Page 30 - Race

Postponement and abandonment signals can be used ashore as per the Race Signals of the RRS.
It is also common practice to include in the SIs other 'Signals Made Ashore', as can be seen in
Appendix L Section 4.

In Race Signals it is stated that the warning signal will be made 1 minute after removal of AP. When
it is desirable to allow more time for boats to leave the harbour to reach the race area after a
postponement, the following alternative SIs from Appendix L are commonly used:

"When flag AP is displayed ashore, '1 minute' is replaced with 'not less than
_____ minutes' in the race signal AP. This changes AP in Race Signals". This 
then allows the timing between removal of AP and the warning signal to be
increased.

OR

 Flag D with a sound means ‘The warning signal will be made not less
than ______ minutes after flag D is displayed [Boats are requested not
 to leave the harbour until this signal is made].

It is also often desirable to ask competitors to wear personal buoyancy whilst
afloat rather than just when racing in which case a sailing instruction can be
issued: 

“When flag Y is displayed ashore, rule 40 applies at all times while afloat.

Afloat
Flags should be 3’ x 2’ if they are to comply with the World Sailing standard but it is reasonable for
committee vessels to display flags of 30” x 20”. Using flags any smaller than this introduces a risk
that the competitors will be unable to identify the flags displayed.

The majority of these signals are covered in the following sections according to their usage.
However, Flag L when displayed afloat has a different meaning to when displayed ashore:

 
Come within hail or ‘follow this vessel’.


This is a very useful signal used to lead the fleet to a better area for racing or to enable the race
officer to talk to the fleet. It is good practice to emphasise that a new course is to be used when
another has been used for the entire regatta beforehand (e.g., changing the course from a two-lap
race to three laps) when simply changing the course displayed, whilst within the rules, may not be
noticed by many.

7.2 Course Boards

Course boards and all other signals given as written information, such as lists of boats scored BFD
after a general recall under a black flag, must be visible to the competitors from a reasonable
distance away from the committee vessel. It is a good idea to ask a mark layer or judge to determine
from how far away the signal is still legible. Take a photograph of what has been written for use at
Redress Hearings.

Version March 2018 28