ISAF released 2009 Rules Updates and ISAF Regulation 20 (Advertising) has changed. Ron Hopkins, a US Sailing Judge posted information on the NBYA Forum that I am repeating here.

One of the changes affects the wording used for restricting advertising. The changes affect the wording of advertising restrictions, in that there are no longer categories like, A, or C. There is transition language (see below) that allows current language to be accepted by the rules, but we should be in transition to the new language. If you have current NOR or SI documents, the transition language makes NO action necessary, but it is suggested that new documents use new language to reflect the changes.

Suggested new NOR/SI language (For no advertising, formally Cat A):
"As per ISAF Regulation 20.5.6(a), no advertising may be displayed pursuant Regulation 20.3.1.2. However, all competitors may be required to display advertising of the event sponsors on each side of the hull in accordance with regulation 20.4.1.1 (a)."

ISAF Link http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/ISAFReg20Updated2009-%5B6806%5D.pdf

Transitional language from the regulation;

20.5.6 Transitional Provisions:
(a) any ISAF Class that has previously elected not to permit any Advertising on boats - formerly Category A - shall be deemed (until such time as it may prescribe otherwise) to have prescribed that no Advertising may be displayed pursuant Regulation 20.3.1.2 and
(b) any ISAF Class that has previously prescribed Advertising with limitations shall be deemed (until such time as it chooses otherwise) to have prescribed in the same terms for the purposes of Regulations 20.3. and 20.5.

This is somewhat confusing now. Previously if the class rules were silent on advertising, the following ISAF rule applied resulting in no advertising allowed;

20.4.1
(a) The Class Associations of ISAF Classes may decide the advertising category to be applied to their class to be either A or C. If the Class Association makes no ruling, Category A shall apply;.....

The transitional wording covers the J/30 Class in the near term, but a class rules update will be required in the future to specifically prohibit or allow advertising per the following ISAF rule;

20.5.2 If an ISAF Class or Rating System prescribes to prohibit or limit Advertising then that shall be so stated in its Class Rules or the Rules of that Rating System, and if subject to limitations then those shall also be specified in such rules.

So - here is the chance for the class to post desires until the next class rules update. The J/30 Class Chief Measurer has the call, but my interpretation is the transition wording means that the J/30 Class remains as "No Advertising" (Old Class "A") until we do a rules update. There is no need to do a rules update just for this change, and we can make the update whenever another rules change is made.