Starting - Warning when boats are OCS pre-start

Originally posted by jeffers

   To clarify, this was a response to the OP and other comments made:

Originally posted by jeffers

If it is expected and 'normal' practice for an RO to give a warning and then a competitor gets an OCS or BFD and this warning was not issued they could claim they were not over as no warning was shown (no matter how tenuous). If you ignore the issuing of a warning this is what happened at the Merlin Rocket nationals this year, a boat was judges OCS on a black flag start. They successfully won following a protest and were given an average points redress. This, in hindsight, is seen by many as an error (especially at their actual finishing place was apparently noted by the RO) as they were then sailed down the fleet in the final race of the series and a oat who had not beaten them all week subsequently won the championship. 

In my opinion it is better that the RO to let the boats sort themselves out and display the required signals (X, General recall, Black Flag, I flag, etc..). Then always record a boats time or where they would have finished just in case of any subsequent protest hearing so an accurate redress can be given.

To break it down:

1) Should an RO give warning if boats are over the line prior to the start? - No unless you are doing a training exercise

2) If such a signal is 'normal' practice (and the RO is not obligated to tell a boat they are OCS) and then is not shown for whatever reason can an RO score a boat OCS? Yes they could but they leave themselves open to protests/redress claims from compeititors who will claim they were not OCS as such a warning was not shown.