Background
Boats were finishing tonight's race
from 24 to H. The committee boat's finish line was not perpendicular to
the last leg. It really could not have been since boats in the other
class were finishing from G. It was clear when looking from the committee
boat to 24 that H should be left to starboard by the finishing yachts. It
was also clear when looking at the finish line from 24. The current was
ebbing hard and boats were sliding south as they approached the finish.
Since they had slid so far to the right on their approach, they were not able
to tell which side of the line they needed to cross in order to finish.
Some boats finished from the wrong side and then called on the radio to dispute
that they should be allowed to finish from either side. The following
excerpts of the rules will attempt to show that there was only one side that
they should have finished from and they were wrong to try and finish from the
other side. This has been an issue in two previous races from past years
and I blogged about it both times.
Past
Blogs
This blog from 8/19/2009 used the old set of
rules to discuss a similar situation.
This blog from 6/1/2011 also covered a similar
situation and references the proper case.
My
Own Observations and Race Decisions
Having blogged about finish line issues
in the past, I began to be concerned as to which side to leave H on while we
were on the second to last leg (F to 24). As we approached 24, I
instructed the crew to keep a careful eye on H and the committee boat to see if
it was clear which side we would need to leave H to as we finished. I
talk mostly about H since it was much closer to the last mark than the
committee boat, so we knew that we would be finishing right next to H.
At 24, we took a sight to H and the
committee boat. With H being much closer and to the right of the
committee boat, we saw clearly that H would need to be left to starboard in
order for us to finish from the course side of the line. As we rounded 24,
we sighted H against the bridge in the distance to make sure we did not lose
gauge to it due to the current. In other words, I wanted to have the boat
head straight to H over the ground. To do this, I had to steer a course
10-20 degrees to the left of H since the current was pushing us right.
We were able to maintain a relatively
straight line over the ground and it was clear the entire time that H would be
left to starboard in order to finish properly. Before finishing, I gave
notice to the crew that if there was no horn, we would need to round H to port
and cross the line from the other direction. It seemed clear that we were
finishing properly, but I thought it best to be prepared for any possibility,
especially since we had a five minute advantage on the rest of the fleet.
As we passed H to starboard, I headed
downwind to cross the line immediately. The horn blew and we sailed on
away from the line. We had finished.
Observations
on the Next Boats
The next two boats behind us sailed a
different course. It appeared that they pointed their boats at H for much
of the leg. As such, they were continually swept to the right. As
they got closer to H, they came from an angle that eventually put them on the
wrong side of the finish line. Since they sailed so far from the rhumb
line, they could not tell which side to finish on. They crossed from the
wrong side.
Radio
Misinformation
At least one of the boats instructed
the race committee that they could finish from either side of the line.
This was wrong and should not have been broadcast. They were correct in
asking the race committee to take their time, but they should also record the
time of their own finish. The proper procedure is to request redress if
you believe the race committee made an error.
Rules
Involved
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.
The definition of finish mentions that
a boat must cross the finishing line from the course side. Looking from
24 to the finish, it was clear that the pin should be left to starboard.
This was also evident after the race by looking from the committee boat back to
24 and seeing the pin to the left of the line of sight. The difference
was not slight. It was at least 10 degrees from being parallel.
The boats may claim that the finishing
line was laid so nearly in line with the last leg that it cannot be determined
which is the correct way to cross it in order to finish. This
argument is illustrated in Case 82 of the rules.
Case 82
When a
finishing line is laid so nearly in line with the last leg that it cannot be
determined which is the correct way to cross it in order to finish according to
the definition, a boat may cross the line in either direction and her finish is
to be recorded accordingly.
This case would not apply
to the race. The case involved a committee boat that was swinging on anchor
causing the line to swing from one side to the other from the last leg.
The line during our race did not vary in the steady wind and current. It
was clear before, during, and after the race that the pin should be left to
starboard when finishing from 24.
The boats may claim that
from where they were it was not clear. That may be the case, but their
error in allowing the current to sweep them far from the rhumb line does not
mean the line was laid nearly in line with the last leg. There was a clear
way to cross the line and they crossed from the wrong direction.
Rule 28.2 explains that you
would have to go around the end of the line to re-finish.
28.2 A string representing a
boat’s track from the time she begins to approach the starting line from its
pre-start side to start until she finishes shall, when drawn taut,
(a) pass each mark on the
required side and in the correct order,
(b) touch each rounding
mark, and
(c) pass between the marks
of a gate from the direction of the previous mark.
She may correct any errors
to comply with this rule, provided she has not finished.
