World Sailing Official Case Book
Case Q&A 2025.001
Breaches of rules on the finishing line when Appendix T applies
Facts 1
Appendix T applies. A boat crosses the finishing line from the course side, touches the finishing mark breaking rule 31 and sails away.
Question
Is the Post-Race Penalty defined in rule T1 an applicable penalty for her breach?
Answer
Yes, provided that the boat was not aware of the breach at the time it occurred.
Facts 2
Appendix T applies. A boat crosses the finishing line from the course side, touches the finishing mark breaking rule 31, promptly makes one turn including one tack and one gybe and sails away.
Question 1
Is the second sentence of rule 44.2, ‘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’ part of taking a penalty under rule 44.2 referred in definition Finish (a)?
Answer 1
No.
Question 2
Has the boat finished?
Answer 2
No. The boat crossed the finishing line from the course side and then took a penalty under rule 44.2, therefore her crossing was not a finish. See definition ‘Finish’.
Question 3
May the race committee score the boat DNF without a hearing?
Answer 3
Question 4
Is the Post-Race Penalty defined in rule T1 an applicable penalty for her breach?
Answer 4
Facts 3
Appendix T applies. A boat crosses the finishing line from the course side, touches the finishing mark breaking rule 31, sails completely to the course side and crosses the finishing line again.
Question 2
When did the boat finish?
Answer 2
The boat finished the first time she crossed the finishing line.
Question 2
Is the Post-Race Penalty defined in rule T1 an applicable penalty for her breach?
Answer 2
Yes, provided that she was not aware of the breach at the time it occurred. However, the fact that she crossed the finishing line a second time, indicates that she may have been aware of her breach.