Wetsuits - Sailing Instruction update

At Weymouth, we were concerned that some competitors were following the letter, but not the spirit, of the wetsuit sailing instruction (4.4): "When numeral 3 is displayed, every competitor shall wear a wetsuit or drysuit while afloat. A wetsuit is defined as a neoprene garment covering at least the shoulders, torso and legs".

A minority of competitors were wearing shortie wetsuits, or even "short johns" - wetsuits with short legs and no arms, whereas the intention of the SI was for a minimum coverage of long legs and short arms.

Recognising that the worst of the cold weather should now be behind us, the following definition of a wetsuit will be applied from the Bridlington event:
A wetsuit is now defined as either:

• a neoprene garment covering the legs (below the knee), the torso, and at least the upper arms, or
• a neoprene garment covering the legs (below the knee) and torso, supplemented by a windproof garment with sleeves to the wrist which may be removed but must still be carried while racing.

This amendment will be posted and applied at Bridlington, and the SIs will be amended on the website before Christchurch.