Round-an-End Rule
What it means: If you’re caught over the line in the last minute, you can’t just duck straight back across the middle of the line to restart — you have to sail around one of the two ends of the line (or its extension) first.
The rule: RRS 30.1. Unlike Z, U, or Black, this isn’t a scoring or disqualification penalty – it’s a procedure. You lose distance and time getting back around the end, but you’re not thrown out or docked points for it.
What you do: If you’re over early, look for the nearer end of the line and sail around it — not through the middle — before crossing back to start correctly. Ducking back across the line anywhere else still counts as not starting properly.
Why race committees use it: It’s common on short lines with small fleets, or after a general recall, as a middle-ground option — real consequence, but nothing on your score.
