Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing

Exoneration of boat forced to OCS

P
David Dalli
Nationality: Malta
Certifications:
  • Judge In Training
  • Club Race Officer
Can you please answer this question.  A right of way boat in a U flagged start is forced to be OCS to avoid a collision with another boat. The ROW boat sails the course without returning to the prestart side and subsequently lodges a successful  protest against the give way boat. Is the ROW boat exonerated under rule 64.1 c ?
Created: 19-Oct-26 22:50

Comments

Warren Nethercote
Nationality: Canada
0
Rule 30.3 requires disqualification without reservation if the race is sailed in that start; it is sufficient for the boat to be in the triangle, regardless of cause.  To reinstate her would require an award of redress for which none of the options in Rule 62 applies.
Created: 19-Oct-26 23:17
Tim Hohmann
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Umpire In Training
  • Regional Judge
0
Warren, fair point on redress. But I'm not sure I see the 30.3 disqualification as irrevocable, it seems to me on valid protest the boat could be exonerated under 64.1(a).  That seems like a more fair result to me. 

However the boat still has an obligation to start properly, and being forced OCS doesn't prevent her from doing so. So in David's scenario the boat might be exonerated for breaking rule 30.1 and have the UFD vacated but would still be scored OCS. 
Created: 19-Oct-27 00:34
Tracy Heritage
Nationality: Australia
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • International Race Officer
  • National Measurer
1
See Case 140
Regards,
Tracy
Created: 19-Oct-27 00:40
P
David Dalli
Nationality: Malta
Certifications:
  • Judge In Training
  • Club Race Officer
0
Thank you lady and gents.
Case 140 clears up the question of my post. But the situation in a restarted Black flagged race seems very harsh on the ROW boat and super lenient on the offending boat.
Created: 19-Oct-27 06:35
Gordon Davies
Nationality: Ireland
Certifications:
  • International Judge
0
Dura lex sed lex!

The law is harsh but it is the law!
Created: 19-Oct-29 10:49
Philip Hubbell
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Club Race Officer
  • Judge In Training
1
I doubt we would find many U- or black-flagged OCS boats that would not claim they were pushed over the line.


Created: 19-Oct-29 22:30
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