Overview
There are difficulties for a race committee in dealing with boats that race but do so by starting badly:
- they start way too soon
- they mistake the line and sail through the wrong marks
- they try to dip start but don’t get near the line
Sometimes using an X flag for such a boat can be confusing for boats that are starting well.
Dip starts can be a problem at a start and there can be difficulties in unusual circumstances:
- when the the pin end is heavily favoured, dip starters on starboard don’t realize they have to cede right of way to port tack boats sailing in the right direction
Requiring competitors to earn the privilege of an X flag makes it communicate more useful information to the fleet by omitting the noise of those who fail to qualify.
The X flag as a privilege
We will throw together some sample rules
29 RECALLS
29.1 Individual Recall
When a boat has crossed the starting line from the pre-start side at any time after her one-minute signal and at her starting signal any part of her hull is on the course side of the starting line or she must comply with rule 30.1, the race committee shall promptly display flag X with one sound. If the race committee is uncertain whether a boat has crossed the starting line from the pre-start side at any time after her one-minute signal it shall be presumed she has.
The flag shall be removed when convenient; however the flag shall remain displayed until the hull of each such boat has been completely on the pre-start side of the starting line or one of its extensions, and until all such boats have complied with rule 30.1 if it applies; and the flag shall have been removed when each such boat has started and cleared the starting line, but no later than four minutes after the starting signal or one minute before any later starting signal, whichever is earlier.
If rule 29.2, 30.3 or 30.4 applies this rule does not.
30 STARTING PENALTIES
30.0 P Flag Rule
If flag P has been displayed, and any part of a boat’s hull is on the course side of the starting line at her starting signal yet she has not has crossed the starting line from the pre-start side at any time after her one-minute signal, she shall sail across an extension so that her hull is completely on the pre-start side before she starts.