Often, we focus our rules discussions only on Part 2 of the rules – “When Boats Meet.” This winter, I plan to explore the rules of Part 3 – “Conduct of a Race.” They may appear to only matter to the Race Committee, but they have significant importance to the racing sailor too.
– Steve Harris, US Sailing National Race Officer
Rules 34 & 35 ...
This is another “grab bag” of other rules in Part 3. Each of their own importance, but not necessarily long enough for their own post. They have consequences for racing sailors but, generally, don’t require a long discussion.
Rule 34 - Mark Missing
- replace it in its correct position or substitute a new one of similar appearance, or
- substitute an object displaying flag M and make repetitive sound signals.
This one is probably self-explanatory. Simply put, this is another example where the rules allow race committees a great deal of flexibility to correct errors and avoid the need to abandon a race. Stuff happens — marks sometimes lose their anchors or get dragged out of position. If there is time, the race committee can simply put the mark back in position or replace it without the need for any special signals. If that is not possible, they can use code flag “M”
The “object” (typically a boat) displaying said flag now becomes the mark. Although it is seldom seen, it is an important rule to know. It’s also important to understand that, in an ideal use of the rule, the boat displaying the “Mike” flag would be anchored. However, it is not required. Again, recall the reasoning for the rule — to allow race committees to correct errors as fairly as possible without the need to abandon a race.
Rule 35 - Race Time Limit & Scores
If one boat starts, sails the course and finishes within the time limit for that race, if any, all boats that finish shall be scored according to their finishing places unless the race is abandoned. If no boat finishes within the race time limit, the race committee shall abandon the race.
This is another rule that is often misunderstood. The first thing to note is that the rule does not impose a time limit on the race. If the Sailing Instructions don’t impose one, there is no time limit. That is to say that any boat that starts, sails the course, and finishes — no matter how long it takes — is scored. Of course this is seldom the case. SIs often include language imposing a time limit.
However, the rule is clear that if one boat… does so, all boats shall be scored… For this reason, Sailing Instructions usually also impose a “finishing window” or “curfew” — something along the lines of the following:
The time limit for each race will be 60 minutes for the first boat to finish. Boats finishing more than 30 minutes after the first boat that starts, sails the course, and finishes will be scored TLE (time limit expired) without a hearing. This changes RRS 35, A5, & A10.
In this situation, boats have 30 minutes to finish after the first boat does so. This is typically done to keep racing moving. Ideally the RC would have used some of the other “tools” available (shortening course, changing course, etc.) to avoid this situation, but that is not always possible.
Note that in the SI example above, boats failing to make the “finish window” are scored TLE, or “time limit expired.” This is common in Club racing and youth racing where there may be a fairly wide range of skill levels. At a championship, you are more likely to see that boats failing to finish within the window are scored DNF (did not finish) without a hearing.
The second part of this rule is, perhaps more significant. “If no boat finishes within the race time limit, the race committee shall abandon the race.” As an example, if the time limit is 60 minutes and the first boat finishes in 60 minutes and one second, the race must be abandoned — there is no wiggle room in the rule. The intent, in my opinion, is to encourage (if not force) race committees to use best practices and avoid this situation. Shorten the course at any earlier mark, shorten legs as the wind dies, etc. There are many “tools” available to avoid this, most of the time. That said, it is not always possible — distance races, for example.