NATIONAL BOAT RACING ASSOCIATION

The black flag rule has changet the last couple of years in our rules and I think we might need to look at this a little closer. The rule now states. Driver (s) causing a plack flag will be disqualified from that heat of racing unless the black flag is displayed before the official start of the race. It was decided that the official start is when the clock hits zero.  Now this is what happened to us, there was a three boat field and we didn't get started so they had to black flag because there wasn't the required three boats. According to the rule we wasn't disqualified and could go back out. My question is that the end of the first heat or will it be ran again?? I think this need to be discussed and made a little more clear. I personally think if you cause a black flag you should not be able to go out period. Let me give you another example why you shouldn't get to go back out. Just say your spark plug wire came off during milling, you could stop in the middle of the course get pulled back to shore put the wire back on and run again. You could even pull the kill switch if you got a bad start and get to come back that heat and run the way the rule is now.

Larry McAfee

Larry, it seems to me that the black flag is the flag to let drivers know to come off the course, this is all put in the hands of the referee, if a driver is the reason the black flag is put up after the start of the race, he is not allowed to restart the heat, but at any time before the clock hits the zero the referee dosnt really need a reason to put up the black flag, and all the boats may resume the heat. but ie.. if its a time thing and boats need to be towed in or a boat is in the middle of the shute the boat may or may not be allowed to resume the race, and it all may also be a safty reason

its alll up to the reff

Larry,at the Mansfield race I threw the Black flag because there were only 2 boats on the course.. There was 1min.52 seconds left on the clock.. The first heat was to be reran..Kevin did not  intentionally cause the black flag.. And I threw the red & Black flag together, when on start of the heat that was to be reran,,2 boats started out and the patrol boat was comming across the course..Due to this I was concerned about the safety of the racers.. But you are correct this rule needs to be clarified..

jeff ruth at June 12, 2010 at 4:04 PM

Larry, it seems to me that the black flag is the flag to let drivers know to come off the course, this is all put in the hands of the referee, if a driver is the reason the black flag is put up after the start of the race, he is not allowed to restart the heat, but at any time before the clock hits the zero the referee dosnt really need a reason to put up the black flag, and all the boats may resume the heat. but ie.. if its a time thing and boats need to be towed in or a boat is in the middle of the shute the boat may or may not be allowed to resume the race, and it all may also be a safty reason

Jeff said

but at any time before the clock hits the zero the referee dosnt really need a reason to put up the black flag,

I guess I don't understand that statement. I understand the rule as it is written but I don't think it goes far enough to explain what happens to a heat with 3 boats. Yes the referee is in charge but they need guide lines to follow. The rule book says all decisions made by the referee shall be based on the rules of this association.

Pasty don't get me wrong I didn't think you did anything wrong, I just don't think we have a clear rule on this.

Larry McAfee