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Notice: This site is an early preview and may include errors or omissions. Verify against official sources and do not rely on this site alone when making decisions.

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World Sailing Official Case Book

Case Q&A 2025.006

Abandoning or Postponing before the starting signal

World Sailing Q&A 2025.006

Facts

A race committee decides to stop the starting procedure for a race after its preparatory signal but before its starting signal. A further attempt will made to start the race.

Question 1

Can the race committee use flag N to do so?

Answer 1

Yes, rule 27.3 allows the race committee to abandon a race before the starting signal.

Question 2

If the answer to Question 1 is Yes, so that either AP or N can be used, how should the race committee decide which to display?

Answer 2

While rule 27.3 allows either flag, to avoid confusion when other fleets are racing in the same race area, the recommended practice is using the AP.

Related Rules

Rule 27.3