Cowes Port Handbook 2014-2015 April 2014 | Page 88

COWES PORT HANDBOOK 2014 - 2015

Racing Signals

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Jonathan Hoare

Flags are the primary means of communication between organisers and
participating yachts and are used to signal messages to boats racing, often
with accompanying sound signals. The flag is always the primary system;
if the sound signal fails it is disregarded. The organiser will fly a series of
flags from the club’s signal mast denoting the start time of the race, as
well as confirming the course and other relevant information.
When a flag signal is shown over a class flag, the signal applies only to that
class. Racing yachts will often fly a class flag or pennant from the backstay
in place of the usual, red, blue or white Ensign. Class flags are often taken
from the established signal flags although there are some variants.

Flag Signals

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Here is a quick introduction to the flag signals used for racing. The flags
illustrated are the ones you are most likely to see hoisted and lowered
from shore line flagpoles when Cowes clubs are running yacht races.
The first flag up a flagpole will be the class flag and can be any number of
different types of flag, depending on the fleet of boats racing. It’s flown 5
minutes before the race fleet’s start.

Flag P, the preparatory flag,
is flown 4 minutes before
the race fleet’s start.

Flag I. A boat over the
line in the minute before
the start must sail to the
pre-start side of the line
around either end before
starting the race.

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Flag Z. A boat within the
triangle formed by the
ends of the start line and
the first mark in the minute
before the race start gets a
20% scoring penalty.
The Black flag. A boat
within the triangle formed
by the ends of the start
line and the first mark in
the minute before the start
will be disqualified.