You are right, of course, but I think this was an unfortunate change in rules that did not take catamarans and fast planing monohulls (like 49ers and other skiffs) into consideration. I think that protest flags are even more important for us than for big boats.

At the speeds we travel when it is windy, and the way we come together and separate so quickly (like mating fruit flies), it is sometimes difficult to hear somebody who is hailing "Protest." So a VISUAL signal like a protest flag can be very helpful.

I do not understand why they eliminated the requirement for a protest flag on the small boats.