Normally I score the boat DNS if the boat was near the starting area during her sequence but didn't cross the start line.  In this case I would have scored the boat DNC, but either DNS or DNS is appropriate in my view.   Signaling an OCS could have messed up the boats of the third start. 

It is the same reason that I don't signal an OCS if a boat 100 meters on the course side of the starting line and is sailing towards the line.

One-Design or Handicap? What were the class flags? 

                      OCS is incorrect. See definition of starting. Peter has it right. The boat didn't start.

If A5.3 is in effect (for a long series), I would rather see that boat get scored DNS vs DNC.  At least allow it a small credit for coming to the race area.  For DNC, it gets the same score as all those entries sitting idle in the parking lot.

One-Design or Handicap? 

I would tend to score a boat that comes to the starting area and starts in an earlier start DNS. The boat will have a finish, so DNS seems to make more sense. If there is an incident between them and another boat the part 2 rules apply.

John. The skipper making the error was not so unaware that the mistake was made in a one design fleet. It was handicap.

I don't think you can score the boat DNC.

By the race committee's records, she came to the starting area, otherwise the question could never have been asked.  The purpose of DNC, to encourage boats to participate in races has been fulfilled.  She deserves her points for being there.

I don't think there's justification for:

There's no doubt that the boat did not start in accordance with  Definition Start.  No part of her hull crossed the starting line from the pre start side after her starting signal.

I don't see why OCS is incorrect.   RRS A10 defines OCS as 'Did not start; on the course side of the starting line at her starting signal and failed to start, or broke rule 30.1'  The boat has complied with all these conditions.

There is a small problem with consistency.  Scoring a boat OCS relies on the race committee observing the boat on the course side of the starting line.  A boat, that ininially came to the starting area that has sailed some way down the first leg at her starting signal may be scored OCS if the race committee observes her there, otherwise she will scored DNS.

I think it would be nice if we had a rule or case or RMM guidance saying that a boat that does not start and does not sail in the area on the pre-start side of the starting line in the period between her Warning or Preparatory Signal and her Starting Signal should be scored DNS, not OCS.  That would achieve consistency.  But we don't have that guidance.


At her starting signal the boat's hull was on the course side of the starting line.   RRS 29.1 required the race committee to promptly display flag X with one sound.  Not doing so was an improper omission by the race committee.  There's nothing in  RRS 29.1 about whether the recall signal will be effective or not (but that issue may have an effect on redress).
 

Case 79 addresses a similar situation, but where:

Those conditions do not apply in this scenario.

So the improper omission of the race committee in not signaling a recall may be part of grounds for redress under  RRS 62.1(a).   The other conditions for redress to be given are:

The OP scenario is that the OCS boat is so far down the first leg that she is unlikely to see or hear a recall signal made after her proper starting signal. If the race committee had promptly signaled individual recall after the starting signal this would have not had any effect on the boat's behaviour.  Thus the failure to signal individual recall did not make the boat's score any worse.

The boat is also at fault by crossing the starting line and not returning and starting correctly.

Although there is an improper omission by the race committee, because the other conditions of  RRS 62.1 are not met the boat is not entitled to redress.