Roy Smith wrote:

...
The longer the delay in displaying the flag, the tougher the job becomes
to convince a committee that the flag was flown as soon as reasonably
possible. A minute is a pretty long time. The only reasons I can think
of which would permit a delay that long all involve ensuring safety of
crew and vessel.

I've always thought this was just a cop-out. Some of the protest committees
I've been on have siezed on this as a reason to avoid disqualifying an
offender who deserved it. I've also seen protest committees accept the
testimony of a racer who "didn't see a protest flag or hear a hail" when a
dozen or more sailors, all much further away, saw & heard it.

If a racer is serious enough to protest another, then they should be
prepared to show a flag and should learn the rules well enough to lodge a
protest properly. But for beer can racing, most offenses are minor & are
reasonably ignored, whereas a serious one merits a closer look than
"Dismissed, did not fly a flag."

Fresh Breezes- Doug King