"R. G. Newbury" wrote in message
news:JcldVHe8EppF-pn2-Z0L2R9dSyv5O@Tor2

snip

The definition of 'finish' requires that finishing be 'from the last
mark'.

I think you're misquoting the defintion of _finish_.

The definition I have says "... crosses the finishing line *in the
direction of the course from the last mark* ..."

The last mark must be 'touched' by the string. Note that if the
line is closed by making the ends marks, those marks are NOT rounding
marks, and the string need not touch them. In fact, it would touch one
of them but not the other, if both are to be left on the same side.

As to multiple 'finishes': that does not happen, since it is only a
finish when it happens '...from the last mark...'

I disagree that that is what the definition says. Without further
interpretation it says

"A boat finishes when any part of her ... crosses the finishing line in
the direction of the course from the last mark ... "

Taken literally, this means that every time a boat crosses the finishing
line in the direction of the course from the last mark, the boat
"finishes".

As I've previously said, I think this is a somewhat tortured
construction, and is clearly unnecessary. It can be cured by making the
necessary implication, as you have done.

The others are just...laps?

Geoff

John