Daily Lift

Five seconds prior to the start, Boat M is reaching along the starting line awaiting the starting gun so she can luff to close-hauled and start the race. Five to eight seconds later, and still no starting gun, some boats luff to close-hauled and start.  Ten seconds later the gun sounds and M starts.  She finishes poorly in the race are requests redress under rule 62.1(a), Redress.  At the hearing the race committee chairman explains that the class flag was lowered precisely at the correct time but the shotgun misfired several times until it finally went off ten seconds late.  You are on the protest committee; how would you decide this? Come back tomorrow for the answer!