If any part of your boat is on the course side of the line at the starting signal, you are OCS and must return to the pre-start side and start again. The committee normally signals this with flag X and one sound (rule 29.1).
At the starting signal, every part of a boat’s hull must be on the pre-start side of the line; her crew and equipment, such as a bowsprit, do not count. A boat with any part of her hull over the line is on the course side, usually written OCS.
Individual recall (rule 29.1). If one or a few boats are over and the committee can identify them, it displays flag X (a white flag with a blue cross) with one sound. The flag stays up until all those boats have returned, or for four minutes after the start, or until one minute before a later start, whichever is earliest. Some sailing instructions also say the committee will hail sail numbers or call them on VHF, but it does not have to, so do not rely on hearing your number.
General recall (rule 29.2). If the committee cannot identify the boats that were over, or there has been an error, it displays the First Substitute flag with two sounds, and the whole class starts again. The new warning signal is made one minute after the First Substitute is lowered.
What you must do if you are OCS:
- return completely to the pre-start side of the line, then start properly;
- while returning, keep clear of all boats that are racing properly. A returning boat loses her right of way until she is back on the pre-start side;
- if the preparatory flag was I, you must return across one of the line's extensions, round one end; under U or the black flag, a boat in the triangle near the line in the last minute is disqualified and returning does not help.
If you do not return, you will be scored OCS, which counts as not having started.
It is far better to be a second late than a second early. Pick a landmark in line with the start line before the start, so you can judge how close you are, and in the last seconds be ready to ease the sails to stay behind it. If you think you may be over, go back at once: every second you wait costs more.
More in the book: Chapter 15, Your first race