Glossary · Racing
Start
Also called: Départ, ligne de départ, start line, coup de canon, OCS, départ anticipé, false start
Crossing the line between the committee boat and a buoy at the starting signal.
The start is given by a signal (gun, flag). A boat crossing the line too early is “OCS” (on course side): it must return to restart or takes a time penalty. In offshore racing, starts often draw a crowd of spectator boats.