Start, sail the course, finish: each word has a definition. Here are the string test, the marks, the finish and flags S, N, C and M.
1 · Sailing the course
A string pulled taut past every mark
What does 'sail the course' mean under rule 28, and how does the string test work?
Under rule 28.1 you sail the course in the sailing instructions: a string along your track, pulled taut, must pass each mark on its required side and in order, and pass between gate marks from the previous mark.
Rule 28.1: sail the course in the sailing instructions, whatever the leader does. Picture a string along your track from your approach to the starting line until you finish. Pulled taut, it passes each mark on its required side and in order, touches each rounding mark, and passes between the marks of a gate from the direction of the previous mark; then you may round either gate mark.
A mark is an object the instructions tell you to leave on a stated side, or a committee vessel at the end of a starting or finishing line. Only marks that begin, bound or end your leg have a required side.
A boat that did not sail the course is scored NSC without a hearing. If the committee is wrong, request redress.
2 · Correcting an error
Unwind it before you finish
I left a mark on the wrong side: how do I correct it under rule 28.2?
Unwind it before you finish: sail back past the mark on the side you came, then round it on the required side. Circling the mark once or taking penalty turns does not correct it; no penalty is owed.
Rule 28.2 lets you correct any error in sailing the course until you finish. A mark left on the wrong side is unwound, so that the taut string lies on the required side. Circling the mark once does not do it; neither do penalty turns.
Sail back past the mark on the side you came.
Round it leaving it on the required side.
Carry on: no penalty is owed.
Pushed by another boat, swept by the current or capsized, you still unwind. Sailing back, you keep your ordinary rights. Even after crossing the finishing line you may go back, correct the error and cross again.
3 · Touching a mark
Rule 31 and the One-Turn Penalty
What is the penalty for touching a mark in a race, rule 31?
A One-Turn Penalty: get well clear, then make one tack and one gybe. A touch by hull, crew or equipment counts, but you owe nothing if another boat's foul forced you onto the mark.
While racing you must not touch a starting mark before starting, a mark that begins, bounds or ends your leg, or a finishing mark after finishing. Hull, crew or equipment all count. Anything intentionally attached to a mark is part of it; a committee boat's anchor line is not. Both gate marks bound the leg.
What happened
What you owe
You touch a mark, even by bad luck
One-Turn Penalty: get well clear, then one tack and one gybe
Another boat's foul forces you onto it
Nothing: you are exonerated
You foul a boat and touch the mark in one incident
Two turns cover both
A hearing later finds the touch
Disqualification
Rule 31 applies only while you are racing: from your preparatory signal until you have finished and cleared the line and marks, and not after a general recall.
4 · Finishing
Hull across the line from the course side
When exactly does a boat finish a sailing race?
You finish when any part of your hull crosses the finishing line from the course side, between its marks. A spinnaker ahead of the bow does not count, no horn is needed, and you need not cross completely.
You finish when any part of your hull crosses the finishing line from the course side, between its marks. A spinnaker ahead of the bow does not count, and no horn is needed. A committee boat flying a blue flag is in position at the finish. You need not cross completely.
You have not finished if, after crossing, you take a penalty, go back to correct an error or carry on sailing the course. A penalty near the line is taken with the hull wholly on the course side. Until you clear the line and marks you are still racing; after that, or once retired, you must not interfere with boats racing.
Rule 35
Result
A boat sails the course and finishes in time
The race counts, even if she is later disqualified
No boat does
The race is abandoned
You miss the instructions' finishing window
DNF without a hearing
5 · Shortening and abandoning
Flags S and N
What does flag S mean in a sailing race, and where is the finish then?
Flag S with two sounds means the course is shortened: finish between the rounding mark and the staff showing S, between the gate marks, or at a line the course makes you cross. It is shown before the first boat crosses.
After the start the committee may shorten the course or abandon the race for foul weather, too little wind to finish in time, a mark missing or out of position, or another reason affecting safety or fairness; it may also shorten to fit in later races. Once a boat has finished in time it must weigh the consequences for all boats before abandoning.
S must be shown before the first boat crosses the new line: between a rounding mark and the staff showing S, between the gate marks, or at a line the course makes you cross. Over a class flag a signal is for that class only. After N alone, return to the starting area. Redress needs an improper act of the committee: a late signal is one, a proper abandonment is not.
In a restart or resail earlier breaches are not penalised, except rules 2, 30.2, 30.4 and 69, and rule 14 with injury or serious damage. Only rule 30.4 keeps you out.
6 · Changed legs, missing marks
Flags C and M
What does flag C with a green triangle or a red rectangle mean?
Flag C with repeated sounds means the next leg is changed: a green triangle moves it to starboard, a red rectangle to port. It is shown before boats begin the leg, and binds you even if you missed it.
The committee may move the next mark: flag C with repeated sounds, shown before boats begin the leg; the new mark need not be laid yet. Later legs may then change without signals to keep the course's shape. A signal made in time binds you even if you missed it.
With flag C
Meaning
Green triangle
Leg changed to starboard
Red rectangle
Leg changed to port
A number: 215
New compass bearing of the leg
− or +
Leg shorter or longer
A mark missing or out of position is put back or replaced by a similar one, without a signal, or by an object showing flag M with repeated sounds, which is then the mark. If that is impossible, the race is abandoned. A mark in position may not be moved mid-leg.
Practice questions
Questions from this topic, as the app asks them. Open one to see the answer.
The sailing instructions give course Start – 1 – 2 – 3 – Finish, marks to port. On the leg from mark 1 to mark 2 you pass mark 4, a mark of another course, leaving it on your starboard side. Your crew is worried. Have you broken a rule?
Only if the leader left it to port; the first boat sets the required side for the fleet
No — a mark that does not begin, bound or end the leg you are sailing may be left on either side
Yes — every mark laid by the race committee for the regatta must be left to port
Yes — you must go back and leave mark 4 to port before continuing to mark 2
Show the answer
B. No — a mark that does not begin, bound or end the leg you are sailing may be left on either side
Rule 28.1: a boat may leave on either side a mark that does not begin, bound or end the leg she is sailing.
Windward–leeward course, all marks to port, a 29er national championship in 18 knots. In the crush at the windward mark you end up passing it on the wrong side, leaving it to starboard; five lengths down the run you realise. What must you do?
Sail back and unwind: return upwind past the mark on the side you came, round it leaving it to port, then carry on — you may correct the error until you finish
Retire — once you have left the zone a rounding on the wrong side can no longer be corrected
Carry on; the race committee only scores a boat NSC if she misses a mark altogether, not if she rounds it the wrong way
Take a Two-Turns Penalty as soon as you are clear of other boats and carry on down the run — a mark error is a Part 2 breach
Show the answer
A. Sail back and unwind: return upwind past the mark on the side you came, round it leaving it to port, then carry on — you may correct the error until you finish
Rule 28.2: a boat may correct any error in sailing the course until she finishes; penalty turns do not replace the unwinding.
Two minutes before the start of a Wednesday evening club race you are luffing head to wind by the committee boat and your boom swings against its hull. Nothing is damaged. What must you do?
Nothing — touching a mark before the starting signal is not a breach, because the race has not begun
Take a Two-Turns Penalty — contact with the committee boat is treated like a collision with another boat
Take a One-Turn Penalty — you are racing from the preparatory signal, and a starting mark must not be touched before you start
Return to the pre-start side round an end of the line and start again
Show the answer
C. Take a One-Turn Penalty — you are racing from the preparatory signal, and a starting mark must not be touched before you start
Rule 31: while racing, a boat shall not touch a starting mark before starting; racing begins at the preparatory signal; penalty under rule 44.2.
Two laps of a windward–leeward course; the finishing line lies between the committee boat and a pin halfway up the beat. On the first beat you sail straight across the finishing line on your way to the windward mark. Any consequence?
You must take a One-Turn Penalty for passing between finishing marks before completing the course
You must leave both finishing marks to port, since all marks of the course are to port
None — you are continuing to sail the course, so you have not finished, and the finishing marks have no required side on the first beat
You have finished and will be scored by that crossing unless you re-cross the line in the other direction
Show the answer
C. None — you are continuing to sail the course, so you have not finished, and the finishing marks have no required side on the first beat
Definition Finish (c): a boat that crosses the finishing line and continues to sail the course has not finished; rule 28.1 on marks of the leg.
The sailing instructions add a mark 1 time limit: "If no boat has passed mark 1 within 40 minutes the race will be abandoned." In a fading sea breeze the leader is still 100 m short of mark 1 at 41 minutes. What should you expect?
Nothing until the overall time limit expires; a mark time limit is only guidance for the race committee
Flag N with three sounds — the race committee abandons the race under the sailing instructions; a resail may follow
Flag C — the race committee moves mark 1 closer so the leader can reach it in time
Flag S with two sounds — the course is shortened to finish at mark 1
Show the answer
B. Flag N with three sounds — the race committee abandons the race under the sailing instructions; a resail may follow
Rule 32.1 and 35: the RC abandons when the time limits set by the rules or the SI are not met, signalling N with three sounds.
Committee RIB near mark 1: flag C, repeated sound signals, a green triangle
Approaching the windward mark on the first beat you see a committee RIB near the mark displaying flag C with repeated sound signals and a green triangle. What has changed?
The next mark has been moved to port; green marks the port side on the course board
The course has been shortened and the next mark is now the finish
The windward mark you are approaching has been moved and you must look for it to starboard
The position of the next mark has been changed — it has been moved to starboard of its original position
Show the answer
D. The position of the next mark has been changed — it has been moved to starboard of its original position
Rule 33(a): flag C with repeated sounds and a green triangle — the direction of the next leg is changed to starboard.
All 100 questions of this topic are in the app: practice by topic with the reason after every answer, your mistakes brought back, and a timed mock exam. Free, no sign-up, in the browser or in Telegram.
