January 3, 201511 yr Interesting incident that happened just last weekend.Boat A was approaching the Start line on Starboard, with about 5-6 seconds to go.Boat B was approaching the start line on Port at the same time.Just before the start, boat B, (still on Port) collided with boat A (still on starboard) just forward of amidships on Boat A's leeward side and forced both himself and boat A over the line.The start signal sounded and the principle race officer called both boats over the line.The rest of the fleet started correctly and sailed on.Both boats returned back over the start line and re started. Boat B after doing his penalty turn.Was the Race Officer correct, in his actions.
January 3, 201511 yr Yes. The PRO was correct.This is covered in ISAF Q&A Case C 001 Q&A 2014.015Published: 4 August 2014Just because a boat forced you over early, does not remove the requirement to for you to come back and start correctly. John
January 3, 201511 yr John,Is there any time when a boat that is ocs at the start would be exonerated?Darin
January 3, 201511 yr Hi Darin,No, there is nothing in the cases that removes the obligation to start correctly. For example, you cannot do an R 44 penalty - you must come back and restart.Some 'big boat' long distance race SIs may allow a time penalty instead - but that is not for us.The case that I mentioned was a an R 30.3 Black flag start. In that case a Protest Committee could exonerate the ROW boat from the black flag under R 64.1.a, but the boat must still start correctly.John
January 4, 201511 yr Author Thanks John. I can confess i was the Race officer and it was put to me that i should have had a General Recall. Humbug!
January 4, 201511 yr Hi Vinnie,Yes, you did the right thing. R 29.2 General Recall is allowed if there are 'unidentified' boats, or if the RC made a procedural error. As neither of these conditions existed, it would have been wrong to make a General Recall.John
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