"Gene Fuller" wrote in message

Geoff,

The current definition of "finish" does not require "sailing the
course". There is no connection to the string rule.

MMMMMM, I understand:

If the finish line is in the middle of the race course, a boat can
"finish" numerous times as she passes through the finish line from the
direction of the last mark, on various legs or laps.

But a boat can only sail the course under RRS 28.1 once.

I think this is a somewhat tortured construction, and I think it would
be correct to imply into the definitition of _finish_ words to the
effect of "after properly rounding the last mark".

Otherwise, or as well, there should be implied or expressly written into
RRS A4.2, immediately before the word _finish_, the words "sail the
course in accordance with rule 28.1 and".

The only option allowed to a Race Committee if a boat does not sail
the course correctly is to protest the infringing boat. Automagical
DNF penalties are not allowed.

Do you have an Appeals Case for this. I don't think Case 45 gets quite
there.

If a boat crosses the finish line from
the direction of the last mark it has finished, subject only to the
technicalities spelled out in the definition. Note that the boat does
not need to round the last mark; it only needs to cross the finish
line from the direction of the last mark.

I disagree: although a 'black-letter' construction of the definition of
"finish" indicates this, such an interpretation leads to the absurdity I
described above, that a boat can "finish" numerous times in the same
race. The canons of construction allow for interpretation or
implication to remove absurdities. As I indicated, it think it is quite
proper and right to imply "after properly rounding the last mark" into
the definition of _finish_.

I won't argue whether this is right or wrong, but it is the current
rule. See ISAF Case 45 for further reinforcement that the definition
of finish cannot be changed.

snip

John