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THE FINISH

Abstract

Various kinds of finishing line used on different course types are described. Emphasis is made on how to lay a finishing line: it should be at right angles to the direction of the course from the last mark, and it should be relatively short. The major jobs of the Finishing team are mentioned as well as some further aspects of the Finishing procedure.

Contents

11.1 Types of finishing line
11.2 Laying the finishing line
11.3 Preparatory tasks
11.4 Finishing procedure

With the race two-thirds completed and at the discretion of the Race Officer, who will want to allow time for any problems he may meet in setting the finishing line, the Starting vessel, or a separate Finishing vessel, moves to the location of the finishing line. A separate Finishing vessel is particularly useful if another start is scheduled, as it allows the Starting vessel to remain on station and begin the next starting sequence as soon as the fleet has returned to the Starting area. See also Section B, paragraphs 8.6.1 and 8.6.32.

11.1 Types of finishing line

There are various kinds of finishing line:

Mark / Finishing vessel

A line consisting of a Mark of the course at the port end and the Finishing vessel at the starboard end. For an old-style Olympic course this will usually be Mark 1, i.e. the race ends with a beat. However, with modern courses such as the windward, leeward sausage, the finishing line is situated directly to leeward of the starting vessel, at the leeward end of the course, and between the vessel and a marker or line boat. The finishing line must be at right angles to the direction from the last mark.
  • This type of finish is also used for the Trapezoid Inner and Trapezoid Outer Course (no upwind finish). For the position of the Finishing vessel, see Section B, paragraph 8.6.2.
Land mark / buoy

A typical long-distance course finish is one where boards have to cross the imaginary line between the Finish buoy and a mast ashore, in the direction of the course from the last mark, regardless of wind direction.
  • This type of finish is also used for the slalom (Ins & Outs) finish of the Funboard class. An alternative is to finish on shore between two masts, but this may damage the boards' fins. A solution would be to arrange for the masts to be planted in the water just outside fin depth.
Whatever type of finish is used, for large fleets and/or close finishes it is recommended to have a Lineboat at the port end of the finishing line, with an extra recording team.
11.2 Laying the finishing line

If there is an assisting RC boat, the Finishing vessel may anchor in approximately the right position and then ask the other RC boat to lay the Finishing Mark, following the same procedure as that for the pin end of the starting line.

If the Finishing vessel is on its own, or if Mark 1 is to become the pin end of the line, the Finishing vessel will stop 50 to 100 m to starboard of the mark or the Finishing Buoy it has just laid itself; it will anchor a short distance ahead and then fall back so that the line between its staff and Mark 1 (or the Finishing buoy) is at a 90 degree angle to the last leg (port hand course).

There is a common misunderstanding that the finishing line is set at a 90 degree angle to the wind. The definition according to RRS Definitions, of the term "Finish" is:

"A board finishes when any part of the hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark either for the first time or, if she takes a penalty, after complying with rule 31.2 or rule 44.2.or under rule 28.1 after correcting an error made at the finishing line."

In other words, if for any reason it has not been possible to adjust the course, or on the last leg of the course there has been a change in the wind direction, the finishing line should be placed in accordance with the direction of the course from the last mark, that is, at 90? to the course from the last mark and not at 90? to the wind.

This is in fact what happens on the new Trapezoid courses. For a full description of the relevant finishing line, see Section B, paragraph 8.6.32.

Effects of the Finishing vessel and the finishing buoy rotating around their anchors.

In deep water one must consider the effect of this criterion, especially with variable winds; for example in the case of a wind shift greater than 15?, both the Mark/Finishing buoy and the Finishing vessel will logically rotate around their respective anchors by the same angle (see figure above). They will move to positions 2, but in order to maintain the original orientation one should let out line so that the final boat position becomes 2'. The result is that a line whose original length was 12 boat lengths has been reduced to 10 boat lengths.

The finishing line should be relatively short: 12-15 boat lengths, depending on the fleet size and the weather conditions. A short finishing line may decrease the chance of massive group finishes; it significantly reduces the margin of error and therefore reduces the possible advantages that may be created by the movement of either end of the line.

11.3 Preparatory tasks

With the "On station" signal (a blue flag; see RRS Race Signals) together with any other flag called for in the Sailing Instructions (e.g. to indicate another start) aloft, the Finishing vessel team prepares itself, noting the approach of the leading competitors and ensuring that they are not caught unawares by a boat suddenly appearing from under their stern.

The Race Officer or his delegate gets ready to call the sail numbers, sighting the course side of the staff on board the Finishing vessel and the course side of the pin end mark. Many Race Officers use a tape recorder as a useful back-up.

The Recorder prepares to record placings and times and the back-up Recorder gets ready to note the finishing order without concerning himself with the times. It is usually not necessary to record every finisher's time (unless it is handicap racing), but it is good practice to write down the time against the sail number of every fifth or tenth boat finishing.

The Recorder will also check whether or not the number of boats finishing corresponds with the number that have started. Any discrepancies will have to be accounted for. For safety reasons, boats having started in a race but then not finishing (e.g. retiring) or not returning to the harbour should report to the Race Committee on the water or ashore, as soon as possible. This will avoid search and rescue operations.

The Recorders' sheets will be the data for the Results' team or the Race Office secretary back at shore base. They will be referred to when any boats want to clear their finishing position, or request redress when e.g. a wrong or no finishing position is published in the Results' list.
One team member may prepare to look solely for any protest flags flying and to take down protestees' sail numbers called by protesting boats.

11.4 Finishing procedure

The instant the first board finishes, sound a clearly recognizable signal (e.g. a gun shot), so that the other competitors have a time reference to the first finish; record the hour, minute and seconds, and calculate the time limit.

The finish of the subsequent boards may be accompanied by a different sound signal, such as a whistle or a horn. However, a sound signal for finishing is not compulsory. It is just a means of communication to the competitor ("We have noticed you crossing the finishing line"); but a sound signal given to a competitor does not necessarily mean that he/she validly finishes according to the RRS Definitions. If that boat e.g. infringed the Black Flag Rule, but continues the race and then crosses the finishing line (receiving a sound signal), it still will be scored DSQ (RRS 30.3 and RRS A 3).

At major events there have been successful experiments to directly transmit the finishing order ashore. This is done by a small laptop computer on board the Finishing vessel connected to the results' computer ashore by a data link channel. This procedure is obviously quicker than the lengthy radio transmission by voice sometimes done after a race.

The above enables spectators and the media ashore to receive the Finishing order immediately. And the competitors, too, do not have to wait for their results until the Finishing vessel has returned to the harbour. Transmission of the handwritten finishing order by fax is also an alternative.

This transmission procedure sounds much easier than it is, as the communication software has to be suitable and the radio channels may be interfered with by other electronic fields. However, in the long run, these technical problems will be solved, giving competitors a better results' service - not only at major events.