Suppose you have a finish line, and the prior mark is on the opposite side of some land.
If the land is ignored, the direction to cross the line would be North to South, BUT the land alters the direction a boat must sail, so the natural crossing would be South to North.

My view is that the latter is the correct way to finish, but I am being challenged on this and would welcome your views.

EDIT UPDATE. Of course, as soon as I posted this I finally read the revised case 145 which states in part "the imaginary string is only influenced, constrained or ‘caught’ by the marks that begin, bound or end each leg of the course established and described by the race committee. Islands, headlands, shallow water or other non-navigable water do not influence, constrain or ‘catch’ the taut string."

That seems to close the question, so now we get to the question of how to fix this (to my view) inane ruling. Sailing instructions should perhaps state "A boat shall not sail over land on any leg of the course".  The problem would plague not only a finish line question but also creating a need to circle some marks where the "string" has been moved away from the course.

Here are two alternate views of the same course from mark RBAY to the finish.