Finish line

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by Matt Jackson I made sure I didn't get in anyones way and crossed the line the correct way both times so there was no infringement - just (not so) youthful exuberance! I think if I were the RC and you did that often enough, which would irritate me because its a nightmare keeping track of finishers anyway, then one day I might decide that you were recrossing the finish line the correct way because of an infringement I hadn't spotted, and give you teh later time/place to teach you a lesson...

Yeah, you do get some grumpy old RO's don't you . Actually I was so far in front that would have been fine also - I looked like I had a coathanger in my mouth  for hours after finishing.

Ah oops well then, hitting the finish mark is a bad idea - thanks gordon!

I reckon that once you have finished you are not a racing boat, so you have
to keep clear, and out of seamanship and sportsmanship you could be
penalized if you infringed someone else. As for hitting the ODM you could
hit it once the gun has gone because the gun signals that you have finished
the race!

Read rule 31.1 "While racing, a boat shall not touch (....) a finishing mark after finishing.

A boat is racing until she has finished and cleared the line. Until that moment if the boat hits the finishing mark rule 31.2 applies. The boat must take a one turn penalty then sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing.

Once a boat has cleared the line she may bounce of as many marks as she wants as long as she doesn't interfere with boats that are racing.

It is ultimately the protest committee's call to define what clearing the line actually means - probably not the same for an Optimist race on a duckpond and a TP52 race on the open sea.

Hope this is clear

Gordon

I am not sure if "clearing the line" is as simple and as clear cut as getting the transom clear of the line. Firstly this doesn't cover situations where the transom never crosses the line.

The rules gives no clear definition of "clearing the line" In the logic of the rules this tends to mean that the rule should be interpreted in light of the circumstances pertaining at the time - in the same way as in rule 18 where the notion of "about to round a mark" can vary widely.

I have not found an ISAF case that covers the situation but in a hearing I would tend to hold (as a member of the protest committee) that a boat has cleared the line only when she is sufficiently far from the line to be keeping clear of any boat that is still racing and approaching the finish line. Until this moment she is subject to all the rules of Part 2 and may be protested under these rules.

Thus, for instance a windward keep clear boat would still be racing, and under an obligation to keep clear (rule 11) at least until the leeward boat has finished.
 

Gordon