These rules apply regardless of the scoring system in effect.
A1.1 Failure to Start or Finish
When the race committee scores a boat as failing to start or finish it need not protest her.
A1.2 Boat Retiring or Disqualified After Finishing
When a boat retires or is disqualified after finishing, each boat that finished after her shall be moved up one place.
A1.3 Scores Not Discardable
When a scoring system provides that one or more race scores are to be discarded in calculating a boatıs series score, the score for disqualification under rule 2, or rule 42 when rule 67 applies, shall not be discarded.
A1.4 Unbroken Ties
(a) When boats are tied at the end of a race, the points for the place for which the boats have tied and for the place(s) immediately below shall be added together and divided equally. Boats tied for a prize shall share it or receive equal prizes.
(b) When boats have equal scores at the end of a series and a tie is unbroken by the scoring system, the scores shall remain unchanged in the final results. Boats tied for a prize shall share it or receive equal prizes.
A1.5 Numbering of Races
Races shall be numbered sequentially in the order of completion.
A1.6 A Boatıs Starting Time
The time of a boatıs starting signal shall be used as her starting time.
A1.7 Scores Removed from All or Part of a Series
When a boat is penalized by having her scores removed from the results of some or all races of a series, no changes shall be made in the race scores of other boats.
A2 SCORING SYSTEMS
The Bonus Point Scoring System and the Low Point Scoring System are the systems most often used. The bonus point system gives extra points for the first six places because it is harder to sail from fourth place into third, for example, than from fourteenth place into thirteenth. It is used for many class championships. The low point system is also suitable for championships, is better for small-fleet racing and is easier to use. Both systems are primarily designed for regattas but may be adapted for other series; see rule A5.
Either system may be made applicable by stating in the sailing instructions that the bonus point or low point system of Appendix A of the racing rules will apply and including the information required in rule A2.1.
A2.1 Number of Races and Series Scores
The number of races scheduled and the number required to constitute a series shall be stated in the sailing instructions. Each boatıs series score will be the total of her race scores, discarding her worst score* except when prohibited in rule A1.3. The lowest series score wins.
* More than one score may be required to be discarded or all scores may be required to be counted; in either case the sailing instructions shall so state.
A2.2 Race Scores
Each boat starting and finishing in a race, and not thereafter retiring or being disqualified, will be scored points as follows:
| Finishing place | Bonus point system | Low point system |
|---|---|---|
| First | 0 | 1 |
| Second | 3 | 2 |
| Third | 5.7 | 3 |
| Fourth | 8 | 4 |
| Fifth | 10 | 5 |
| Sixth | 11.7 | 6 |
| Seventh | 13 | 7 |
| Each place thereafter | Add 1 point | Add 1 point |
All other boats will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the total number of boats entered in the series.
A2.3 Ties
When there is a tie in series points between two or more boats, the tie will be broken in favour of the boat with the most first places, or, if the tie remains, the most second places, or lower places if necessary, using only the scores for each boat that count for her series score. When a tie still remains, it will be broken in favour of the boat with the best score in the last race in which the tied boats raced and scored differently, using only the scores for each boat that count for her series score. For these calculations, if a boat has been awarded average points that do not correspond to a place, she shall be considered to have the place closest in points to the points awarded; if a boat has tied for a place, she shall be considered to have that place.
A3 ABBREVIATIONS FOR SCORING RECORDS
These abbreviations are recommended for recording the circumstances that determine a score:
| DNC | Did not come to the starting area |
| DNS | Did not start |
| OCS | On the course side of the starting line and failed to comply with rule 29.1 or rule 30.1 |
| DNF | Did not finish |
| RET | Retired after finishing |
| DSQ | Disqualified |
| DND | Disqualification not discardable because of rule A1.3 |
| RDG | Redress given |
| ZPG | Z flag penalty given |
A4 REDRESS
If under rule 64.2 the protest committee decides to change a boatıs score, it should consider scoring her
(a) points equal to the average, to the nearest tenth of a point (0.05 to be rounded upward), of her points in all the races in the series except [her worst race and]* the race in question, or
(b) points equal to the average, to the nearest tenth of a point (0.05 to be rounded upward), of her points in all the races before the race in question, or
(c) points based on the position of the boat at the time of the incident that justified the redress.
* Delete these words when all scores count for series results, or adjust when more than one race is to be discarded.
A5 WHEN A SERIES IS NOT A REGATTA
In a regatta all boats are expected to compete in all races and the difference between the number of entrants and the number of starters is usually insignificant. However, in a longer series there may be a number of boats that compete in fewer races than others, in which case the following may be substituted for the second paragraph of rule A2.2:
Boats not so scored that came to the starting area will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of all boats that came to the starting area. Boats that did not come to the starting area will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series.