Am i going insane?

I know when i did the Laser nationals some time ago i was given stickers to put on all gear to prevent changing it and sail stamped but cant find anything for other classes 

cant find anything on it at all

I don't see a problem as long as they are not changing to gain an advantage (i.e. changing to a Laser Radial in heavy winds and using a standard in light winds unless they are given 2 sets of results).

At open meeting and championships then the same set should be used regardless unless damaged and permission obtained to change them.

There is nothing in the Racing Rules of Sailing that prohibits a boat from using multiple sails during an event, even during a single race - don't forget the rules apply to offshore yacht racing as well as to dinghy racing.

Certain classes have class rules that limit the number of sails (and other items of equipment) that can be used during a single event - e.g. Laser class rule 7(c).

(Note that this Laser class rule applies to all "series of races" and as such it would appear to me to be a breach of this rule to use a different sail in strong winds, even in a club series, if your club is strict about the Laser class rules e.g. no replica equipment).

The limitation isn't always one sail - for example the Finn class rules permit the use of two sails during an event.

Otherwise, there will only be a limitation on the number of sails that can be used during an event if that limitation is explicitly set out in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions for the event (or in a document that is incorporated into the rules for that event through the NoR or SIs, such as Event Equipment Regulations). (And it should probably be set out in the NoR as it may be a material factor affecting a boat's decision to enter the event).

If none of the above applies then as far as I can see a boat would be entirely within their rights to use as many different sails as they wish during an event.

If you tried that an an event where the SI's said you must seek permission and you chose not to I would not be surprised to see you either protested or penalised in some way. It is usually a formality and they may wish to see the damaged sail.

As others have said it prevents people from having sails specific to conditions for classes where that is not the norm.

Club level sailing no problem at all, people get new or replacement sails all the time or choose to use a less good set when it is really windy.

Thank you Sam, that was exactly what I was trying to suggest, but clearly didn't make myself clear. 

Unfortunately, in my experience, SIs often include just the statement I quoted, and so don't actually ban the changing of one good sail for another. I appreciate that some class rules explicitly say that only one sail may be used in a series of races, but many others don't.

If the race committee put L19.2 in the SI without any other restriction elsewhere, then it should not work, and a good protest committee would consider that if the race committee wanted to restrict changing sails they should have damn well said so.

But you never know how a protest committee, thinking themselves aware of 'local practice' or whatever might go.  I'd be very wary of using legal terms of art like 'bound to fail' with respect to protests <g>.

But windsurf racing is far from extinct, Raceboards have experienced a comeback in the last few years despite a new board and rig costing more than a L@ser.

There is one club up here running a reasonably well attended evening series and the NWWA series soldiers on, the last bastion of the 7.5m class.

Unlike dinghies where I'd guess a majority (or at lease a significant minority) of sailors belong to clubs and race at least occasionally, windsurfers are more 'free spirited' and less interested in organised events.

TBF, the mismanagement I mentioned was probably in the '90s rather than the '80s 

The 'area' of a modern sail is a bit of a nonsense with a huge area of leech that does no more than flop about, it works at high speed on a short board by promoting twist but at lower speeds (as on a Raceboard) the sails don't generate the power of a proper raceboard design.

BTW, looking for a couple of bits of info before posting this I discover the UKWA now have a 7.8m class, really for Techno sailors but also suited to returning RB 7.5 sailors..... About time (don't say I didn't tell you.....)

The 2000 class used to say "Only one suit per regatta". But once the class went passed around 10 years old or so it was realised that almost everyone had 2 sets.

They now allow you to change sails during the regatta, as it actually reduces the arms race!

People could now use their old sails (especially jibs) when it was windy, so keeping the good sails for lighter winds - so they lasted for longer before needing to be replaced.