Hard Disqualification
What it means: If the race committee catches you in the forbidden zone, you’re disqualified. And if the race restarts, you cannot sail in it. You’re out completely.
The forbidden zone: Imagine a triangle. The two ends of the starting line form the bottom. The first mark forms the point. You cannot have any part of your hull in this triangle during the last minute before the start.
Why this exists: This is the “last resort” penalty. It’s meant to stop boats that repeatedly try to sneak over the line early. The race committee only uses it after individual recalls and U flags haven’t worked.
What you do: Treat this more seriously. Stay well away from the line and the first mark during the last minute. If you see this flag, don’t take any chances.
