Over the line

In last nights race a boat was over the line on the start gun so the crows nest gave the sound signal and the poor girls apparently put the wrong flag up (not known to me at this time).this boat carried on regardless so we gave a little shout just in case he didn't realise. still he carried on.

Was there a redress hearing? They shouldn't really be reinstated without one.

Case 79 says

Rule 29.1, Recalls: Individual Recall When a boat has no reason to know that she crossed the starting line early and the race committee fails to promptly signal ‘Individual recall’ and scores her OCS, this is an error that significantly worsens the boat’s score through no fault of her own, and therefore entitles her to redress.

I think the redress hearing would have to establish the exact circumstances, and in particular whether the boat had any reason to know they were over the line. If they were a mile over, right by one end of the line or another, then their case for redress would be pretty poor, depending on how wrong the flag was... But in general the case tends to be biased in favour of the competitor, which is probably a good thing.

It depends what came out in the evidence: if the boat was 4 inches across the line, and the flag displayed was the next class flag and there was some doubt about the audibility of the gun then I'd definitely give redress.

If the boat was clearly two boat lengths over, and the crew says that they heard the gun, and saw the flag, which was 1st sub (general recall) so realised the RC were trying to signal a recall but reckoned that as it was the wrong flag for an individual they didn't need to go back, well...

Hails are always tricky... last night RS400 845 was over the line and RS200 945 wasn't. Not easy to make that clear over a long line!

Originally posted by jeffers If the RO team realised they had raised the wrong flag then they should have finished the boat.

 under what rule? - they dont have authority to do that without a hearing

Originally posted by jeffers The sound signal means nothing, it is purely there to draw attention to a flag.

Are you sure that's the case? Are you thinking of rule 26 "the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded"? Surely that only applies to the start sequence flags doesn't it?

Originally posted by r2d2 RRS does not mention let alone require sound signals AFAICS

??

29.1 Individual Recall When at a boat’s starting signal any part of her hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line or she must comply with rule 30.1, the race committee shall promptly display flag X with one sound. The flag shall be displayed until all such boats are completely on the pre-start side of the starting line or one of its extensions and have complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, but no later than four minutes after the starting signal or one minute before any later starting signal, whichever is earlier. If rule 30.3 applies this rule does not. 29.2 General Recall 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 (display the First Substitute with two sounds). The warning signal for a new start for the recalled class shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is removed (one sound), and the starts for any succeeding classes shall follow the new start.

Edited by JimC - 14 Jun 12 at 3:27pm