RYA advises on Advertising Code

UK dinghy classes will not be able to use Category C advertising unless they specifically request it from the RYA

ISAF's new Advertising Code came into force on 1st January this year. Previously, it was the event Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions that determined whether boats could display advertising. Now, the decision will usually be made by the class, and a race organiser can limit the display of advertising only under specific circumstances, and then only with RYA approval. When that does not apply, any sailing instruction that purports to restrict competitor advertising is invalid. The class association's choice

The primary advertising decision is now made by class associations, with the exception of Olympic classes, which are unrestricted Category C, and excepting also National Classes, where (in this country) the RYA decides. This decision is whether the class competes without competitor advertising (category A) or with competitor advertising (category C). And if a class chooses to allow advertising, it can then limit the amount of advertising subject to ISAF approval and the inclusion of the restriction in the class rules. (The RYA Technical Department can advise classes on suitable words.)

The RYA will agree to a request from a National Class to adopt Category C unless there is a good reason not to do so. If a class has made no choice, then by default it is Category A. It is therefore very important that if it does not want to be Category A, it should decide this as soon as possible, and (in the case of a RYA National class) make application to the RYA. Detailed advice has been sent to UK Class Associations.


Who chooses the advertising?

With the exception of any event sponsor's advertising (see below), choice of what advertising to display is entirely the competitor's. The competitors make their own arrangements with whichever advertisers they choose. Neither the class nor an organising authority can limit this choice, and so it is no longer possible for advertising of a commercial competitor of the event sponsor to be prohibited.


Reserved for event sponsor

The front 20% or 25% (depending on length) of a boat's hull is reserved for use by the event sponsor and for bow numbers. If event sponsor advertising is to be displayed, the Notice of Race must say so. A sailboard can be required to display event sponsor advertising on its sail.


What about handicap racing?

Because handicap racing is between boats of many classes, and can include boats that are not class boats, handicap systems and rating rules also have to be able to choose their advertising category. This is especially important as in the event of conflict between a class decision and a handicap system decision in a handicap race, it is the handicap system's category that prevails.

Each national authority is empowered to decide the category for the various handicap systems used by its sailors, with again the default in the event of no decision being category A. It is necessary under the Code to obtain RYA consent for racing under a handicap system or rating rule if Category C is to apply, with or without restrictions. The RYA's policy is as far as possible to agree to the requests of the controllers of the handicap systems. The Portsmouth Yardstick scheme is Category C.