44.2 Penalty Line
The penalty line on a leg to mark 1 or the finish is a line perpendicular to the axis of the leg
the penalized yacht is on. The penalty line on all other legs is a line perpendicular to the
true wind direction. The penalty line is located at the specified distance from the center of
the penalized yacht towards the mark(s) defining the beginning of that leg.
(a) In a Match Race, for an infringement between yachts on the same leg of the course
or within the zone of a mark: when the penalty is signaled after the penalized yacht
has started, the penalty line is established when the penalty is signaled and the
penalized yacht is within the course limits. The penalty line maintains a distance of
two hull lengths behind the other yacht in the match except when a yacht is
penalized under 44.2(a) and she has an existing 44.2(a) or 44.2(c) penalty, in which
case the penalties are combined and the remaining penalty line distance is added to
the distance of the new 44.2(a) penalty.
(b) The penalty line for OCS is established when the penalty is signaled and the yacht
is within the course limits.
(i) The penalty line maintains a distance of two hull lengths behind all yachts that
have not been penalized and have started within 3 seconds of the starting
signal.
(ii) If no yachts have started within 3 seconds of the starting signal without a
penalty, or if in a Match Race both yachts are OCS or the other yacht has a
penalty, the penalty line is established at a distance of two hull lengths behind
the starting line and advanced according to 44.2(d).
(c) The penalty line for infractions other than those of 44.2(a) or 44.2(b) is established
at a distance of two hull lengths behind the penalized yacht when the penalty is
signaled and the yacht is within the course limits, except when:
(i) a yacht is penalized prior to starting in which case the penalty line is
established behind the yacht when she starts; or
(ii) a yacht is carrying a penalty, in which case the existing penalty line distance is
increased by the distance specified by the new penalty.
(d) Once established, the penalty line of 44.2(b)(ii) or 44.2(c) is moved toward the next
mark or center of the penalized yacht at 100% of the universal VMG / VMC based
on the wind speed and direction, current, and course to the next mark for 10
seconds, and thereafter at 90% of the universal VMG / VMC based on the wind
speed and direction, current, and course to the next mark. However, while a yacht
taking a penalty is in the zone of a rounding mark, the distance of her penalty line
and the time until the speed of her penalty line increases does not change.