I agree with all the posts here. A better time limit may have been needed, but more importantly, times of all boats should have been recorded.

Besides the obvious abandon option, the affected boats and/or the RC could also request redress. Granted, this would be a long shot, but with appropriate testimony (witnesses would help), the time of finish of the other boats could be determined. Mark rounding times could also help in this process (of course, that's making the huge assumption that the RC recorded these).

I have seen language written into SIs for distance races to the effect of "If an RC boat is not in position at the finish, each boat shall record her finish time and report it to the RC." This is an accepted practice and would have helped here for sure.

Mike