32 Shortening or Abandoning After The Start

32.1 After the starting signal, the race committee may shorten the course or abandon the race:

  1. because of foul weather,
  2. because of insufficient wind making it unlikely that any boat will sail the course within the race time limit,
  3. because a mark is missing or out of position, or
  4. for any other reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of the competition.
In addition, the race committee may shorten the course so that other scheduled races can be sailed, or abandon the race because of an error in the starting procedure. However, after one boat has started, sailed the course and finished within the race time limit, if any, the race committee shall not abandon the race without considering the consequences for all boats in the race or series.

32.2 To shorten the course, the race committee shall display flag S with two sounds before the first boat crosses the finishing line. If the course is shortened, the finishing line shall be,

  1. at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S;
  2. a line the course requires boats to cross; or
  3. at a gate, between the gate marks.

32.3 To abandon a race in progress, the race committee shall display flag N, N over H, or N over A, with three sounds.