A skipper may apply to World Sailing to have their ranking position put 'on hold', stating the reasons for the application. The application is considered by the Grading and Ranking Working Party.

If approved, the skipper will be credited with a ranking position equivalent to their position at the time of application rounded down to the nearest multiple of ten.

Approval will normally be granted to skippers with America's Cup syndicates, pregnancy, illness or injury.

At the time of application, the skipper shall nominate the start date of their 'ranking holiday' which will be divided into two sections, a non-scoring period and a recovery period.

The non-scoring period will start at the nominated date and continue until World Sailing is notified in advance of the end date selected by the skipper. The minimum 'non-scoring' period is 6 months and the maximum is 12 months.

The 'non-scoring' period will be immediately followed by a 'recovery' period of 18 months. During the 'non-scoring' period any events sailed by the skipper will be scored 0 points, leaving other skippers with the points applicable to their actual finishing position.

During the 'recovery' period, the skipper will be scored normally. At the end of the recovery period, the 'on hold' position will be removed from the system.

An event may use either the actual or the 'on hold' ranking position of the skipper to determine their total skipper points.

Any skipper with an 'on-hold' position will also have an actual ranking. Another skipper in the actual ranking will duplicate the 'on hold' ranking position.

On-hold ranking positions will not be used for determining entries into World Sailing Championships.

A skipper may only apply for an 'on-hold' period once in any 3 year period.

This system may be modified or suspended in light of experience.