Communications In A Sailing Regatta

This flag is the postponement signal (AP). This means that no races can start and have to wait for further notices. This flag can be shown on land or on the water. Postponements can be for 15mins to 9hrs.

These flags are AP over A. This means that all races are postponed until tomorrow or an other date.

This is the P flag. This flag is in the start. It is raised at the 4min and lowered at the 1min. If you are over the started line in the last minute this flag tells you, you can either go back under the line and start again or round one of the ends and restart. If you don't come back will be mark OCS (Disqualified for being over the start line)

This is the I flag. The I flag is just like the P flag the only difference is if you are over the line then you have to round one side of the start line and restart.

This is the Black Flag.this flag is the same as the P and I, but if you are over the start line you cannot repair and restart, if you are over you will be scored BFD,( Black Flag Disqualification)

This is the Z flag. Just like the I, P and the Black flag, the Z is also a starting flag but if you are over and do not return you get 20% of what you sailed in that race added to your score. But if you return then you will not get the 20% penalty.

This is the X flag : individual recall. When the race committee sees that a boat is over the line in the last minute before the start and did not repair they will raise this flag after the start has gone, telling the sailors that somebody or a few boats were over .

This is the general recall flag. When there are to many boats over the line to early and the race comitee can not identify them all then the will restart the race.

This is the N flag or race abandoned flag. When this flag is shown that means that something has gone completely wrong and the race is abandoned.