~`RtK/DInternational Sailing Federation Case book:
http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?...ekLESPF?LTVgFsFMolxKWru2zRTg9Tpqv~ZgmyC/ U.S. Sailing Rules website:
http://www.ussailing.org/rules/U.S. Sailing racing course website: (Most realistic training simulations - video style)
http://www.racing.sailingcourse.com/index.htmlCOLREGS website:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules.htmThe Winning Formula website: (Interesting collection of rules and related info and links but some may not be current)
http://www.vertago.com/post/#rulesSailNet Learning to Sail website (interactive place to learn the international and inland rules:
http://www.sailnet.com/collections/learningtosail/rules/index.htmUK Sailmakers interactive rules quiz website: (Also available for sale on CD with more detail and info)
http://www.uksailmakers.com/RulesQuiz/index.html“Uncle Al’s” rules website: (includes updated rules explanations and quizzes using real sailboats racing photos in a folksy manner)
http://www.angelfire.com/de2/WIT/Rules_in_Pics_index.html 
