BLYC

RRS – Part III; Post #9 – “Grab Bag” 1

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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 27 & 31...

This is more of a “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 27 - Other Race Committee Actions Before the Starting Signal

27.1 – “No later than the warning signal, the race committee shall signal or otherwise designate the course to be sailed if the sailing instructions have not stated the course, and it may replace one course signal with another and signal that wearing personal flotation devices is required (display flag Y with one sound).”

27.2 – “No later than the preparatory signal, the race committee may move a starting mark.”

27.3 – “Before the starting signal, the race committee may for any reason postpone (display flag AP, AP over H, or AP over A,  with two sounds) or abandon the race (display flag N over H, or N over A, with three sounds)”

What’s this rule saying?

Simply put, these are directives to the race committee. These are both things that they must do, and items that they can do.

27.1 – “No later than the warning signal, the race committee shall signal or otherwise designate the course to be sailed if the sailing instructions have not stated the course, and it may replace one course signal with another and signal that wearing personal flotation devices is required (display flag Y with one sound).”

This part of the rule contains a number of points…

  • The first is proscriptive… “the race committee shall signal or otherwise designate the course…”
    • This is probably common sense – different courses may require different strategies in how you would sail them.  During the starting sequence, there’s too much going on to have to look for another signal.  
  • The second part, most sailors (and race officers, for that matter) find confusing.  What is a “course signal?”  Certainly, the race committee cannot change the descriptions of the marks or other items described in the sailing instructions on the water – there is a very specific protocol for doing that.
    • a “course signal” (although not defined in the RRS) is a signal that says what course is to be sailed.  In other words…
      • In a multi-fleet regatta with multiple starts, the RC can start one fleet on one course and then “no later than the warning signal” designate a different course for the next fleet.
      • It also allows the race committee to change their mind.  Perhaps they initially decided on a particular course but, for a variety of possible reasons – several general recalls, a long postponement, a change in conditions, etc. – they decide instead to start the fleet on a different course.  They have that flexibility so long as it is signaled “no later than the warning signal.“
  • The final part is pretty straightforward.  It simply provides a time by which Rule 40 can be invoked.  Rule 40 is the rule requiring competitors to wear personal floatation devices.  It makes sense that this signal needs to be given with ample time for the competitors to comply.

27.2 – “No later than the preparatory signal, the race committee may move a starting mark.”

This rule simply prescribes a time by which the starting marks must be in place.  Obviously, boats cannot start, or set up their start, without knowing the location of the line.  Why the Preparatory Signal (4 min. pre-start)?  I’m not sure there’s a great answer other than perhaps this….  Especially in varying wind conditions, the RC needs the capability to quickly set the line and go immediately into sequence to get a fair start off.  By making this time at the preparatory signal, they can do so and reliably know that the mark will have settled into place in its final location by the required time.

27.3 – “Before the starting signal, the race committee may for any reason postpone (display flag AP, AP over H, or AP over A,  with two sounds) or abandon the race (display flag N over H, or N over A, with three sounds)”

This part of the rule is permissive.  I’m sure that at some time in the past there were redress requests that led to this being put into the rulebook , but basically, it makes it clear that the RC has the ability to call off a race, for any reason, before the start.  After the start, they can no longer postpone and they can only abandon for reasons allowed under rule 32.

Rule 31 - Touching a Mark

“While racing, a boat shall not touch a starting mark before starting, a mark that begins, bounds or ends the leg of the course on which she is sailing, or a finishing mark after finishing .”

This rule is, for the most part, pretty straightforward.  IF the mark is part of the leg on which you are sailing, don’t touch it.  This would also include start and finish marks.  That’s where it gets kinda hairy…

Before we get into that, however, what does it mean to “touch” a “mark?”

Definition of "Mark"

“An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, a race committee boat surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends, and an object intentionally attached to the object or vessel.  However, an anchor line is not part of the mark.”

This definition may seem a bit lengthy for what we might typically think the definition should be.  In particular, what does “an object intentionally attached to the object or vessel”  refer to?

Often, race committees will stream a mark off the stern of the committee boat at one end of the start line.  This is often called a “limit mark” or “keep away mark.”  The intent is to keep boats starting from getting too close to the committee boat and potentially colliding with it.  Since such marks are intentionally attached, to the vessel, they are, by rule, part of the mark and you cannot touch it.

But what constitutes “touching” the mark?

In several World Sailing cases, it has been established that “contact with a mark by a boat’s equipment constitutes touching it.” This would include contact by any part of the hull, crew, or equipment – essentially, any contact is contact.  The one exception is that the anchor line is not part of the mark.  So, for example, your rudder catches the anchor line as you round the windward mark.  In reality, we all know that it is then likely that the mark would be pulled over and touch the hull, therefore being contact with the mark.  However, if you were able to clear that line before the mark was pulled over and contacted the hull, you would not have violated the rule.

NOW… finishing creates a unique circumstance.  Although the definition of mark is the same throughout the race, two more definitions come into play at the finish – finish and racing…

Definition of "Racing"

“A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks…”

Definition of "Finish"

“A boat finishes when any part…crosses the finishing line from the course side.  However, she has not finished if after crossing the finish line she… corrects an error in sailing the course…“

If you recall Post #5 in this series – Rule 28; Sailing the Course – I mentioned this situation and that it would require a longer discussion…

Hitting a finish mark presents a unique situation.  If we look at the definition of finish, we see that a boat finishes when any part of her hull crosses the finish line from the course side.  However, looking at the definition of racing, she has to “clear the finishing line and marks” before she can be considered as no longer racing.  In other words, until she has cleared the finishing line and marks, she is still subject to the rules, including Rule 31.

Consider the following situation…

Untitled-10

In the diagram above, Boat B has met the definition of finish in that her hull crossed the line from the course side of the line.  However, after crossing, she made contact with the finish mark.  Since she clearly has not “cleared the finishing line and marks,” she is still racing, is subject to, and has violated Rule 31.  

What would the race committee do in this situation?
The proper action of the RC would be to score her finish position – at this point, she has met the definition of finish.  However, they may strongly consider protesting her under Rule 31.  The RC can’t simply “unfinish” her, a protest would be required.

What should the competitor do?
As she has broken Rule 31, she should do a one-turn penalty and cross the finishing line again from the course side.  Under the definition of finish, she has “correct(ed) an error in sailing the course and no longer meets the definition of finish.  

At this point, she has met her obligation of making a one-turn penalty and no longer subject to protest.  By doing so, she also has met the definition of finish.  The RC will record this finish as well.  As common practice, when a boat crosses the finishing line multiple times from the course side, good race committees will assign the lower of the scores.  If the reason for multiple “finishes” is as described above, they have done it correctly.  If there is some other reason, the competitor is sure to submit a scoring inquiry after scores are posted and it can be sorted out then.

Next Week - Part 3 "Grab Bag" - 2

... Rules 34 & 35

RRS – Post #10 – “Grab Bag” 2

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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

If a mark is missing or out of position while boats are racing, the race committee shall, if possible,
  1. replace it in its correct position or substitute a new one of similar appearance, or
  2. substitute an object displaying flag M and make repetitive sound signals.

Placeholder

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.

RRS – Part III; Post #8 – Rule 33

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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

Rule 33 - Changing the Next Leg of the Course

“While boats are racing, the race committee may change a leg of the course that begins at a rounding mark or at a gate by changing the position of the next mark (or the finishing line) and signalling all boats before they begin the leg. The next mark need not be in position at that time.

  1. If the direction of the leg will be changed, the signal shall be the display of flag C with repetitive sounds and one or both of

    1. the new compass bearing or

    2. a green triangle for a change to starboard or a red rectangle for a change to port.

  2. If the length of the leg will be changed, the signal shall be the display of flag C with repetitive sounds and a ‘–’ if the length will be decreased or a ‘+’ if it will be increased.

  3. Subsequent legs may be changed without further signalling to maintain the course shape.”

Although a bit lengthy, this rule is actually pretty straightforward.  To ensure that we’re all using the same language, recall the post on RRS 32 about Shortening the Course…

Shortening the course is the elimination of legs of the course.  This is part of RRS 32.  

What this rule (RRS 33) speaks to is Changing  the course.  This sometimes creates confusion, as we discussed in Post #7.  But, if you remember “C is for Change,” you’ll be fine with this rule.

Code Flag "Charlie""

Keep in mind, the racing rules are written in such a way as to give the race committee tools that allow them to save a race.  Lots of things happen on a race course that have the potential to make it less than ideal…

  • Wind shifts make the course less than fair
  • Changes in wind velocity make it desirable to change the length of the course.
  • Changes in wind velocity make it unlikely that any boat will finish within the time limit.
  • Impending safety concerns (foul weather, heavy seas, etc.) make it desirable to shorten the overall time the boats are going to be on the water
  • etc.

Rule 33 makes it possible for the race committee to adjust to these changes and keep the racing fair, safe, and competitive.

Let’s look first at changing the direction to the next mark…

In the case of a wind shift, the course becomes less square and inherently less fair.  Often, you’ll hear the argument “We’ve all got to sail in the same wind” as a reason not to move a mark and change it’s location.  The problem is, not all boats in the fleet are truly in the same wind when the course isn’t square!  Depending where you are on the course when the shift happens, some boats will be benefitted by a lift and others will be hampered by a header… and perhaps significantly so.  Additionally, the tactically sailable area is also significantly reduced.

In order to maintain the best tacking angle upwind, the area in which boats can tactically sail in is significantly reduced.

Assuming an upwind tacking angle of 90°…

SHIFT

0­°
5°
10°
20°
30°
45°

TIME ON
FAVORED TACK

50%
54%
59%
68%
79%
100%

EFFECTIVE
SAILING AREA

100%
98%
94%
77%
50%
0%

It gets even worse downwind…

Assuming a downwind gybing angle of 50°…

SHIFT

0­°
5°
10°
15°
20°
25°

TIME ON
FAVORED TACK

50%
59%
69%
79%
89%
100%

EFFECTIVE
SAILING AREA

100%
96%
83%
62%
35%
0%

The effective sailing area reduces much quicker with less of a shift!

If the race committee doesn’t change the course, it’s hard to call it a fair, tactical, and competitive race.  Changes are critical to making races competitive!

The difficulty for the race committee is knowing when to make a change.  It’s easy to get drawn into trying too hard to make it “perfect,” and changing when a shift is just an oscillation.  But its important to change when necessary.  Now you know why sometimes race officers are so uptight & tense!  LOL

So… how is a change signaled?

“…

  1. If the direction of the leg will be changed, the signal shall be the display of flag C with repetitive sounds and one or both of

    1. the new compass bearing or

    2. a green triangle for a change to starboard or a red rectangle for a change to port.“

The important part to be able to recognize is the display of the flag, C, with repetitive sounds.  Direction of the change is likely apparent, however the race committee is required to signal it.

Generally, the change will be signaled by a mark boat, near the mark previous to the one being changed. Unlike the shorten course signal (RRS 32), a change must be signaled before any boat sails the new leg of the course.

The race committee has two options:

  1. They can display the compass bearing to the new mark:
3-Digit
Credit - Wolverine One-Design Management
  1. They can signal a change to starboard (right as one looks towards the next mark) with a green triangle…
Credit - racingrulesofsailing.org
… or a change to port (left as one looks towards the next mark) with a red rectangle
Credit - racingrulesofsailing.org

The race committee can also change the length of the next leg…

“…

b. If the length of the leg will be changed, the signal shall be the display of flag C with repetitive sounds and a ‘–’ if the length will be decreased or a ‘+’ if it will be increased.
Credit - racingrulesofsailing.org
Credit - racingrulesofsailing.org

So the race committee can change both the direction  and the distance of the next leg of the course.  Pay close attention to the signals being made.  This affords them a great deal of flexibility in maintaining a competitive race course for the sailors.  

Let’s look at one of our courses at BLYC…

courseE

This course, Course “E,” is a typical triangle-windward-leeward course – 
S – 1 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 3 – F

Assume a significant windshift to the left makes it desirable to change the position of Mark 1 on the second windward leg.

The race committee will signal the change at mark 3 (before any boat begins the leg).  They will hoist Code Flag “Charlie” with repetitive sounds and a red rectangle.

NOTE: The new mark need not be in the water yet.  The signal tells you that a change is being made.  By the rules, the mark doesn’t need to be there until boats are there to round it.  Ideally, the race committee gets it into position well before any boat is approaching, but the rules give them a lot of leeway in making the change.  Remember – the purpose is to “save” the race and keep it competitive.

rrs32_change1

You would now sail to the “new” mark – ideally it is of a different color and/or shape (this would be described in the SIs), although that is not always the case.

Notice that, to maintain the same course angles, the race committee should also move Mark 3 and change the angle of the finish line.  Sometimes with short course racing, this isn’t always practical if the fleet is spread out, but, ideally, that would be the proper thing to do.

rrs32_change2

Notice, however, that this subsequent “change” is not signaled…

“…

c. Subsequent legs may be changed without further signalling to maintain the course shape.”

Once the first change is signaled, subsequent changes do not have to be signaled.  In other words, you should assume that subsequent legs are likely to be changed.  The race committee is free to do so without tying up valuable resources signaling at each mark. 

If a separate “change mark” is being used for the primary change, it is entirely possible that subsequent “changes” will not utilize these change marks.  More than likely, the existing marks will be relocated to their adjusted positions if possible.  “Change Marks” are not addressed specifically in the rules and there is not one standard practice used in this situation.

How much of a shift will initiate a change?

It depends…

Ok, not the best answer, but an accurate one.  In some venues, the wind blows steady and at pretty much the same velocity and direction at the same time every day.  Buckeye Lake is NOT one of those venues!  In those places, particularly for “high level” events, a change of 10-15 degrees might be enough for the race committee to change the angle of the next leg.  In places that are known for more shifty winds (like most of our region), that threshold is typically higher.  

Knowing when to make a change is, very often, more of an art than it is a science.  A good Race Officer knows the venue and has a good “feel” for local conditions (or, if visiting, has someone on board the RC boat who does.)  One thing that seems to be a truism in race management is that any change will be greeted with both support and criticism.  That’s the nature of things and perfectly understandable.  Just as with most things rules-related though, I always remember George Fisher’s admonishment regarding the rules… “Don’t let one incident ruin your whole race.”  The race committee may signal a change you think was unnecessary (maybe you were on the “lifted” side of the course and had gained an advantage.)  Trust that they made the change for good reason, sail the course and keep sailing your race.  Once signaled, right or wrong, that is the course you have to sail according to the rules.

Is it ever required for the race committee to change course?

Typically no…

Generall speaking, the rules of Part 3 are permissive rather than proscriptive.  That is they allow the race committee options but, generally, they seldom require them to exercise those options.  In the case of this rule, the decision is that of the race committee – “…may change a leg of the course…”  The procedures to do so, however, are proscriptive – “… the signal shall be…”

Sometimes Sailing Instructions or Class Rules might give specific directions on changing course.  Although, in my experience, I’ve found that, more often than not, they restrict the ability to change and proscribe abandonment instead. (rather than direct the RC when to make a change)

Next Week - Part 3 "Grab Bag"

... Rules 27, 31, 34, & 35

RRS – Part III; Post #7 – Rule 32 (con’t)

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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

Rule 32 - Shortening or Abandoning After the Start

Last week, we discussed the “abandoning” part of this rule.  This week, we’ll look at how the Race Committee can shorten the course under this rule.  If you didn’t read last week’s post, you can click here to do so.

Let’s look at the text of the rule…

NOTE – Rule 32 only applies after the start.  Rule 27.3 allows the race committee to abandon before the start for any reason.

 32.1

“After the starting signal, the race committee may shorten the course (display flag S with two sounds) or abandon the race (display flag N, N over H, or N over A, with three sounds)

  1. because of foul weather,
  2. because of insufficient wind making it unlikely that any boat will finish within the race time limit,
  3. because a mark is missing or out of position, or
  4. for any other reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of the competition,

In addition, the race committee may shorten the course so that other scheduled races can be sailed, or abandon the race because of an error in the starting procedure. However, after one boat has started, sailed the course and finished within the race time limit, if any, the race committee shall not abandon the race without considering the consequences for all boats in the race or series.”

 32.2

“If the race committee signals a shortened course (displays flag S with two sounds), the finishing line shall be,

  1. at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S;
  2. a line the course requires boats to cross; or
  3. at a gate, between the gate marks.”

The reasons that the RC can shorten the course are, essentially the same as those for which they can abandon.  There are some key differences, however.  Additionally, Rule 32.2 provides specific guidance on how the course is shortened.

I won’t delve into the enumerated reasons for shortening under 32.1 as those were discussed in detail last week.  However, Rule 32.1 also provides the following:

“In addition, the race committee may shorten the course so that other scheduled races can be sailed…”

The reasons for this additional directive may not seem readily apparent.  But, simply put, there are often reasons to get more races in:

  • Most often, becuase the SIs require a minimum number of races – greater than 1 – to count as a series.
  • Sometimes, in a very competitive event, when scores are “tight,” it may be advisable to have more races rather than less, to give all competitors the greatest chance of finishing well over all.  (i.e., keep the competition on the water, not in the hands of the race or protest committees)
  • Generally, its felt that “saving the race” is a better option that abandoning.  It’s no fun spending a lot of time fighting for a good finish to have the race committee “throw the race away.”

That said, race officers are advised in their training to carefully consider all factors when making the decision to shorten.  Generally, course selection involves a number of good, well though out factors and changing that configuration “on the fly” by eliminating one or more legs may be counter to those reasons.  But, the rule does provide race committees with that flexibility nonetheless.

What does it mean to “Shorten the Course?”

This is actually a point of confusion for many competitors and race committees alike.  Intuitively, “shortening” implies keeping the course the same – same configuration, same number of legs & rounding marks, etc. – but making the distance less.  That is not the case here.

Shortening the course is the elimination of legs of the course.  What is described above is covered in RRS 33 – Changing the Next Leg of the Course (emphasis added).

Let’s look again at one of our “typical” courses at BLYC…

COURSES-2022-1

Under normal circumstances, sailing this course would entail the following (in order):

  • Starting
  • Rounding Mark 1
  • Rounding Mark 2
  • Rounding Mark 1 again
  • Finishing

But… what if the wind starts dying off (and quickly) as most boats are rounding Mark 2 to start their 2nd windward leg.  Looking at the reasons under which the RC is permitted to shorten…

  • Is it likely that the first boat will finish within the time limit?
  • If it is, is it still a fair race?
  • Is this race valuable to series (i.e., “so that other scheduled races can be sailed”)

It may, very well, be desirable to try and “save” this race by shortening the course at the next mark (Mark 1, 2nd time) by eliminating that last leg to the finish.

As a side note… one thing that has become increasingly common in recent years, is race committees utilizing this rule to “finish closer to home” at the end of a race.  That is, say in our Course C example above, the windward mark (Mark 1) is closer to where the boats are docked or hauled out.  Eliminating the final leg finishes them closer to home than having them sail the final leg would.  Certainly, it would be better if this was anticipated by the race committee and they chose a different course prior to the race instead, but that is not always feasible.  In doing this, however, what part of Rule 32.1 allows this?  I would contend that it could  be a reason “… directly affecting the safety or fairness…”  For example,

  • Dying breeze – s a result of dying breeze, boats will need to be towed in.  Towing a boat, even in light breeze and seas, is inherently  more dangerous than the boat being sailed (or motored) in under the control of its crew
  • Impending severe weather – while perhaps there is time to finish the boats by eliminating a leg, it is questionable whether or not there is time to finish and get the boats back to shore in time.
  • Lateness of hour – it may be desirable to shorten the race in order to allow all boats to finish before nightfall.  Depending on the boats competing, they may or may not have lights and other necessary safety equipment for night sailing.

How does the race committee shorten the course?

“… the race committee may shorten the course (display flag S with two sounds) …”

Code Flag "Sierra"

One interesting part of the rule is that there is no requirement as to when the flag and sound signal must be made.  It only needs to be made in enough time that the first boat approaching the new finish mark (in our example above, the “old” Mark 1), sees and hears the signal to finish.

This is another frequent point of confusion and misunderstanding for many racing sailors.  As we will see later with RRS 33 (Changing the Net Leg of the Course), those signals are made prior to boats sailing the leg.  That is not the case with Rule 32 – and, in fact, it is for a very good reason.

If the shortening signal (eliminating a leg) was required to be signaled earlier, it may be too soon or not soon enough – think of the reasons to shorten… foul weather, insufficient wind, safety & fairness, etc.  These are not things that can always be anticipated.  Doing so might result in the signal being made unnecessarily (conditions improve) or, worse yet, leaving the race committee with only one option – abandonment – in the case of severe weather & safety.

Often, when considering shortening, the race committee will get everything ready, just in case, and the PRO will make the call at the last minute and direct the mark boat to hoist the flag with two sounds as the first boat is nearing the mark.  How near?  Close enough to see and hear the signals, yet not too close for it to be effective.  Like many things with course management, it depends.

 32.2

“If the race committee signals a shortened course (displays flag S with two sounds), the finishing line shall be,

  1. at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S;
  2. a line the course requires boats to cross; or
  3. at a gate, between the gate marks.”

Rule 32.2 gives us the guidance on how, specifically this it to be executed.  Let’s look at these one by one…

“1. at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S;

This would be what we described in our Course C example above, the mark boat (or other boat signaling and taking the finishes) would set up such that competitors would finish between Flag S on their boat and the nearby mark.

As shown above, this would be the ideal way the mark boat would set up the new line.  It would be…
  • perpendicular to the course direction from the last mark
  • anchored in position
  • such that a boat rounding the mark as it “normally” would, it necessarily crosses the finish line without any need to sail the course differently than planned or intended
  • As this mark was to originally be left to port, they would still be leaving it to port while finishing properly
However, there is no requirement in the rule to meet the above conditions. Again this is an area where the rules give the race committee a great deal of flexibility.  Particularly if the course is being shortened for safety concerns, the race committee needs to be free to get things set up as quickly as possible.  That may or may not be set up in an “ideal” configuration. Note: It is perfectly acceptable and allowed under the rule for the mark boat to set up on the other side of the mark as shown below:

In the above situation, how would I finish properly?

You would finish according to Rule 32.2(1) – “…between the mark and a staff displaying flag S”

While, originally, you would have left Mark 1 to port – it is no longer Mark 1.  It is now a finish mark.

Recall the definition of Finish…

“A boat finishes when, after starting, any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side.”

It may be tempting, or even seem necessary, to leave the mark to port (as you originally would have) and round it in order to cross the new finish line.  Doing so, however, would be improper.  You would be scored as DNF as you didn’t cross the line from the course side.

Before we look at 32.2(2), lets look ahead at what would happen at a gate…

 

“3. at a gate, between the gate marks.”

Although for our typical Sunday races we seldom use gates, most of us are familiar with them.  Most commonly used  for downwind marks, a gate (instead of being a single mark) is composed o two marks, which you pass between, rounding either one.

In the race committee signals a shortened course at the gate, rule 32.2 is easy to comply with – sail betwen them as you normally would.

32.2(3)

As shown above, this would be the ideal way the mark boat would set up the new line.  It would be…

  • perpendicular to the course direction from the last mark
  • anchored in position such that they can see both marks in order to judge the line properly
  • close enough to one of the marks that there is no confusion as to how to cross (i.e. there is no temptation to cross between the boat and the mark nearest to it)

Again, however, there is no requirement in the rule to meet the above conditions.

2. “a line the course requires the boats to cross”

Although the set-up and execution of 32.2(2) is easy enough to understand (it is, essentially, identical to 32.2(3)), this is often a very confusing part of the rule.  

Why would there be a line that boats are required to cross that isn’t already a gate?  In most sailboat racing, such a thing simply doesn’t exist.

I’m not sure that the situation I’m about to describe is what the writers were thinking when this was added, but we have a situation here at BLYC where we have taken advantage of this part of the rule – our Holiday Long Distance Races.

As you area aware our start/finish line for these races is usually in front of the race committee shack on the island and is comprised of two marks (rather than a mark and a flag on a boat).  In recent years, we’ve written the SIs for these races such that boats are required to pass through this line on all legs of the course.  Many think that this is so we can make the racing more interesting for the holiday spectators at the Club.  While that is an advantage for sure, it actually isn’t the primary reason that we did it.  Statistically speaking it doesn’t seem possible, but we almost always have light winds for the Holiday races.  By making boats cross the start/finish line on every leg, the race committee has the option to shorten the course at that line.  While those races are intended to be distance races.  That said, there comes a point that sailing for seemingly hours on end in light air is simply neither fun nor practical.

There’s a lot that we’ve unpacked from Rule 32 these past two weeks, but hopefully it’s a little more clear now as to how it works and some of its unique nuances.  

Next Week - Rule 33; Changing the Next Leg of the Course

RRS – Part III; Post #6 – Rule 32

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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

Rule 32 - Shortening or Abandoning After the Start

There is a lot of stuff in Rule 32.  While shortening a course (eliminating one or more legs) and abandoning are similar, and definitely done for similar reasons, in practice, the two are quite different in how they work on the race course.

Keep in mind, most of the rules in Part 3 are tools that the race committee can use to keep races fair, safe, and easy to manage.  Rule 32 is very valuable in that sense.

Let’s look at the text of the rule…

NOTE – Rule 32 only applies after the start.  Rule 27.3 allows the race committee to abandon before the start for any reason.

 32.1

“After the starting signal, the race committee may shorten the course (display flag S with two sounds) or abandon the race (display flag N, N over H, or N over A, with three sounds)

  1. because of foul weather,
  2. because of insufficient wind making it unlikely that any boat will finish within the race time limit,
  3. because a mark is missing or out of position, or
  4. for any other reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of the competition,

In addition, the race committee may shorten the course so that other scheduled races can be sailed, or abandon the race because of an error in the starting procedure. However, after one boat has started, sailed the course and finished within the race time limit, if any, the race committee shall not abandon the race without considering the consequences for all boats in the race or series.”

 32.2

“If the race committee signals a shortened course (displays flag S with two sounds), the finishing line shall be,

  1. at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S;
  2. a line the course requires boats to cross; or
  3. at a gate, between the gate marks.”
We’ll look only at the abandoning part of the rule this week and dive into shortening the course in the next post.

“… the race committee may…  abandon the race (display flag N, N over H, or N over A, with three sounds)”

Let’s start with how an abandonment is signaled. 

If we look at the “Race Signals” section of the Racing Rules of Sailing, we find that Flag N is used to signal that the race is abandoned.  

Code Flag "November"

The N Flag always goes up with three sound signals.

In fact, it is the only signal with three sounds.  As the name, abandonment, suggests, the race is over.  For whatever reason, the race committee has decided to end the race.

Although the sound signal is always the same, we have three options on the visual signal.

By itself, the N-Flag means the race is abandoned and the race committee intends to resail the race. – return to the starting area.

If N is displayed over the H-Flag, the race is abandoned and boats are to return to shore for further signals.

Code Flag "November"
Code Flag "Hotel"

If N is displayed over the A-Flag, the race is abandoned and there will be no more racing today.

Code Flag "November"
Code Flag "Alpha"

Rule 32.1 provides us reasons that the Race Committee is permitted to Abandon a race…

“… 1. because of foul weather, …”

This is primarily for safety considerations.  Foul weather might be an approaching storm, but it also could include high winds or sea state.  Either way, if conditions are not favorable, certainly if they are not safe, the race committee may abandon the race.  

There is frequently some debate on when, and under what conditions the race committee should or even must abandon a race.  Note that the rule is permissive, not prescriptive.  The racing rules provide no guidance or direction on conditions.  It is always the skipper’s responsibility to decide whether or not to sail.

Rule 3

“The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.”

That noted, there are limits to what is reasonable based on a number of factors – type of boats sailing, experience/age of the competitors, etc.  Some one-design classes have very specific upper wind limits and other restrictions in their class rules that provide guidance on this matter.  Other times, there is little or none.

“… 2.  because of insufficient wind making it unlikely that any boat will finish within the race time limit,…”

Often, but not always, a time limit written into the Sailing Instructions.  Usually, this is a time limit for the first boat to sail the course and finish.  When that is the case, absent other scoring provisions in the SIs, the race committee’s only choice at the expiration of that time limit is to abandon the race (RRS 35).

Here is when the shortening part of Rule 32 provides a convenient option, which we will discuss in next week’s post.

Note that the rules don’t prescribe that the time limit must expire before the race committee can abandon.  The use of the word unlikely gives them the leeway to do so earlier than the time limit if, in their judgment, they determine it to be the best option.

“… 3.  because a mark is missing or out of position, or…”

In all honestly, this is a horribly unfortunate reason to have to abandon a race.  The rules provide the race committee with options to replace a missing or out of position mark.  However, we all know that things don’t always go the way we plan.  There are times, that problems simply cannot be corrected.  Given the race committee permission to abandon in this situation, while unfortunate, gives the opportunity to regroup, reset, and try again.

“… 4.  for any other reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of the competition.”

There are those that might view this part of the rule as very nebulous and (unnecessarily?) generous to the race committee.  I’m not sure I would disagree.  However, the rules cannot possibly anticipate every situation that may arise.  Tying their hands, so to speak, by not allowing them to use their best judgment would likely make a bad situation worse overall rather than help correct it. So… what are examples of reasons that might “directly affect the safety or fairness?”
  • An error in the starting procedure
    • Normally, in this situation, if the race hadn’t started, a postponment would be in order.  If the race had started, a general recall would be best.
    • However, if it had been more than a few seconds since the start, an abandonment is likely the more appropriate option.
  • A significant windshift that favors some, but not all, of the fleet – particularly on the first windward leg.
    • It’s easy to dismiss windshifts as “just part of sailboat racing.”  However, doing so can also introduce chance as a significant factor, rather than skill
  • An obstruction in the course
    • This is certainly an area of  degree of how much it affects fairness or safety.
    • Does a disabled powerboat in the course affect the fairness of the competition?  Possibly.
    • Does a capsized boat affect the fairness?  Does it affect safety?
  • Traffic
    • In areas with active ports and shipping channels, traffic, particularly commercial traffic can introduce significant safety concerns.
    • While this type of traffic is typically scheduled and, therefore can be anticipated, things don’t always go according to schedule.
  • What else?  The list is probably endless.  What is important is that the race committee is considering these and other possibilities and are prepared to act appropriately.  Safety and Fairness are PRIMARY responsibilities of the RC.

What do I do if the RC signals an abandonment?

Obviously, stop racing and, depending on what exact abandonment signal was given (N, N over A, or N over H) either return to the starting area or to shore.  

Stopping racing is not, however, your only consideration.  Most race committees attempt to use all the tools at their disposal to “save a race” – shortening, changing the length of a leg, etc.  Abandonment is often used as a last resort, and as such, often due to safety concerns.  Watch the weather!  Look around the course!  If you have one, monitor your VHF radio!  Is there a safety concern to be aware of and possibly act on?

That brings up another rule, new in the 2021-2024 rulebook…

Rule 37 – Search & Rescue Instructions

“When the race committee displays flag V with one sound, all boats and official and support vessels shall, if possible, monitor the race committee communication channel for search and rescue instructions”

This is new in the most recent rulebook, but it reflects a renewed focus on safety both on the part of World Sailing and its member National Authorities (e.g., US Sailing).  Likely, it is more directed towards “big boat” sailing where VHF radios are standard, often required, equipment and they are more likely to be sailing in challenging conditions.  Still worth pointing out here as abandonments are often related to safety concerns.

We plan on holding a “Mini” Safety at Sea Seminar at the Club later this winter focused on safety and safety procedures.  It’s always good to think ahead about these things.

Finally… there’s this to consider…

“… However, after one boat has started, sailed the course and finished within the race time limit, if any, the race committee shall not abandon the race without considering the consequences for all boats in the race or series.”

Again, this seems very vague and nebulous.  It’s likely intended to be so as well.  The Racing Rules of Sailing give Race Committees a wide latitude in decision making – one simply cannot anticipate every possible situation that might occur on a race course.  It seems like the rule should read something like this… “after one boat has sailed the course and finished within the race time limit, if any, the race committee shall not abandon the race.”  On the surface, that seems to be more “fair.”  (I’m not 100% sure, but I believe in (much) older versions of the rules, it may have been that way.  The problem, however, is that it ties the race committee’s hands and forces any questions, etc. to go to the Protest Committee and a Redress Hearing – not always the most expeditious option – should the RC still choose to abandon a race after some boats have finished.

Consider the following examples:

Late in a race, after some boats have “started, sailed the course, and finished within the time limit,”  a strong storm blows in over the racing area.  Perhaps it was an unexpected pop-up, or it was anticipated, but arrived early.  It doesn’t really matter.  The RC determines that it is unsafe to continue racing for those still on the course and abandons.

I would think most of us agree that this would be a proper action of the RC, even if it is unfortunate for those who have already finished.

After a race in which there was a significant, permanent wind shift (60°+), the Race Committee “second guesses” their decision to let the race continue.  They decided that that fact, along with their inaction to preserve the race by changing a leg, or shortening the course, made the race inherently unfair and abandons the race after the fact.

The RC is perfectly within their authority in doing so.  The rule only requires them to consider the consequences… it doesn’t proscribe any specific action that they may or may not take based on that consideration. 

That said, the better course of action for the Race Committee may have been to “wait and see.”  If the competitors have an issue with the fairness of the race, they are permitted under Rule 62.1 to request redress based on an “improper action or omission” by the race committee.  If the competitors don’t request redress, but the PRO still feels strongly about the race turning out to be unfair, he or she is permitted under Rule 60.2 to request redress on behalf of the competitors.

While it may seem like a “cop-out” to say “let the Protest Committee make the decision and take the heat,” it also may be the more prudent choice.  RC’s aren’t always perfect, and good RC’s know that and are willing to admit (or at least consider other viewpoints) when they have perhaps made a mistake.

These are just two examples (purposely a bit obvious as to the proper action.)  There are a lot of “gray areas” in making the decision to abandon after the finish.  The US Sailing Race Management Handbook offers the following advice to race committees:

“Because of the significance of a race committee’s decision to abandon a race in which one (or more) competitor has finished, the only justifiable reason for taking such action is safety considerations.”

As there are exceptions to any rule, there are certainly exceptions to this advice as well.  But, safety is quite obviously a good reason to abandon a race after some boats have finished.  Abandoning after all boats have finished likely should be a function of the Protest Committee such that the determination of “fairness” and “consequences” is not left to just one person (the PRO), but rather several people who have the knowledge, expertise, and judgment to make a well-informed (even if unpopular) decision.

Next Week - The rest of Rule 32; Shortening Course after the Start...

Sportsmanship in Sailing

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happy thanksgiving

to all our Buckeye Lake Sailing & Boating Friends

Today, we gather with friends and family to be thankful for all that we enjoy.  Included in that is likely our wonderful lake, our boating community, and the friends we make.

In that spirit, we share the following article from SailZing

Sportsmanship in Sailing: Ten Behaviors to Model

written by SailZing Editor
You haven’t won the race if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors.
– Paul Elvstrom

Sportsmanship in Sailing: Challenge and Opportunity

Sailing is a self-policing sport, which presents both a challenge and
an opportunity. The challenge? Sportsmanship becomes essential. If the
competitors don’t follow the rules, the game becomes frustrating for
everyone. The opportunity? We get a unique chance to build a key life
skill.

Growing Sportsmanship

You don’t become a “good sport” overnight. Pick out some key behaviors and try them out. Then add more. SailZing reviewed dozens of articles about sailing sportsmanship to come up with 10 of these behaviors .

1. Know the Rules

You have to know the rules, and sailing has lots of them. Learn the rules in stages, starting with the basics and getting more advanced as you gain experience. Check our post on Racing
Rules of Sailing: The Best Learning Resources. Watch for more posts about rules on SailZing.

2. Follow the Rules

When you sail competitively, you agree to follow the rules (see Rule 4 in the Racing Rules of Sailing). You also agree to the fundamental principle of sportsmanship, which is that when you break a rule, you must promptly take a penalty.

If you break a rule, don’t wait for another competitor to call you out. There are plenty of inspiring stories about sailors who took a penalty after breaking a rule that no one else noticed. These sailors gained much more in respect than any positions they lost in the race. 

Here are two examples:
Peter Barrett – 1964 Olympics
Sam Rogers – 2012 E Scow Blue Chip

3. Enforce the Rules

You don’t have to go out on the water looking for people who are breaking rules. But, when you see someone break a rule and not take their penalty, find a way to call it to their attention. If they fouled you, you may end up protesting that boat. If they fouled someone else, talk to them politely after the race.

4. Be Courteous

Thank the race committee, regatta organizers, your competitors, and any friends, family and coaches who helped get you to the starting line. This goes a long way to creating a positive racing atmosphere.

5. Be Fair

Don’t try to use the rules like a zombie, automatically yelling “no room” or “starboard” for every encounter. Give others the benefit of the doubt. Apply the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” 

Here’s a great story about fair sailing by an Opti sailor:
Smith Displays Sportsmanship and Killer Instinct – from the Royal Gazette

6. Be Honest

Honesty means recognizing the truth and dealing with it. If you messed up, admit it and learn from the mistake. Covering it up may work for the moment, but does nothing for your long-term growth (or your conscience).

7. Communicate

Instead of getting mad at a competitor, communicate. You have a better chance of breaking down barriers and learning something this way. You might also make a new friend. 

Here’s a great story about that:
Sportsmanship and Communication are Key – Reaching Ahead Blog

8. Move On

If you get fouled, don’t ruin your race by remaining angry. Protest if needed. Then concentrate on finding the next puff or shift.

9. Help and Encourage Others

Helping and encouraging others is a win-win: your competitors appreciate you, and you feel good about yourself.

  • Congratulate other sailors for good races
  • Be positive with your crew
  • Teach something you learned that might help someone else
  • Work together while launching and pulling out

10. Be Prepared

If your boat is in good shape and you have have all the equipment you need for racing, you’ll be less dependent on others. You’ll also be less frustrated about “unfair” situations (like a breakdown caused by poor maintenance). Less frustration means better sportsmanship!

Sportsmanship Articles

Here are some articles on how to become a better sport and build sportsmanship in your club.

Win With Style. Lose With Style – Sailing Scuttlebutt. More insights into individual sportsmanship.

Small Boat Sailing: Teaching Sportsmanship – U.S. Sailing. Ideas for instructors.

Click Here to visit SailZing for more resources

RRS – Part III; Post #5 – Rule 28

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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

Rule 28 - Sailing the Race

   28.1

“A boat shall start, sail the course, and then finish . While doing so, she may leave on either side a mark that does not begin, bound or end the leg she is sailing. After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely.”

   28.2

“A boat may correct any errors in sailing the course, provided she has not crossed the finishing line to finish.”

This seems simple enough, right?

Well, not exactly.  Before we dig into the text of the rule, in order to fully understand this rule (and the many nuances to it) we also need a good understanding of the definitions of start, finish, and sail the course.  The definition of rule provided in the Racing Rules of Sailing is pretty broad – “The rules in this book, including the Definitions, Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and the rules of relevant appendices, but not titles…”  (Yes – the definition of rule defines that the definitions are also rules.  Don’t spend too much brain power on that one – it just is what it is.)

Let’s start with those definitions and then break this rule down too…

Start

 A boat starts when, her hull having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull crosses the starting line from the pre-start side of the course side

This one, we discussed in detail in the post on Rule 29 – Recalls. 
If you need to review, CLICK HERE.

Finish

A boat finishes when, after starting, any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side. However, she has not finished if after crossing the finishing line she
  1. takes a penalty under rule 44.2,
  2. corrects an error in sailing the course made at the line, or;
  3. continues to sail the course.

As with seemingly everything else in the racing rules, there are a few interesting nuances here.  Numbers 2 & 3 under this definition particularly apply to how Rule 28 works.  Essentially, to finish, one crosses the finish line from the course side .  But this definition also allows for correcting errors in sailing the course… more on that as we look closer at the rule.

Sail the Course

A boat sails the course provided that a string representing her track from the time she begins to approach the starting line from its prestart side to start until she finishes, when drawn taut,
  1. passes each mark of the course for the race on the required side and in the correct order,
  2. touches each mark designated in the sailing instructions to be a rounding mark, and
  3. passes between the marks of a gate from the direction of the course from the previous mark.

This is commonly called the “string rule” and I’ll refer to it that way in our discussion of Rule 29.

We’ll Start at the Beginning and Break Down Rule 28.1

“A boat shall start, sail the course, and then finish…”

Makes sense, right?

The course will be published in the Sailing Instructions and should be clear as to course configuration, mark descriptions, and on which side marks are to be left.  The RRS requires this under J2.1:

(4) the course(s) to be sailed, or a list of marks from which the course will be selected and, if relevant, how courses will be signalled;
(5) descriptions of marks, including starting and finishing marks, stating the order in which marks are to be passed and the side on which each is to be left and identifying all rounding marks (see rule 28.2);

A typical course, that we use at BLYC may be illustrated like this…

COURSES-2022-1

Click Here for the Course Descriptions for the 2022 SOS series.

“…While doing so, she may leave on either side a mark that does not begin, bound or end the leg she is sailing…”

This part may be confusing…

Reworded and simplified, if there is a mark that isn’t part of the leg on which you’re sailing, ignore it.  

In our “Course C” illustrated above, we see this.  On the first windward leg (from the start to mark 1), Mark 2 does not “begin, bound, or end the leg”  you’re sailing on.  You can leave it on either side… For that matter, you can run it over (Please don’t run over our marks though.  They’re not indestructible and they’re expensive to replace.)

“…After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely.”

Simply put, you only need to “break the plane” of the finishing line in order to finish.  If we look back at the definition of finish, it tells us “A boat finishes when, after starting, any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side.“

But, why then, don’t you have to cross completely?  There are situations where doing so may not be desirable.  For example, the finish line may be very near to an obstruction – a headland, a commercial shipping channel, etc.  It may be that there is a strong current pushing you down-course.  You don’t want to risk drifting back into the mark and touching it after finishing.  It may be better to break the plane, drift back below the line and bear off.  I am aware of one situation in particular where racing on the Niagara River in Buffalo, the finish line is sometimes downstream.  Going any farther north than necessary is not advisable – there is a rather precipitous drop ahead!  (and a sailboat is not a barrel)

Sometimes, we make mistakes…. 28.2

“A boat may correct any errors in sailing the course, provided she has not crossed the finishing line to finish.”

One great thing about the Racing Rules of Sailing is that that it provides many opportunities to correct errors.

Let’s look at another one of our standard BLYC courses.

COURSES-2022-2

Let’s assume, for the sake of explanation, that you are racing on Course H, but you initially miss that signal from the Race Committee.  You assume that you’re racing on Course C (as above).  Instead of sailing from Mark 1 to Mark 2 as instructed, you “skip” Mark 2, sail directly to Mark 3 and round it.  You have broken RRS 28.1

rrs28-a

But, RRS 28.2 allows you to correct that error.  In order to do, let’s go back and look at the definition of Sail the Course – AKA the “String Rule.”

Sail the Course

A boat sails the course provided that a string representing her track from the time she begins to approach the starting line from its prestart side to start until she finishes, when drawn taut,
  1. passes each mark of the course for the race on the required side and in the correct order,
  2. touches each mark designated in the sailing instructions to be a rounding mark, and
  3. passes between the marks of a gate from the direction of the course from the previous mark.

Imagine that, as you sail the course, you are trailing a “string” behind you.  This string lies in the water and shows the track your boat has taken. 

You have omitted Mark 2 in our example and that string, when pulled taut would not “pass” Mark 2 “on the required side” (1) nor would it “touch” that mark (2). 

rrs28-c

But, you can correct that error!  Simply “unwind” the string.

But… think about how you need to do that.  You can’t simply sail over to Mark 2, leave it on the required side, and sail to Mark 3.  If you did that, you wouldn’t have rounded the marks in the correct order. 

rrs28-b

However, if you sail back around Mark 3 – in the opposite direction – you can “unwind” the string and then sail to Mark 2, round it properly, and continue to race – rounding Mark 3 again, of course.

rrs28-d

If you now pull that “string” taut, you’ve rounded the marks, in the correct order, leaving them on the required side, and have met the requirements of Rule 28 and the definition of Sail the Course.

You sailed a lot of extra distance, but you have properly corrected the error.

This is just but one example…

There are all kinds of “what-ifs” that we could discuss, but we’d likely get very far off “in the weeds.”  Simply put – if you miss a mark of the course, THINK about how you have to “unwind” the string to comply with 28.2.  There are a number of World Sailing Cases that deal with Rule 28.  I’ll include those at the end of this post for those who may be interested in digging deeper.

But… then there’s this somewhat confusing exception in the definition of Finish to consider too…

“… However, she has not finished if after crossing the finishing line she

  1. takes a penalty under rule 44.2,

  2. corrects an error in sailing the course made at the line, or;

  3. continues to sail the course.”

This has a definite (and significant) impact on Rule 28.  That said, for the sake of brevity, I think it may better be a discussion for a later post.

Next Week - Rule 32; Shortening or Abandoning After the Start

World Sailing Cases that apply to RRS 28….

RRS – Part III; Post #4 – Rules 30.3 & 30.4

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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

Rule 30 - Starting Penalties

Click Here for my intro discussion on starting penalties in the first post on Rule 30.

As we saw in Rules 30.1 & 30.2, the penalties in Rule 30 get progressively more restrictive as we move through the rule.  Reminder, sailing is somewhat unique in that if you start early, you usually have an opportunity to correct your error.  But, when we get deeper into the rule, that is no longer the case…

We’ll start with the U-Flag Rule, 30.3…

30.3 - U Flag Rule

“If flag U has been displayed, no part of a boat’s hull shall be in the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the last minute before her starting signal. If a boat breaks this rule and is identified, she shall be disqualified without a hearing, but not if the race is restarted or resailed. “

Code Flag "Uniform"

Remember: Just as with the previous rules we’ve discussed, this rule changed slightly in 2021.  It used to refer to any part of the boat’s hull, crew, or equipment.  In order to clarify both the start and the finish, these definitions were changed to just the hull as it is easier to define and less potentially subjective.

Just as with Rule 30.1 and Rule 30.2, both of these rules apply to the last minute of the starting sequence.  It’s primary function is also to help the RC to control aggressive starts.  To invoke this rule, the RC will display Flag U in place of Flag P in the standard starting sequence (RRS 26)

This rule apply to the “triangle” that we discussed in the post on Rule 30.2…

RRS30.3-30.4

This rule apply to the “triangle” that we discussed in the post on Rule 30.2. Just as with the Z-Flag Rule, the RC is obligated to penalize any boats in the triangle in the last minute before the start.  The big difference now is that instead of a 20% penalty, a boat violating this rule is disqualifed and will be scored as “UFD” (U-Flag Disqualification).  Typically, this would be number of boats entered plus 1.  

30.3 is rarely used for several reasons.  First, it is a fairly extreme penalty.  Typically, race committees start with 30.1 & maybe 30.2 before “escalating” to 30.3 & 30.4.  Secondly, it’s relatively new in the rules, first appearing in 2017, and many racing sailors (and some race officers) aren’t familiar with it and its use.  It was “tested” for several years prior to its official adoption, but mainly for high-level events. However, it is starting to become more common. With fleets that are known to be aggressive on the start line, it is becoming increasingly more frequent to attempt a start under the P-Flag and then immediately escalate to the U-Flag after the first general recall.  This may seem extreme, but it is also inherently unfair to the boats that start properly to have a seemingly never ending series of “practice starts” and general recalls – sailors come to race!

Then… there’s the Black Flag…

30.4 - Black Flag Rule

“If a black flag has been displayed, no part of a boat’s hull shall be in the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the last minute before her starting signal. If a boat breaks this rule and is identified, she shall be disqualified without a hearing, even if the race is restarted or resailed, but not if it is postponed or abandoned before the starting signal. If a general recall is signaled or the race is abandoned after the starting signal, the race committee shall display her sail number before the next warning signal for that race, and if the race is restarted or resailed she shall not sail in it. If she does so, her disqualification shall not be excluded in calculating her series score. “

Black Flag

So… What’s the difference?

With the U-Flag, if the “race is restarted or resailed” the penalty goes away.  In other words, if there is a general recall or abandonment, no worries… No Harm, No Foul.

With the Black Flag Rule, this is definitely not the case…

“… she shall be disqualified without a hearing, even if the race is restarted or resailed…”

If the race committee elects to start under the black flag and there is a general recall or abandonment after the start, the penalty “sticks” (just as the 20% penalty in Rule 30.2 carries forward).  This requires a great deal of attentiveness and good record keeping on the part of the race committee, but it also makes the rule very effective… start properly, or you will be penalized.

Obviously, in a general recall, the race committee will not have been able to identify all boats that broke the rule.  But, if they identified any of them, they are required under the rule to penalize them.  (See WS Case #111)

“If a general recall is signaled or the race is abandoned after the starting signal, the race committee shall display her sail number before the next warning signal for that race…”

This sentence puts an additional requirement on the race committee.  Since the disqualification doesn’t go away if the race is called back, those boats that violated 30.4 in the first start are not eligible to start again.  But, they may or may not know they were guilty of breaking the rule.  Particularly in a general recall situation, its nearly impossible for boats to know where they were on the line.  The RC must notify them, so that they don’t start again.

“… and if the race is restarted or resailed she shall not sail in it. If she does so, her disqualification shall not be excluded in calculating her series score. “

So what if the “guilty” boat thinks the race committee got it wrong?

She can certainly request redress later.  However, what she cannot do is restart the race.  If the race committee has made all of the proper signals and notifications, she has knowingly violated this part of the rule.  If she starts anyway, her BFD (Black Flag Disqualification) becomes a DNE (Disqualification Not Excludable).  Her disqualification can no longer be discarded from her series score – It Sticks!… and it sticks hard. 

Essentially, by restarting the race as an ineligible competitor, she will not be racing per the definition in the rules.  Therefore, she has no rights under Part 2 (“When Boats Meet”) over boats that are racing.  As such she is interfering with others.  At the very least, this is poor sportsmanship.

There are of course cases where boats have tried racing anyway because they believed that the race committee was wrong.  It never works out in their favor.  The proper action for them to have taken was to sit out the restart and file a request for redress after the day’s racing.  If they were found to be right and the RC indeed made an error, it is likely that they would be given redress by the jury (most likely average points of their other finishes).  However, once they violated the penultimate sentence of the rule, they broke the rule – regardless of the start that led to it.  (See WS Case #96)

Why Such a Harsh Penalty?

Believe it or not, the Black Flag Rule preceded the U-Flag Rule in the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Exactly how and when it came about is a matter of conjecture.  From my research, it first appeared some time in the 1970’s or 1980’s.  There are several stories out there as to how it came to be, but generally, most accounts involve a major championship in a very competitive class that was unable to get any races off due to very aggressive starts and an endless series of general recalls.  The rule was intended to be very severe.

Now that the U-Flag Rule is one of the tools available to race committees, the “nuclear option” of the Black-Flag Rule isn’t always necessary.  Some refer to the U-Flag Rule as “Black Flag Light.”  Essentially it does the same thing, just without the severity of 30.4.

Why Even Use the Black Flag?

Certainly, with all of the nuances in the rule, opting to use the black flag shouldn’t be an easy decision for the RC to make.  There’s a lot to keep track of, properly record, post, etc.  It shouldn’t be taken lightly.  When I was first assembling my race officer “go bag” with all the equipment needed to travel and run races as PRO, I didn’t even purchase a black flag – I honestly couldn’t imagine a situation that I’d use it.  That changed the first time I was PRO at a major Opti Championship.  Fortunately, the host club had a black flag in their RC gear – we needed it.  That evening, I returned to my housing, got on the computer and ordered my own.  There are situations that its necessary.  And, when used, it must be done correctly.

For a long time, though, I still considered it to be the “nuclear option” – a course of last resort only.  However, there are differing viewpoints on this and the “other side” has some very good points.  Several years back I was sitting with Olympic Sailing Gold Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe at a regatta banquet.  It was a youth regatta and she was the keynote speaker.  Having known Anna since she was a junior sailor and, being the PRO for the event, she and I were discussing her upcoming talk and she asked my opinion of topics that she might include.  This led to a discussion of starting penalties.  When I mentioned the Black Flag, her response was, “I LOVE the Black Flag!”  Confused that a competitor would say that, I queried why.  She said something to the effect that it gets the “posers” out of her way.  Those sailors who know how to start well, start well.  Those that don’t hang back.  In other words, the rule works.

Still, however, neither U or Black are a preparatory signal that you’re likely to see at a club-level event, or even at most larger regattas in our area.  But it’s always good to know how they work… just in case.

A Final Note…

Remember Rule 29.1 – Individual Recall?
It included the following sentence at the end…

If rule 29.2, 30.3 or 30.4 applies this rule does not.”

In the case of rules 30.3 & 30.4, there is no point in signaling an individual recall.  Boats violating this rule are already disqualified from the race.  There is nothing that they can do to change that fact.  The purpose of the individual recall is to allow boats to start properly.  On a start under P-Flag, I-Flag, or Z-Flag this is allowed.  Under U-Flag and the Black Flag, the result (disqualification) is already determined.  Restarting would be pointless.

Why not signal anyway so that the offending boats can “get out the way” of the other boats still racing? 

Over the years, I’ve heard several answers to this question.  Honestly, I’m not sure that there’s a good one that most sailors would accept and appreciate.  The best answer that I have is that in a black flag start – particularly if there are boats that violate the rule – there’s already enough going on to ensure that everything was signaled properly, recorded and documented.  Adding another signal (Individual Recall) that is, now, essentially meaningless, only complicates things further for both the race committee and the competitors.

Next Week - Rule 28; Sailing the Race