Racing Signals

On Station Not a Racing Signal Defined in Sailing Instructions Normally indicates the end of the Start / Finish line on the Committee Boat No sound signal No designated time unless using App. L 5.4

The RRS 26 starting system Note that Rule 25 prohibits changing the meanings of visual and sound signals in Race Signals SignalFlag & SoundMinutes before Start WarningClass flag up 1 sound 5 PreparatoryUsually P 1 sound 4 One MinutePrep. flag down 1 long sound 1 StartingClass flag down 1 sound 0

Warning Signal Class flag displayed 5 minutes before start One sound signal

Preparatory Signals Race Officer has discretion Five options available: –P flag –I flag –Z flag –Z flag with I flag –Black flag

Preparatory Signal Option 1 Flag P –Code flag P displayed –4 minutes prior to start –one sound signal –allows “dip” starts –no real penalty

Preparatory Signal Option 2 Round-an-End Rule (Rule 30.1) –I Flag –if on course side of starting line or its extensions during the last minute the boat shall sail to the pre-start side around either end before starting

Preparatory Signal Option 3 20% Penalty (Rule 30.2) –Z flag displayed with, or as, a boat’s preparatory signal –no part of hull, crew of equipment is allowed to enter a triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the minute before the starting signal

20% Penalty (Rule 30.2) –20% scoring penalty, rule 44.3 –Number of places specified in Sailing Instructions or the number closest to 20% of the number of boats entered –Penalty remains if restarted, resailed or rescheduled but not if postponed or abandoned before the starting signal Current ISAF policy recommends do not use.

Preparatory Signal – Option 4 20% penalty applies Round the end rule applies as well

Preparatory Signal Option 5 Black Flag (Rule 30.3) –no part of hull, crew or equipment is allowed to enter the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the minute before the starting signal

Black Flag (Rule 30.3) –if a boat breaks this rule and is identified, she shall be disqualified without a hearing, even if the race is restarted, resailed or rescheduled, but not if it is postponed or abandoned before the starting signal

Black Flag (Rule 30.3) –If a General Recall, or abandoned after the start, the sail number shall be displayed 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 score –Recorded as DNE, appendix A11 –No requirement to advise

Postponement Answering Pennant (AP) –Postponement of race(s) not yet started –Two sound signals for display –One sound for removal –Warning signal one minute after removal

Other actions before start No later than the Warning Signal (Rule 27.1) –designate the course –replace one course signal with another –signal personal buoyancy is required (Y and 1 sound)

Other actions before start Before the Starting Signal (Rule 27.3) –postpone for any reason (AP, AP over H, AP over A and 2 sounds). –abandon the race (N over H, N over A and 3 sounds)

Starting System RRS26

Starting: visual signals (Rule 26) * or as stated in the sailing instructions

Sound Signals (Rule 26) “Absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded” Starting signals are indicated by flags Sound signal required for recalls

Forms of Racing Individual fleet (eg Championship) Multiple fleets (eg Club Racing) Multiple races (eg Special Events)

Single Fleet No Penalty

On station

Warning (5 mins)

Preparatory (4 mins)

1 minute

Start

Single Fleet Round-an-End Rule 30.1

Round-an-end: Warning (5 mins)

Round-an-End: Preparatory (4 mins)

Round-an-End: 1 minute

Round-an-End: Start

Single Fleet Black Flag Rule 30.3

Black Flag: Warning (5 mins)

Black Flag: Preparatory (4 mins)

Black Flag: 1 minute

Black Flag: Start

Multiple Fleet Starts

On station

1 st class: Warning (5 mins)

1 st class: Preparatory (4 mins)

1 st class: 1 minute

1 st class Start, 2 nd class Warning (5 mins) MJ

2 nd class: Preparatory (4 mins) MJ

2 nd class: 1 minute MJ

2 nd class: Start

Multiple fleets It is possible for the race officer to simply hold the second fleet until satisfied that the first fleet has sailed sufficient distance not to be overtaken or be interfered with by the second fleet. This is a real advantage.

Postponement between races Draft Sailing Instructions (5.4) states “After a long postponement, to alert boats that a race or sequence of races will begin soon, an orange flag will be displayed with one sound for at least four minutes before a warning signal is displayed”

Starting: Recalls

On the Course Side at the Start (Rule 29.1) –When at a boat’s starting signal any part of her hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line, she shall sail completely to the pre-start side of the line before starting

Individual Recall (Rule 29.2) –X flag dispayed with one sound –X flag displayed until all boats are completely on the pre-start side of the starting line or its extensions and have complied with rule 30.1 if it applies –displayed not later than 4 minutes after the starting signal or one minute before any later starting signal, whichever is earlier –Removed without a sound signal Starting: Recalls

Warning (5 mins)

Preparatory (4 mins)

1 minute

Start

Individual Recall

General Recall (Rule 29.3) –When at the starting signal the race committee is unable to identify boats that are on the course side of the starting line or to which rule 30 applies, or there has been an error in the starting procedure, the race committee may signal a general recall (First Substitute with 2 sounds) Starting: Recalls

General Recall (Rule 29.3) –A General Recall may be signalled if there are boats that the race committee “is unable to identify” –It could be appropriate to have a General Recall for one unidentified boat –Not favoured by ISAF

After a General Recall –The warning signal for a new start for the recalled class shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is removed (1 sound) and the starts for any succeeding classes shall follow the new start –No change but may be an issue for multiple fleets. Often amended to send the restarting fleet to the back. Restarting

After a General Recall –New Warning Signal –One minute after First Substitute is removed –No prescribed time delay

General Recall

Warning (5 mins)

Preparatory (4 mins)

1 minute

Start

General Recall

General Recall down

Warning (1 minute later)

Preparatory (4 mins)

1 minute

Start

The starting line - length The formula is: –Number of boats x length of the boat plus 10% to 50% Other factors are: –size and manoeuvrability of boats –sea conditions –wind strength –current

The starting line - bias Bias used to be applied to give the Port end starter a slight advantage –The longer the line the less bias required –The shorter the line the more bias required It is better to start with a line at 90 0 to the wind and then fine tune it later Good Bad Wind

Other Race Signals

Abandoning a race Flag ‘N’ with 3 sound signals –This signal can only be used after the start There are two other Abandon signals. Each require 3 sound signals –Both can be used at any time –‘N over H’ –‘N over A’

Changing the next leg of the course Change of bearing of the next mark Flag ‘C’ with a repetitive sound signal –This must be displayed with either A new bearing for the next mark Or A red rectangle when the new position is to port of the original Or A green triangle when the new position is to starboard of the original 195

Changing the next leg of the course Flag ‘C’ with a repetitive sound signal –This must be displayed with either A plus sign if the leg is to be significantly increased in length Or A minus sign if the leg is to be significantly reduced in length

+ Track to next mark Signal boat Track of boats approaching the mark Mark change signal boat position

Mark missing Flag ‘M’ with repetitive sound signal The object displaying this signal replaces a missing mark –The object may be a boat or another buoy Before taking the above action, try to replace the mark or use a substitute of similar appearance

Shorten course Flag ‘S’ – two sound signals –May shorten at any mark or line –Some events do not allow shorten course

Shortening Course (Rule 32) Can now be shortened after the start to enable further scheduled races to be sailed, rule 32.2

Laying a Finish Line On an upwind finishing line the line must be set at –90 0 to the wind direction On all other legs of the course the finishing lie must be set at –90 0 to the last leg of the course The finishing line should be 50 to 60 metres in length (ISAF recommendation)

The Blue flag The Blue flag indicates that the Race Committee boat is ‘on station’ at the Finish. It should be displayed, without a sound signal, when the leading boat commences the last leg to the Finish Line

The Finish of the race –A boat finishes when any part of her hull, crew or equipment crosses the finishing line from the direction of the last mark –A boat is racing until she finishes and clears the finishing line Both boats have finished but are still racing Both boats have finished and cleared the finishing line

Clearing the finish line and marks This boat has finished and cleared the finish line. He may go home This boat has finished and hit the finish mark BEFORE clearing the finish line. He must now take a penalty Once he has completed the penalty and crossed the finish line a second time, that is his recorded position.