RACE FLAGS:

YELLOW:  BEFORE RACE: BOATS CAN LEAVE PITS TO CIRCLE COURSE FOR STAGING.  AFTER RACE: RETURN TO PITS

RED:  DURING A RACE: STOP.  AT START OF RACE: BAD START

WHITE:  STAGING BOATS PROCEDE TO THE STARTING LINE.  DURING THE RACE: LAST LAP RAISED AS THE LEAD BOAT CROSSES THE LINE

CHECKERED:  END OF RACE

BLACK:  DISQUALIFICATION

GREEN:  START THE RACE

THE FLAG BOAT SHOULD BE POSITIONED IN LINE WITH THE TWO START/FINISH LINE BOUYS OR SELECT A PROMINANT LADNMARK IF THE SECOND BUOY CAN’T BE PLACED. THIS WILL ALLOW THE JUDGING OF CLOSE FINISH RACES.

THE MANAGER AND THE FLAG BOAT MUST HAVE GOOD WORKING MARINE RADIOS TO KEEP IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER.

*THE RACE MANAGER MUST TELL THE FLAG AND SAFETY BOATS HOW MANY BOATS WILL COME OUT*

THE FLAG BOAT WILL ADVISE THE MANAGER WHEN THE COURSE IS CLEAR AND IT IS OK FOR THE 5 MINUTE HORN.

AFTER THE 5 MINUTE HORN IS SOUNDED RAISE THE YELLOW FLAG.

THE BOATS CAN COME OUT CIRCLE THE COURSE AND WHEN READY THEY SHOULD BE GROUPED IN THE STAGING AREA.  SEE RACE COURSE RULE "E".

SWITCH TO WHITE FLAG FOR STAGING.  BOATS TO START TOWARD THE STARTING LINE.

IF THEY ARE NOT EVEN, RAISE THE RED FLAG TO INDICATE A BAD START AND THE BOATS WILL TRAVEL AROUND THE COURSE TO RE-STAGE.  DROP THE RED AS SOON AS ALL BOATS KNOW IT’S A BAD START.

IF THEY ARE EVEN, RAISE THE GREEN FLAG TO START THE RACE.  KEEP THE GREEN UP AND REMOVE THE WHITE IMMEDIATELY.  THE WHITE FLAG WILL REPLACE THE GREEN AFTER THE LEAD BOAT PASSES THE FINISH LINE BOUY COMPLETING HIS NEXT TO LAST LAP.  (2^{ND 0R 4TH DEPENDING ON RACE DAY).}

AS SOON AS THE LEAD BOAT IS ABOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN THE LAST TURN AND THE FINISH LINE SWITCH WHITE TO CHECKERED.

KEEP THE CHECKERED UP UNTIL THE LAST BOAT COMPLETES HIS LAST LAP.

ONCE THE LAST BOAT PASSES THE CHECKERED FLAG, SWITCH TO YELLOW SO THE BOATS CAN RETURN TO THE PITS.

AFTER ALL BOATS HAVE RETURNED TO THE PITS TAKE ALL FLAGS DOWN.

EMERGENCY:  RAISE THE RED FLAG IMMEDIATLY & TAKE DOWN ALL OTHER FLAGS.  KEEP IT UP UNTIL THE EMERGENCY HAS BEEN CLEARED.

Formerly rule # 15: The red flag means STOP.  Drivers and co-pilots shall raise one hand to show that they acknowledge the red flag.

Formerly rule # 16: Any boat that goes the distance of a straightaway and 1 turn (1/2 lap) under the red flag shall be disqualified for that heat and receive no points.

IF THE RACE WILL NOT CONTINUE, RAISE THE YELLOW AND RED FLAG SO THE BOATS CAN RETURN TO THE PITS.

RETURN UNDER THE RED/YELLOW AT SLOW SPEED ONLY, KEEP CLEAR OF RAMP OR AMBULANCE AREA.

IF THE RACE WILL CONTINUE, LOWER THE RED AND RAISE THE YELLOW AND WHITE FLAG SO THE BOATS WILL KNOW TO RE-STAGE.  FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE FOR START OF RACE.