Thanks Marcreiter (and CMerrell) for your posts.
I should point out that our scoring system is a bit different: Points are good -- you get a point for starting plus a point for each boat in the race that you beat, i.e. no points for boats that DNS. (So the Early Bird's DNF/DNS distinction does indeed matter for all sailors.)
Regarding being on course side (OCS), I don't think a penalty turn can absolve you -- you must re-start cleanly. Our early bird was OCS for most of his time on the water, but happened to stay clear of all other boats on the course, and did finally cross cleanly and then retired (signaling an intent not to re-complete the course).
Marc, when you say, "if you consider the second crossing a start 25 minutes late," that's precisely the issue. Is this consideration purely a judgement call by the race committee, rather than a specific rule that governs? I.e. there is no time deadline, nor a required route (back through starting line or around the mark and through again are each ok), but, in fact, an overall judgement by the RC based on both the facts and the sailor's apparent intent. Is this correct?
E.g. Suppose a boat's side stay snaps and his mast falls just after the starting horn (but before he starts), and he is obviously calling it quits, but happens to drift cleanly through the starting line on his way back to shore, does that count as a start? Should the race committee judge that boat as DNS, since the sailor evidently gave up before starting, even though technically the boat did cross the line? (If not, then what distinguishes this example from our Early Bird.)
Finally, does it matter what the sailor himself wants? ("Please give me a point for starting since technically I did." vs. "Please give me a DNS since obviously I wasn't going to do the race.") If it's purely a judgement call, then it seems that the sailor's wishes might indeed be an element considered by the RC, as long as they were consistent in such decisions over the season.
What do you think?
Thanks -Taylor Simmons
