Situation:

1. Sailor crosses the start at the 5-minute warning horn and continues around the race course;

2. Other 5 sailors start properly;

3. After 20 to 30 minutes, all sailors cross finish line, including the early bird, who crossed third.



Question:

Should the early bird be scored as a DNF, a DNS or a DSQ?



Specifically, when he crossed the finish line, did he in fact just cross the starting line (albeit 25 minutes late) to become a valid sailor in the race? Or is that time delay sufficient to warrant a DNS?



Alternately, can a sailor choose to disqualify himself from a race over a botched start? Or is the path of the boat the only thing that matters, not the skipper's intent? (i.e. "Your hulls crossed the starting line after the starting horn during the race, so you started, period.")



What do you folks think?



Taylor Simmons

Wicomico Beach Yacht Club (MD)