Race course and starting information are communicated to racing boats using signal flags. In Figure A below, the available racing flags are shown next to their equivalent symbol (letter or number). Letters are shown using rectangular flags while numbers and other special substitution symbols are displayed by the use of pennants. In addition to the flags and pennants shown, race committees will also make use of special flags or shapes, specifically, a blue shape, and a black flag both of which have no character equivalent.
Figure A
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B 
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H 
I 
J 
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L
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N 
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P 
Q 
R
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X
Y 
Z
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First Substitute 
Second
Substitute 
Third
Substitute
Racing Flags
Now that you have memorized the flags shown above (or at least bought a sticker showing the flags from your marine store), you are now ready to interpret what the race committee boat is trying to tell you. The Race Instructions will often detail any special procedures and explain if any of these special flags will be used and of course, you must rely on the racing instructions as the law.
In this section, however, we will cover the common methods of using flags, and also show the official Race Signals using flags as detailed in the Racing Rules of Racing 2001-2004 (ISAF), the governing body that establishes all sailing rules.
As you head out to the race course and head towards the location of the starting line as explained in the racing instructions, you will be looking for a vessel with a race committee flag. Figure B shows a sample Race Committee Flag and is identifiable by the blue background, the anchor, and the letters RC on it. Whenever you see a boat flying this flag nearby, you can pretty much bet that there is a race going on or about to start.
Figure B
Race Committee Flag
Race committee boats can be expected to be near the start line in advance of your start time. But the RC boat or tenders, may be travelling up the race course doing several things. First they will be tracking the wind, and then they will be setting up the appropriate Windward or Leeward marks as explained in the racing instructions. Finally, they will position themselves at the start line and adjust the position of the starting line to match the wind direction. On an upwind start, expect a mark on the port side of the start line to mark the left side of the line and a flag on or near the boat will mark the right side of the starting line.
While the start line is being positioned or at some time before the warning signal, the Race Committee will check-In the boats. Check your racing instructions to see if you have to check in within hail to rank as a starter. You will also need to come within hail if you see the checkered "L" flag.
Starting Sequence
The following sequence is the one described in Racing Rules of Sailing 2001-2004. Some Race Committees may be phasing this in and may temporarily be using the old sequence defined in RRS 1997-2000.
| Minutes Before Start | Description |
| 6 | At about 6 minutes before the first start, you will hear multiple sound signals which will indicate to you that the Warning for the first start is about to occur. Usually, you can expect the start times to be as indicated in the sailing instructions, at least for the first race, unless one of the postponement flags sequences displayed in Figure C are flown. Note that this is done only before the first start. |
| 5 | The starting sequence for the first start will be initiated by a gun at exactly 5 minutes before the start. At that point or shortly after, all the different class flags will be displayed. This will vary be area and by race committee but in the case of multiple classes of boats, each class is assigned a number or letter and this will indicate to you that you will be the one starting if that flag is displayed. Again, you usually don't expect surprises (although it can happen) but the sequence of starters will follow the racing instructions. In addition to identifying the starting class, at this time other flags may be displayed that indicate which course will be selected for this particular race. The race instructions will identify courses by number or letter. The location of the first mark may also be indicated as a compass bearing from the start line. In some cases this is shown as a series of up to 3 numeric pennants. In other cases, the compass bearing may be written or displayed on the committee boat without using flags. |
| 4 | At 4 minutes before the start, a second gun will be fired. At this time, a "Preparatory Flag" (P) will be flown together with any other special flags that indicate any special restrictions during the start. Of concern are the "I","Z" and Black flags which indicate that special rules apply. The "I" flag indicates that no part of a boat may be on the course side of the line one minute before the start. If she fails to abide by this, the boat in question needs to go around one of the ends of the start line and restart (without this rule, a boat may simply dip completely below the line to restart). The "Z" flag is the 20% Penalty Rule. If a boat is within a triangle formed by the start line and the first mark one minute before her start, than she shall receive an immediate penalty of 20% in scoring. The "Black" flag is the most severe of the starting rules since instead of the 20% penalty applied with the Z flag, the boat will be immediately disqualified. The I, Z and Black flags are applied in exception cases when the Race Committee is unable to get a proper start due to too many boats being over the line (OCS - Over Course Side) during the start time and is commonly used in large one-design fleets.
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| 1 | At 1 minute before the start, all the preparatory flags will be removed and a sound signal will be given. |
| 0 | At the start time, a gun will fire and the race will start. Also all the class flags will come down. |
Immediately after the start, listen for a quickly fired gun. This will indicate that some boats have been recalled. There will either be a bullhorn announcement or VHS radio announcement (per racing instructions) and the race committee will indicate which boats are OCS and must restart. You will also see the Individual Recall Flag flying (Flag N).
If you instead hear two guns followed shortly by one gun and see the First Substitute flag, then a general recall has been called and everyone needs to restart the starting sequence. After the First Substitute flag is removed, the 5 minute sequence will restart a minute later.
Course Changes
During the actual race, a Race Committee may signal either a course shortening or to warn you of a change in mark position. See the course change flags below. Typically, you will see these in case of a drastic change in wind conditions such as increase in winds, decrease in winds, or a drastic change in wind direction.
Racer Tips
It is important for a person on the boat to be designated to look at these flags. A skipper may get distracted while avoiding traffic. Also consider that the reading of flags is happening during pre-start maneuvers which in itself is the most stressful part of a race. Once you have started, due to the covering of your vision by competitors sails and the orientation of the committee boat, it may be impossible to see the flags. And by that time, class flags and course indications may already be removed from view.
This is why a handy reference sticker or laminated picture of the flags should be made handy to the crew.
Figure C
Postponement Signals
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AP Races not started are postponed. The warning signal will be made 1 minute after removal unless at that time the race is postponed again or abandoned. |
AP over H Races not started are postponed. Further signals ashore
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AP over A Races not started are postponed. No more racing today. |
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AP over Numeral Pennant 1-6 1 2 3 4
5 6 Postponement of 1-6 hours from scheduled starting time
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Abandonment Signals
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N All races that have started are abandoned Return to starting area. The Warning signal will be made 1 minute after removal unless at that time the race is abandoned again or postponed. |
N over H All races are abandoned. Further signals ashore.
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N over A All races are abandoned. No more racing today.
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Signals Before the Start
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P Preparatory Signal |
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I Flag Rule 30.1 is in Effect |
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Z Flag Rule 30.2 is in effect |
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Black Flag Rule 30.3 is in effect |
Recall Signals
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X Individual Recall |
First Substitute General Recall. The warning signal will be made 1 minute after removal. |
Course Change Signals
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S No later than the warning signal: Sail the short course. At a rounding or finishing mark, Finish between the nearby mark and the staff displaying this flag. |
C The position of the next mark has been changed.
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Other Signals
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L Ashore: A notice to competitors has been posted. Afloat: Come within hail or follow this boat. |
M The object displaying this signal replaces a missing mark.
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Y Wear personal buoyancy.
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Blue Flag/Shape This race committee boat is in position at the finish line.
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