Q&A 2014-011
A boat finishes when she crosses the finishing line after taking the penalty under rule 44.2.
Situation
Two A-Class catamarans, Green on starboard tack and Red on port tack, approach a finishing mark to be left to starboard. Red crosses the finishing line ahead of Green, but touches the mark when crossing the line as she is forced to sail over the finishing mark because Green has not given her sufficient mark-room. Red informs Green of her intent to protest. Red takes a One-Turn penalty by completing one tack and one gybe and re-crosses the finishing line from the course side. Four other boats finish before Red crosses the finish line the second time. The race committee scores Red based on her second crossing of the finishing line. Green takes a post-race arbitration penalty. Red requests redress.
Answer 1
Question 1
May the race committee, without a hearing, score Red as finished the first time she crossed the finishing line?
Answer 1
No. Red finishes when she crosses the finishing line after taking the penalty under rule 44.2, see definition Finish. However, the race committee is well advised to always make a note when they observe a boat crossing the finishing line, irrespective of the boat's subsequent actions.
This call is valid until: 2016-12-31