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Reply to Webmaster “no proper course at finish:”
I would argue that a boat’s proper course is to finish “as quickly as possible.” When positioned to the finish mark side of a finish line, her fastest course is “fastest path to the finish line,” ergo “straight ahead (downwind)” is her proper course. If she was ahead or inside-overlapped at the Zone circle, rule 18 absolutely gives her rights to mark-room following her “fastest path,” since the finish mark to her starboard is a “mark with a required side.”
Once the inside port boat (or boats) finishes and clears the starting line – she is no longer racing. At that point, USCG ROW rules apply. The port boats have to keep clear of the starboard tack/jibe boat, and the stbd tack ROW boat has a USCG obligation to “stand on,” keep a steady course, to give burdened vessels the to keep clear.
Bill C.