So that I understand, are you asking whether "first reasonable opportunity" runs from the course error or from the point at which the uncorrected error becomes a breach of RRS 28? 

Jolene, I think you're getting there.

Just to recap:

You want to use Mark H as an inner distance mark, without making it an obstruction.

Presumably you want the same to apply for both starting and finishing.

So,

When starting, boats shall pass to the West of Mark H,
and
When finishing, boats shall pass to the West of Mark H.

Trouble is, we don't know what 'starting' and 'finishing' mean. If we look at the RRS Definitions, start  and finish are instantaneous events:  they don't have a present continuous  tense.

How about

 When approaching the starting line to start and until immediately after they start boats shall pass to the West of Mark H,
and
When approaching the finishing line to finish and until immediately after they finish , boats shall pass to the West of Mark H.

This looks clumsy and verbose, but I think it's watertight.

Anybody else got any ideas?

Yachts must keep west of H Mark from the first warning signal until all yachts have finished’.

This isn't going to work very well:  it's defining a North - South line.  Boats won't be able to take a dig in towards the beach at the Beaconsfield, or in towards St Kilda Beach or Pt Ormond,

I don't think it is necessary to prohibit boats from passing between the tower and Mark H at other times while racing:  they can do so at their own risk.  There are all sorts of places around the bay where the bottom shoals and boats of lesser draft can get closer.

I'd leave it out altogether.

Obviously the Glossary for Starting Line will also need surgery.

And I know you're a Yacht Squadron, but the things we race under the RRS are called 'boats'. But maybe that's a change too far for now.

You need to be aware of  Case 58

If Mark H is on the post course side of the finishing line transit, you can't score a boat NSC for passing the wrong side of it.

What I think you can do is say, for each of the starting line and finishing line requirements

Boats that do not comply with this requirement shall be scored DSQ without a hearing.

I have just watched the Women's regatta on mastabeam. Fantastic.

I see the dropbox in the form for "AI Involvement" now and hadn't noticed it earlier.  Thanks for pointing it out!

See discussion above.

Hitting an anchored boat may found a claim for damages, but does not break any IRPCAS rule.

Hitting a dock or pier, the same.