The purpose of the World Sailing Question & Answer service is to assist World Sailing Race Officials in applying the rules consistently.

Questions may be submitted to the Q&A Panel by any World Sailing Race Official, World Sailing Class or Member National Authority (preferably through a World Sailing Race Official) via the World Sailing Executive Office. The Panel may rephrase the question for clarity and may publish the answer online if the question is considered to be of general interest.

All Q&A's are removed from the World Sailing website Q&A list at the end of the Racing Rules of Sailing cycle, however they are often being considered for submission as a Case, Call or Rule Change; for inclusion in an applicable World Sailing manual or other publication; or for retention in the next cycle's Q&A booklet after being updated to be consistent with the current version of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

Unlike the World Sailing Cases, which are authoritative interpretations and explanations of the rules, these answers are solely to assist Race Officials in applying the rules consistently.

Questions should be submitted to the World Sailing Office by email.