NETWORK
Starting penalties
Alternatives to returning to start correctly for boats that are over the starting line at the starting signal (OCS)
Changes in this version – March 2025
Amended to reflect the RRS 2025-2028 and the 2025 edition of World Sailing Development Rule DR21-01.
Introduction
At events with many competitors or spectator vessels, it is sometimes not desirable, for safety reasons, to require a boat that is on the course side of the starting line at the starting signal (OCS) to return to start.
It is not possible for the notice of race or sailing instructions alone to make the necessary rule changes to allow for this.
Rule 28.1 requires a boat to comply with the definition “sail the course”, which in turn requires her to comply with the definition “Start”. A boat that is OCS and does not return has not started as defined, and therefore cannot comply with the definition “sail the course’.
Rule A5.1 requires that a boat that does not sail the course as defined is to be scored OCS.
The notice of race or sailing instructions are not permitted to change definitions in the Racing Rules of Sailing (See RRS 86.1 (a) and (b)).
World Sailing recognise that this causes problems for event organisers that do not want OCS boats to return to the pre-start side of the line and have introduced Development Rule DR21-01 to address the issue.
See ‘Test Rules & Additions to The Racing Rules of Sailing’ at https://www.sailing.org/inside-world-sailing/rules-regulations/racingrules.
World Sailing Development Rule DR21-01
The Development Rule provides a change to the Definition Start that permits a boat to start either by crossing the starting line at or after the starting signal, or by crossing the line within a specified time window before the starting signal.
A boat that crosses before the starting signal but within the specified window can receive a finishing position provided it accepts a penalty described in the notice of race or sailing instructions.
The notice of race or sailing instructions may forbid boats that cross the starting line early from returning to cross again.
IMPLEMENTATION
The Definition Start
The notice of race must amend the definition start as follows:
Under World Sailing Development Rule DR21-01, change the definition Start as follows:
Start A boat starts when her hull having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line, and having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull crosses the starting line from the pre-start side to the course side either
- at or after her starting signal, or
- during the last [insert time] before her starting
World Sailing recommend that this change is included in the section of the notice of race that describes the rules that apply to the event. It should be followed by the further information detailed below.
Note: with the exception of the time window defined in paragraph (b) of the amended definition, no other changes to the wording of the definition are permitted.
Note: rules 30.2 (Z Flag), 30.3 (U Flag) or 30.4 (Black Flag) should not be used with this development rule.
Option for Boats to Return
The notice of race or sailing instructions should specify whether a boat that crosses the starting line before its starting signal is:
- not permitted to return; or
- permitted to return to start in accordance with paragraph a) of the
Option 1) will be appropriate when, as described in the introduction, environmental factors in the starting area make it unsafe for boats to attempt to return.
See the World Sailing recommended wording below.
Note that for option 1) the World Sailing wording only prohibits returning by boats that cross the starting line early within the specified window. If option 1) is adopted, further wording should be included to ensure that boats crossing the starting line earlier than permitted by the definition are also not permitted to return.
If no wording is specified, boats are permitted to return by default.
Penalties
The notice of race or sailing instructions must specify the penalty that will apply to a boat that starts in compliance with paragraph (b).
The World Sailing recommended wording shown below gives options for the most common situations. These can be modified to meet local event requirements.
A boat that starts in accordance with paragraph (b) of the definition and takes the specified penalty has broken no rule and no further penalty can be applied for this incident.
Starting in accordance with paragraph (b) is permitted by the definition and a boat that does so and takes the appropriate penalty does not break rule 2 even if it does so deliberately in an attempt to gain an advantage.
If a boat crosses the starting line within the window permitted by paragraph (b) and the specified penalty is an action to be taken by the boat, the boat has started but if it does not take that action it has broken the relevant rule in the notice of race or sailing instructions and may be protested under that rule.
A boat that crosses the starting line earlier than permitted by paragraph (b) and has not returned (even if prohibited from doing so) has not started and should be scored as OCS and may be protested by a competitor under RRS 28.1.
World Sailing Suggested Wording for Options and Penalties
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In the NoR or SIs Delete the option that does not apply Add the penalty that will apply – some common options are shown below: |
When a boat starts in accordance with item (b) of the definition |
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Add the penalty that will apply – some common options are shown below: |
the starting penalty shall be: |
|
Option 1: |
she shall receive a Scoring Penalty calculated in accordance with RRS 44.3(c). |
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Option 2: |
[insert time] shall be added to her elapsed time. |
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Option 3: |
she shall take a Two-Turns penalty in accordance with RRS 44.2 |
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Option 4: |
she shall cross [insert description of a line] and then she shall wait [insert time] before crossing [describe a line] from [describe direction] and resume sailing the race. |
Informing Boats
Consideration must be given as to whether or how boats will be notified that they have crossed the starting line before the starting signal and amend rule 29.1 accordingly.
For example:
- Flag X will not be displayed; or
- If Flag X is displayed, a boat need not (or shall not) return; or
- A different flag will be used to denote that at least one boat crossed the starting line before the starting signal; or
- Boats will be informed by another specified
It may also be appropriate to specify whether or how a boat is to be informed that it has not started in accordance with the definition (i.e., earlier than the permitted time window).
Time Window
Care should be taken when deciding the time window to be specified in paragraph (b). The window chosen will depend on the specific circumstances of the event, but should take into account the penalty (or range of penalties) to be applied to ensure that there is no advantage gained by a boat that starts in compliance with paragraph (b).
Feedback
World Sailing require organisers to provide feedback when they use this development rule for an event. The RYA would be grateful to be included in any reports submitted to World Sailing which should be emailed to rules@sailing.org and copied to racingrules@rya.org.uk.
See the development rule document for details of what feedback is requested.
