The sailing start sequence, explained.

The four signals of RRS 26

1. −5 Warning Class flag up 1 sound
2. −4 Preparatory P (or I, Z, U, black) up 1 sound
3. −1 One minute Preparatory flag down 1 long sound
4. 0 Start Class flag down 1 sound

Rule 26 starts a race with four signals: the warning signal five minutes before the start (the class flag), the preparatory signal at four minutes (flag P, or I, Z, Z with I, U or the black flag), the one-minute signal (the preparatory flag comes down with one long sound) and the starting signal (the class flag comes down). The notice of race or sailing instructions may change this.

The times are taken from the visual signals; a sound signal that fails is disregarded. Start the clock on the flag, not the horn.

5-4-1-0 or 3-2-1-0?

Many dinghy and club races use a three-minute sequence (warning at 3, preparatory at 2, one-minute at 1, start at 0). It is legal only because rule 26 lets the notice of race or the sailing instructions change the sequence — so the SIs must say it. Without that sentence, the five-minute sequence applies.

With several classes, the starting signal of one class is often the warning signal of the next (“rolling starts”). The SIs say the order of the class flags.

Before the warning signal

AP

Postponement: races not started are postponed. The warning signal follows 1 minute after AP comes down (one sound) unless the race is postponed again or abandoned. AP over H: further signals ashore; AP over A: no more racing today.

The race committee signals or otherwise designates the course no later than the warning signal (rule 27.1) and may move a starting mark until the preparatory signal (rule 27.2). Many SIs add the orange flag: it marks the race committee end of the starting line, and some SIs display it a few minutes before the first warning signal to say a sequence is about to begin.

The preparatory flag: P, I, Z, U and black

The flag at the preparatory signal tells boats which starting rule applies in the last minute. Rules 30.1–30.4 use the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark.

P

No extra rule. A boat on the course side at the start must return and start properly.

I

Rule 30.1 (round-an-end): a boat in the triangle during the last minute must sail across an extension of the line to the pre-start side before starting.

Z

Rule 30.2: a boat identified in the triangle during the last minute gets a 20% scoring penalty, even if the race is restarted or resailed.

U

Rule 30.3: a boat identified in the triangle during the last minute is disqualified without a hearing — unless the race is restarted or resailed.

Black flag

Rule 30.4: a boat identified in the triangle during the last minute is disqualified without a hearing, even if the race is restarted or resailed; her sail number is displayed.

Read the rules themselves for the exceptions (for example a postponement or abandonment before the start). Your SIs may also change how sail numbers are displayed or broadcast.

Recalls: X and the First Substitute

X

Individual recall (rule 29.1): when one or a few boats were on the course side at the start, X goes up with one sound and stays up until they have returned, but no later than four minutes after the start (or one minute before a later start, if that is earlier).

First Substitute

General recall (rule 29.2): when boats on the course side cannot be identified, or there was an error in the procedure, the First Substitute goes up with two sounds. The warning signal for the new start is made one minute after it comes down (one sound).

After a general recall many race officers change the preparatory flag to U or the black flag for the restart — that is what those flags are for.

After the start: shorten and abandon

N

Abandonment: races in progress are abandoned; return to the starting area. N over H: further signals ashore. N over A: no more racing today. Three sounds.

Flag S shortens the course (rule 32). In the 2025–2028 rules N, N over H and N over A apply to races in progress; before the start, a race is postponed or abandoned with AP or N as the Race Signals describe.

Timers, phones and the visual signals

A timer helps the race committee hit every signal on the second, and a countdown on each sailor’s phone helps the fleet — but neither replaces the flags. In VesselSOS Racing (pilot) the race office runs the sequence and every joined phone shows the same countdown and the flags up; possible early starters are flagged “possibly early, 6 m” from phone GPS (about ±3–5 m) for the race officer to decide.