What do DNF, OCS, BFD and the other letters mean in sailing results?
I · Intermediate · Racing and scoring · 2 of 11The letters in a results table say why a boat has no normal finishing place. OCS means it was over the start line at the signal and did not come back. DNF is did not finish, DSQ disqualified and DNE a disqualification that cannot be dropped. The glossary lists them under scoring abbreviations.
How it works
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DNC | Did not start; did not come to the starting area |
| DNS | Did not start (other than DNC and OCS) |
| OCS | On the course side of the starting line at the starting signal and failed to start, or broke the I flag rule |
| ZFP | 20% penalty under the Z flag rule |
| UFD | Disqualification under the U flag rule |
| BFD | Disqualification under the black flag rule |
| SCP | Scoring Penalty imposed |
| NSC | Did not sail the course |
| DNF | Did not finish |
| RET | Retired |
| DSQ | Disqualification |
| DNE | Disqualification that is not excludable |
| RDG | Redress given |
| DPI | Discretionary penalty imposed |
- What most of them score: a boat that did not sail the course, retired or was disqualified gets points for the place one more than the number of boats entered.
- Moving up: when a boat is disqualified, retires after finishing or is scored NSC, each boat with a worse finishing place moves up one place.
- ZFP and SCP: the boat keeps a score, made worse by a percentage.
Tricky cases
Is DSQ worse than DNF on the scoreboard?
No. Both score one more than the number of boats entered. The difference is that DNE, the stronger form of disqualification, cannot be the score a boat drops.
What is the difference between DNC and DNS?
DNC is a boat that did not come to the starting area. DNS is one that came and did not start, for a reason other than being over the line.
A boat finished third and was then disqualified. Does fourth become third?
Yes. Each boat with a worse finishing place is moved up one place.
Why the rule exists
A bare number would hide the difference between a boat that broke a rule and one that broke a mast. Fixed codes let any sailor read any results sheet in the world.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Racing Rules of Sailing | As above | RRS A10; RRS A5; RRS A6 |
| Redress | When a score is adjusted as redress, other boats' scores do not change unless the protest committee decides so | RRS A6.2 |
From the rule book
World Sailing The Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028, Appendix A (rules A5, A6 and A10) and rule 90.3 (b). In force from 1 January 2025. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: The Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028 (PDF).