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Sail in Stunning Northumberland

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KWSC News Articles

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(Article from March 2004)

Just What Do Those Flags Mean?

We use a simple starting sequence at Kielder which I have reproduced below. However, have you ever wondered what the flags actually mean (or more precisely what do the signals mean)? A brief description of the flags is provided.

KWSC Normal Start Sequence

The KWSC starting sequence is based on the standard starting sequence set out in Rule 26 if the Racing Rules of Sailing.

KWSC Handicap – Class Flag Numeral Pennant 4.

Preparatory Flag (P)

Elapsed Mins	Sequence Countdown (mins)	What Happens?	Flag Sequences	Sound Signals (long and clear)
0	5	5 mins before first start Handicap class flag up Sound signal		%
1	4	4 mins before first start Preparatory Flag ‘P’ up Sound Signal		%
4	1	1 min before first start Preparatory Flag ‘P’ down Sound Signal	¯	%
5	0	Start time first class Handicap class flag down Sound Signal	¯	%

Signals and their meaning

There are two basic signals in use at Kielder. The first is the Warning Signal. This is usually the relevant class flag but in handicap racing at Kielder we use ,Class Flag Numeral Pennant 4. When hoisted at 5 minutes before the start this signal governs Rule 27.1

"No later than the warning signal, the race committee shall signal or otherwise designate the course to be sailed....".

So in plain English the Race Officer must have set a course. At any time before this flag is dropped at the starting signal Rule 27.3 applies:

"Before the starting signal, the race committee may for any reason postpone.. or abandon the race....."

In plain English if something has gone wrong or there is a problem e.g. of Safety, then the Race Officer can take time out to resolve it - something Giles refers to as the 'Get out of jail free card'!

The second signal is the Preparatory Signal which at Kielder is generally the P flag, . The P flag is one of four Preparatory signals - the others being 'I', 'Z' and the 'Black' flag. We do not use these at Kielder for normal racing but we have them available for Open Meetings. These latter three flags cover rules on Starting Penalties (30.1, 30.2 and 30.3 if you want to look them up).

To keep things simple again. The Preparatory flag also governs Rule 27.2 and indicates there are no penalty systems being applied on this start. This happens four minutes before the start. it also indicates that a boat on the course side of the line may cross the start line to the pre-course side to start correctly - something you cannot do with the other Preparatory flags.

"No later than the preparatory signal, the race committee may move a starting mark and may apply Rule 30 (the Starting Penalties mentioned above)"

When the Preparatory flag is lowered (at one minute before the start) at Kielder this simply indicates there is one minute to go since there are no Penalties associated with the P flag, . If some of the other preparatory flags are in use then the signal would indicate that the 'Penalty Period' has began.

I hope this adds to your knowledge fund and explains what starting signals are all about. Happy racing.

Steve Gibbon

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