Race rules advice pls

A boat is generally not required to leave the end of a finishing line to a particular side. It is specifically stated that once any part of the boat has crossed the line, a yacht is not required to fully cross the line after finishing. There is no way in plain English you can say a generic end of a finish line must be left on a particular side, unless the SIs require that. If the ends of a finish line were automatically 'marks' then the definition of 'mark' would not need to add the clause of a committee boat. If the end of a finsih line is a 'mark' then the definition of 'sailing the course would contradict the right to not fully cross the finish line. The rules are what the rules actually say, not any 'you know what they meant to say' /'spirit of the rules' mumbo jumbo.

Originally posted by Gfinch What happens if you hit the committee boat, which is one end of the line? This happened a few years back, when I was beating to the finish line, cross-tacking with the leading boat on the final leg. During my final tack, there was a gust which made me heel more than anticipated and my mast touched the committee boat, but almost at the same time I crossed the line and received a finish. I then did a 360 turn, and it was decided that instead of 2nd place I should be awarded 3rd, as in the time it took for me to do a 360, had I been racing still, the boat behind might have caught up.

Eric I can categorically guarantee you, you would have no issues on the course from me.

I would have no respect for racers who deliberately aim to use the rules to force a win, if you are that keen aim for the middle and win on skill, not a barristers grasp of the rules.

Originally posted by Brass Correct.   There is no ambiguity. Rule 18.1 says Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. followed by four exceptions, (a) to (d), which are irrelevant here. The Preamble to Section C then contains a further exception Section C rules do not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line from the time boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them. Rule 18 makes no distinction whether a mark is a 'turn' mark (whateverthat is), a rounding mark, a high mark, a low mark or any other sort of mark, as long as boats are required to leave it on the same side. So the only relevant exception is a starting mark surrounded by navigable water. A finishing mark is not a starting mark. An outside boat is required to give mark room in accordance with rule 18.