Page 28 - Case Book 2017 - 2020 April 18

RYA 1997/2 RYA 1988/9
A sailing instruction that states how a change of course The rights of a boat that passes a mark on the wrong
will be signalled, but which does not refer to rule 27.1, side, without touching it, and is unwinding, are not
does not change that rule, and therefore does not diminished in any way, she is sailing the same leg of
empower the race committee to signal a course change the course as a boat rounding normally.
after the warning signal.
RYA 1989/8
RYA 2008/2 A race committee is not allowed to disqualify a boat
The simultaneous display of more than one valid course without a hearing, except under the U Flag and Black
for a class is an improper action of the race committee, Flag rules. A race committee is not allowed to score a
which may entitle boats to redress, with any doubt being boat DNF for failing to sail the course if she complies
resolved in favour of the competitor.
with the definitions Start and Finish. A protest is
needed.
Rule 28, Sailing the Course
RYA 1993/1
CASE 129 When a course set by the race committee is ambiguous,
When the course is shortened at a rounding mark, the so that all boats break, or appear to break, rule 28, they
mark becomes a finishing mark. Rule 32.2(a) permits are all entitled to redress.
the race committee to position the vessel displaying flag
S at either end of the finishing line. A boat must cross RYA 2001/1
the line in accordance with the definition Finish, even if A leg of a course does not end until the mark ending it
in so doing she leaves that mark on the side opposite the has been left on the required side. When a boat leaves a
side on which she would have been required to leave it mark on her wrong side, it is only at that mark that she
if the course had not been shortened. must unwind and round to correct her course. Her
course around any subsequent marks, between making
Rule 28.1, Sailing the Course her mistake and correcting it, is not relevant to the
‘string test’.
CASE 28
When one boat breaks a rule and, as a result, causes RYA 2001/6
another to touch a mark, the other boat is to be When a course is shortened, the finishing line is at the
exonerated. The fact that a starting mark has moved, for line or to the mark that is nearest to the finishing vessel.
whatever reason, does not relieve a boat of her If the shorten-course signal is made when boats still have
obligation to start. A race committee may abandon to round other marks before they would reach the new
under rule 32.1(c) only when the change in the mark’s finishing line, they shall sail so as to leave those marks
position has directly affected the safety or fairness of on the required side and in the correct order, unless the
the competition. sailing instructions make some other provision.
CASE 58 RYA 2002/4
If a buoy or other object specified in the sailing A boat is not to be penalized for not leaving a starting
instructions as a finishing-line limit mark is on the post- mark on the required side if the buoy laid as a starting
finish side of the finishing line, a boat may leave it on mark is not as described in the sailing instructions, if
either side. she has not been validly notified of this, and if she
believes some other buoy near the committee boat is the
RYA 1974/1 starting mark.
When a race committee intends boats to cross the line
used for starting or finishing in order to complete a RYA 2003/6
round of the course, the sailing instructions must say so. When a boat is on the course side at her starting signal
because another boat broke a rule, she is still required
RYA 1980/2 to return and start. Normally, she is not entitled to
A hook-round finish is contrary to the definition Finish, redress for the time lost in so doing.
and sailing instructions are not permitted to alter a
definition. When the course is shortened and a course RYA 2006/5
mark becomes a finishing line mark, its required side When the sailing instructions are ambiguous, so that it
may change. is not clear whether a mark has a required side, any
doubt is to be resolved in favour of a boat liable to
RYA 1986/6 penalization.
When a boat abandons her attempt to sail the course,
she may be deemed to have retired and, if she then RYA 2008/2
manoeuvres against, and interferes with, another boat A protest that a boat has not complied with rule 28.1
that is racing, she will be penalized and the helmsman does not have to be notified before the protested boat
may be liable to disciplinary action. has finished.

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