Forum: Match and Team Racing Rules
Contact Between Teammates
0
(disclosure: question is being posed by myself, a mediocre high school coach)
Consider the situation where boat X enters the zone at a leeward mark to be left to port (Mark 3) clear ahead of teammate Y. X slows down to windward of the mark on starboard tack in an attempt to trap boat A outside of her and let teammate Y pass A. Boat A sails well clear of the situation and is no longer a factor. Boat Y and Boat X simultaneously round the mark with outside boat (Y) rounding too close to X, such that on boat X's gybe there is contact between Boat X's boom and Boat Y's shroud. All parties agree that there is a penalty on boat Y. Boat X indicates to their teammate that they will take a one turn penalty, which they promptly complete, with a belief that in a situation involving two teammates "either boat can take the penalty turn".
Now the questions:
(1) In an non-umpired event or limited umpire event, if Boat A (who witnessed the situation) promptly protested Boat Y when they do not exonerate themselves, is this a valid protest?
(2) If it is a valid protest, and is filed with RC at the finish, what would be the decision of the protest hearing. Again, operating under the assumption that Boat Y acknowledge that they did not give room to Boat X at mark 3.
(3) In an umpired event, what should the actions and/or decisions of the umpire be?
If it is helpful context, I am currently operating under the (possibly misguided) belief that D1.3(d) indicates that if there is contact then Part 2 rules and D1.3(a) apply to the boat that is in penalty not to "either teammate". Furthermore, Call L3 (2021-2024 Call Book) and TR Umpire Manual 9.3 (2021-2024) suggest that an umpire can penalize the situation and there is nothing I see that suggests that it matters who has taken a one turn penalty (update for 2025?).
Thank you, in advance for any thoughts.
Consider the situation where boat X enters the zone at a leeward mark to be left to port (Mark 3) clear ahead of teammate Y. X slows down to windward of the mark on starboard tack in an attempt to trap boat A outside of her and let teammate Y pass A. Boat A sails well clear of the situation and is no longer a factor. Boat Y and Boat X simultaneously round the mark with outside boat (Y) rounding too close to X, such that on boat X's gybe there is contact between Boat X's boom and Boat Y's shroud. All parties agree that there is a penalty on boat Y. Boat X indicates to their teammate that they will take a one turn penalty, which they promptly complete, with a belief that in a situation involving two teammates "either boat can take the penalty turn".
Now the questions:
(1) In an non-umpired event or limited umpire event, if Boat A (who witnessed the situation) promptly protested Boat Y when they do not exonerate themselves, is this a valid protest?
(2) If it is a valid protest, and is filed with RC at the finish, what would be the decision of the protest hearing. Again, operating under the assumption that Boat Y acknowledge that they did not give room to Boat X at mark 3.
(3) In an umpired event, what should the actions and/or decisions of the umpire be?
If it is helpful context, I am currently operating under the (possibly misguided) belief that D1.3(d) indicates that if there is contact then Part 2 rules and D1.3(a) apply to the boat that is in penalty not to "either teammate". Furthermore, Call L3 (2021-2024 Call Book) and TR Umpire Manual 9.3 (2021-2024) suggest that an umpire can penalize the situation and there is nothing I see that suggests that it matters who has taken a one turn penalty (update for 2025?).
Thank you, in advance for any thoughts.
Comments
[You must be signed in to add a comment]
Appendix D no longer provides for 'limited umpiring'. A race is either umpired or it is not.
Taking a Turns Penalty has nothing to do with exoneration.
RRS D1.2(a) provides A boat may protest another boat, but not for an alleged breach of a rule of Part 2 unless ... the incident involved contact between members of the other team;
The only breach that is not exonerated is Y not giving mark-room.
The One Turn Penalty by X is irrelevant to the breach by Y.
Decision: Penalise Y.
Penalise Y in accordance with TR Call L3.
Yes, RRS D 1.3(d) only allows no penalty for breach between boats of the same team if there is no contact.
If there is contact a boat may be penalised.
In accordance with RRS D 1.3(a), X 'may' have broken a rule, if fact she did break 2 rules, so she may take a penalty.
X taking a penalty is irrelevant to breaches by Y.
RRS D2.3(b) says umpires may penalise Y.
TR Umpires Manual 9.3 says umpires should penalise Y.
Call L3 says imperatively 'penalise Y'.
Obviously, if Y had taken a penalty turn, she would not be further penalised.
Jerry and anybody else: am I right in thinking that where Appendix D refers to 'breaks a rule' it should be read down as 'breaks a rule and is not exonerated'?
When umpiring a college/high school event you might have a 1 in 10 chance to be in the perfect position to make the call of whether X or Y broke the rule. I agree with the theory but in real time tough call
I suppose, a follow up here, is whether there exists a rule or case that explicitly allows teammates to take penalties for each other.
Can anyone explain the rationale for, once switching off penalisation for Part 2 breaches between team mates, Appendix D switches penalisation back on if there is contact without damage, for which a boat may well be [now automatically] exonerated? Is it to protect boats supplied by OA? or some other reason?
As commented, though, you have to be certain that the boat broke a rule.