Individual Recall and General Recall

When boats cross the start line too early or on the wrong side during a regatta start, the race committee intervenes with targeted recall procedures. Individual Recall and General Recall are two central tools for ensuring fair starts without abandoning every race immediately because of minor errors. Those who know these signals react correctly – and avoid costly disqualifications.

What Does Recall Mean at the Regatta Start?

A recall means calling back boats that did not complete the start in accordance with the rules. The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) distinguish two procedures in Rule 29:

1. Individual Recall (Rule 29.1) – only the affected boats must return
2. General Recall (Rule 29.2) – the entire fleet restarts

Both procedures require that the sailing instructions (SI) provide for a recall procedure – which is the case at practically all fleet-racing regattas.

Individual Recall – Targeted Recall of Individual Boats

When Is Individual Recall Given?

The race committee gives Individual Recall when at least one boat was On Course Side (OCS) – meaning it crossed the start line from the wrong side or touched the line while still on the pre-start side – but not all boats are affected.

Typical situations:

• One or a few boats push over the line too early
• A boat touches the line while the start clock is running
• The majority of the fleet starts cleanly, individual sailors are too aggressive

Signals for Individual Recall

Obligations of Affected Sailors

Boats that knew or reasonably should have known that they were OCS must:

1. Immediately change direction and sail back
2. Cross the start line again completely from the pre-start side
3. Restart in accordance with the rules
4. Complete all of this within the recall time (in the SI usually one minute after the start)

Boats that return in time and restart correctly receive no penalty for the early start. Those who miss the deadline or fail to sail back are scored as Disqualified (DSQ) without a hearing.

How Do I Know If I Am Affected?

Not every boat must return when Flag X is displayed. Only OCS boats are required to. In practice:

• Were you still behind the line at the start signal (as seen from the pre-start side)? → You are not affected
• Did you cross or touch the line before the clock reached zero? → You are affected
• Unsure? → Watch the race committee: some committees display the sail numbers of affected boats on a board or via radio

General Recall – Restart for the Entire Fleet

When Is General Recall Given?

The race committee gives General Recall when it decides that all boats must restart. Reasons may include:

• Many or all boats were OCS
• The start line was unclear or unfairly positioned
• A safety incident directly at the start
• A strong wind shift or disturbance made a fair start impossible
• The race committee identified an error in its own start procedure

Signals for General Recall

With General Recall, all boats must sail back and prepare for a new start. There is no individual penalty for the faulty first start – the race is essentially "rewound".

Individual Recall vs. General Recall – Comparison

Sequence Over Time

Individual Recall – Process Flow

General Recall – Process Flow

Typical Start Sequence After General Recall

After a General Recall, the following sequence typically takes place:

1. All boats sail back to the pre-start area
2. The race committee continues the start program or displays AP (Answering Pennant) for a short postponement
3. A new start sequence begins – often with shortened preparation time
4. The fleet starts again under the same or adjusted conditions

Practical Examples from Regatta Life

Example 1: Optimist Regatta with 40 Boats

At the start, three Optimists push over the line two seconds too early. The remaining 37 boats start cleanly. The race committee displays Flag X. The three affected boats turn around, cross the line again from behind, and restart. The race continues for everyone – the three late starters merely lose time.

Example 2: 49er World Championship with Strong Current

In strong current, more than 80 percent of the fleet pushes over the line too early. The race committee recognises that a fair competition with only a few correctly started boats is not possible. General Recall with First Substitute. After two minutes, a new start sequence begins; the SI allow a shortened 5-4-1 start program in this case.

Example 3: J/70 Club Regatta

A boat touches the line exactly at the start signal – borderline case. The race committee gives Individual Recall. The boat sails back, restarts, and finishes in 12th place. Without sailing back, it would have been DSQ.

Checklist for Sailors at Recall Signals

• Keep flags at the race committee constantly in view
• At Flag X: Immediately check whether your own boat was OCS
• If OCS: Turn immediately and cross the line again from behind
• Know the recall time from the SI (usually 1 minute)
• At First Substitute: Sail back immediately, regardless of OCS status
• Pay attention to race committee radio/communication (sail number announcements)
• After successful Individual Recall: Focus on tactics, don't dwell on the mistake
• After General Recall: Rethink your start plan – what went wrong?

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Not Sailing Back When Unsure

Many sailors hope they "slipped through". The race committee decides via photo finish, tracker, or observation. When in doubt, sail back – that is the safe strategy.

Mistake 2: Tacking Too Late After Individual Recall

The recall time is tight. Those who only react after 45 seconds often cannot complete the return in time. Immediate tacking right after the signal is mandatory.

Mistake 3: Ignoring General Recall and Continuing to Sail

Even those who started cleanly must return at General Recall. Those who continue sailing risk serious protests and disqualification.

Mistake 4: Confusing Recall with Black Flag

With Black Flag there is no sailing back – affected boats are disqualified immediately. The signals and consequences are fundamentally different.

Role of the Race Committee

The race committee bears great responsibility in recall decisions:

With Individual Recall it must quickly and reliably identify OCS boats. Modern regattas use:

• GPS trackers and live tracking
• Cameras at the start line
• Observation boats at both ends of the line
• Photo-finish systems at major events

With General Recall it must weigh up: Is a restart worthwhile, or is the situation suitable for individual recalls? Too many General Recalls delay the regatta schedule; too few can make the competition unfair.

Recall in Connection with Other Start Procedures

Recall procedures do not stand in isolation. They form one level in the escalation ladder of start control:

1. Normal start with recall option (Rule 29)
2. U-Flag start – first infringement in the last minute is penalised
3. Black Flag start – no sailing back, immediate DSQ for infringement
4. AP/Postponement – start postponement in unsuitable conditions

Which procedure applies is stated in the sailing instructions and explained before the first start in the briefing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Recall and General Recall

Do I Have to Return If I Am Unsure?

When in doubt, yes at Flag X if you touched the line before the start.

How Much Time Do I Have?

According to the SI, typically 1 minute after the start.

Can I Protest If I Was Wrongly Considered OCS?

Yes, within the protest time limit.

Does a General Recall Count as a Race?

No, the race is restarted.

What If the Race Committee Gives No Signal?

Without proof of OCS, no recall; if the RC made an error, redress may be possible.

Tactical Considerations

For ambitious sailors, recalls are more than rules knowledge:

• Those who sail back quickly and efficiently at Individual Recall lose fewer boats than slow returners
• At General Recall it is worth analysing the first start: Was the favoured end overcrowded? Was the timing strategy wrong?
• In the scoring, a DSQ from a missed Individual Recall can cost an entire series – discipline at the start pays off

Related Topics

• Start Signals and Flags – Overview
• AP, Postponement and Abandonment
• Black Flag and U-Flag
• DNF, DNS, DSQ and OCS
• Timed Approach to the Start Line