Page 65 - Race

Shorten Course Finish Line
The same rules apply to laying a shorten course finish line except that, in many instances, the
shorten course finish line uses a rounding mark as the pin end. To reduce confusion amongst
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competitors the finish boat should be placed at 90 to the previous mark (or the wind on a windward
leg) and on the side of the shorten course mark such that boats would cross the finish line as if they
were to continue racing and round the mark. When finishing through a gate the finishing boat then
has to be positioned outside the gate, so that the person sighting the finish can line up the gate
marks to form a finish line.

11.3 The Blue Flag

When displayed at the finish of a race, the Blue flag indicates to the competitors that the race
committee vessel recording the finish is ‘on station’ at the finish. It does not define the finish line.
This should be described separately in the SIs.

The Blue flag should be displayed, without a sound signal, when the first boat commences the last
leg to the finish line. This is particularly useful to the competitors when there are more than two laps
of a course being sailed. It helps them to keep track of how many rounds they have done.

Remove the Blue flag without a sound either at the expiration of the time limit, or 1 minute after the
last boat finishes, whichever is the sooner.

11.4 The Finish of the Race

The definitions of finishing and racing
should be clearly understood by the RO
sighting the finish line. Once any part of a
boat, its hull, crew or equipment in its
normal position breaks the plane of the
finish line from the course side, that is its
finishing time or position. The whole boat
does not have to cross the line. However, a boat has not finished if after crossing the finish line it
corrects an error under RRS 28.2 (the string rule) made at the line or continues to sail the course
(as it would in lap racing when the start/finish line is crossed at the end of each lap).

If a boat still racing hits a finish mark
it must then complete the penalty
turn and sail completely onto the
course side of the line before
crossing the line for a second time -
it is then that it has finished
correctly. The same applies to a
boat that infringes a rule of Part 2
whilst still racing.

A boat stops racing when it has
finished and cleared the finish line
and its marks. It can clear the line
by sailing forward until its transom
is clear of the line or by falling back
onto the course side of the line.
Immediately its bow drops below the line it is clear of the line. However it is still subject to the RRS
because it must keep clear of boats that are racing.

Version March 2018 63