Keeldragger wrote:
Question: A race is cancelled after the start due to bad weather
(lightning). Most of the fleet has finished the race, with only a
couple of boats still on the course. Is the race abandoned and void
for all boats, or only the boats which did not finish? Also, is there
a differentiation between cancelling and abandoning a race which has
already started, or do these terms mean the same thing?

It's up to the the Race Committee:

RRS Rule 32.1(b):

====
32 SHORTENING OR ABANDONING AFTER THE START
32.1 After the starting signal, the race committee may abandon the race
(display flag N, N over H, or N over A, with three sounds) or shorten
the course (display flag S with two sounds), as appropriate,
(a) because of an error in the starting procedure,
(b) because of foul weather,
(c) because of insufficient wind making it unlikely that any boat will
finish within the time limit,
(d) because a mark is missing or out of position, or
(e) for any other reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of
the competition.

However, after one boat has sailed the course and finished within the
time limit, if any, the race committee shall not abandon the race
without considering the consequences for all boats in the race or series.
====

The boat(s) can always file for redress (within the proper time limits)
under RRS 62.1(a). I'm not aware of any specific appeals/judgements in
a case that you've mentioned (only for 32.1(d), but I'm sure that some
of the other more experienced folks here may be able to cite a few.

You should have your own written/printed copy of the RRS, but it's
always nice to have a PDF version. The PDF version allows you to easily
do a 'find' and/or 'search' by keyword.

You can download the RRS from he

http://www.sailing.org/menu.asp?Menu...7vTvOOQY12%60?

[http://makeashorterlink.com/?N15835F58]

If you are racing within the USA, you can also download the US RRS
Prescriptions from he

http://www.ussailing.org/rules/
http://www.ussailing.org/rules/prescriptions.htm