Racing Rules: Hitting the finish mark

Hitting the finish mark

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Forum Name: Racing Rules
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Topic: Hitting the finish mark

Posted By: charlie1019
Subject: Hitting the finish mark
Date Posted: 16 May 14 at 12:41pm

If you hit a finish mark, under the latest set of rules how do you take your penalty?

Rule 44.2 states:

After getting well clear of other boats as soon after the incident as possible, a boat takes a One-Turn or Two-Turns Penalty by promptly making the required number of turns in the same direction, each turn including one tack and one gybe. When a boat takes the penalty at or near the finishing line, she shall sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing.

Does this mean that you can re-round the mark and re-finish in the process - in which case the boat will have been fully on the couse side of the finish, or do you have to sail back through the finish line to the course side and then undertake a 360 on the course side of the start line before re-finishing?

Are there any case studies covering this? I couldn't see any.

Replies:

Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 16 May 14 at 12:47pm

I believe you are deemed to have not finished and so need to take your penalty and then re-finish (unless you are exonorated because of another boats actions (subject to protest).

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Paul
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D-Zero GBR 74

Posted By: charlie1019
Date Posted: 16 May 14 at 12:52pm

Originally posted by jeffers

I believe you are deemed to have not finished and so need to take your penalty and then re-finish (unless you are exonorated because of another boats actions (subject to protest).

Yes I accept that you haven't truly finished until you have cleared the finish line so need to take a 360 and re-finish if you hit one of the finish marks, even if it is after the finish gun.

But, does that mean you can loop round the finish mark to re-finish (effectively taking your 360 and passing to the course side) or do you have to sail course side, take a 360, and then re-finish?

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 16 May 14 at 1:15pm

I don't see anything in the rules that says that manoveres to turn back shouldn't be part of the penalty, but you do need to ensure that a tack and a gybe are both completed. Gybing round and recrossing on the opposite tack isn't good enough. Reckon case 108 is relevant.

Posted By: Brass
Date Posted: 16 May 14 at 1:56pm

CASE 108

When taking a penalty after touching a mark, a boat need not complete a full 360° turn, and she may take her penalty while simultaneously rounding the mark. Her turn to round the mark will serve as her penalty if it includes a tack and a gybe, if it is carried out promptly after she is no longer touching the mark and is well clear of other boats, and when no question of advantage arises.

Posted By: Brass
Date Posted: 16 May 14 at 3:10pm

Originally posted by JimC

I don't see anything in the rules that says that manoveres to turn back shouldn't be part of the penalty, but you do need to ensure that a tack and a gybe are both completed. Gybing round and recrossing on the opposite tack isn't good enough. Reckon case 108 is relevant.

Yup.

CASE 108

The Case 108 diagrams are worth a look.

Originally posted by charlie1019

Yes I accept that you haven't truly finished until you have cleared the finish line

Not right.

Having cleared the finishing line is about whether you are racing or not.

Racing A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks or retires, or until the race committee signals a general recall, postponement or abandonment.

You have finished, really, truly finished, when you have complied with the definition of finish

Finish A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line from the course side. However, she
has not finished if after crossing the finishing line she
(a) takes a penalty under rule 44.2,
(b) corrects an error under rule 28.2 made at the line, or
(c) continues to sail the course.

so need to take a 360 and re-finish if you hit one of the finish marks, even if it is after the finish gun.

Yes you do, but it's a One Turn Penalty: you don't have to go through 360 degrees.

But, does that mean you can loop round the finish mark to re-finish (effectively taking your 360 and passing to the course side) or do you have to sail course side, take a 360, and then re-finish?

Yes you can.

There's absolutely nothing in the rules about where you can take a turns penalty: it's all about when you can take it.

You can take a turns penalty wholly on the non-course side of a finishing line, then return and cross the finishing line from the course side to constitute your finish.

Posted By: charlie1019
Date Posted: 16 May 14 at 3:17pm

Thanks guys