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Race signals

What the flags flown by the race committee mean, in plain words. The international code flags are drawn here; the meanings are our short summaries of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

On the committee boat

The start, signal by signal

Today
Start flag

A whole race from the warning signal to the last finisher. Switch on what happens today; the times move as they would on the water.

To start−5:30Horn
  • CLASS

Press play: the sequence runs 60× faster than real time.

Postponement

Races that have not started yet are put on hold.

  • AP — answering pennantStarts are postponed. When it comes down, the warning signal follows a minute later, unless racing resumes later still.
  • AP over HPostponed; further signals will be given ashore.
  • AP over APostponed; no more racing today.
  • AP over a numeral pennant 1–9Postponed by that many hours from the scheduled start time.

Abandonment

Races already under way are called off.

  • NAll races that have started are abandoned. Boats return to the starting area; the warning signal follows a minute after it comes down, unless racing resumes later.
  • N over HAll races abandoned; further signals ashore.
  • N over AAll races abandoned; no more racing today.

Preparatory signals

Flown four minutes before the start, they say which starting penalty applies.

  • PThe ordinary preparatory signal.
  • IRound-an-end rule: a boat over the line in the last minute must sail back round an end of the line before starting.
  • ZTwenty-percent penalty for a boat found in the triangle formed by the line ends and the first mark in the last minute.
  • UA boat inside that triangle in the last minute is disqualified without a hearing, unless the race is restarted.
  • Black flagAs U, but the disqualification stands even if the start is recalled or the race restarted.

Recall

Some or all boats were over the line at the start.

  • XIndividual recall: one or more boats were over early and must come back and start correctly.
  • First substituteGeneral recall: the whole start is called back. The warning signal follows a minute after it comes down.

Course changes

The race committee alters the course on the water.

  • SThe course is shortened: finish as the sailing instructions say, or between the nearby mark and the flagged staff.
  • CThe next mark has moved; the committee shows which way or how far.

Other signals

Notices, safety and line markers.

  • LAshore: a notice to competitors has been posted. On the water: come within hail, or follow this boat.
  • MThe boat or object flying it replaces a missing mark: round it as the mark.
  • YWear personal flotation devices.
  • Orange flagMarks an end of the starting line, flown from the committee boat.
  • Blue flagThe committee boat is in position at the finishing line.