BruceK
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Winners are calculated on handicap but "first across the line"(Line Honours)is highly contested. Wild Oats XI crossed 26 minutes before rival maxi LDV Comanche.
But back in Sydney Harbour, just after the start, there was a classic port/starboard incident between the boats,Comanche on starboard, Wild Oats on port.At/after the last possible moment, WI tacked to avoid Comanche but so late she "tacked in Comanche`s water". To avoid colliding with the stern of WI, the prospect of damage eliminating one or both boats from the race and crew injuries, Comanche took avoiding action by luffing and slowing. Her crew immediately called "Protest" and displayed the protest flag.
The International Jury hearing the protest post race found WI had infringed and awarded a 1 hour penalty.
Having seen the video from several angles it is an obvious simple basic rule breach, not to be expected from highly skilled race crews, or even unskilled amateurs.
WI had the option of curing its breach by performing "a 720", ie 2 full 360 degree turns but chose not to.
The penalty changed the line honours result, and that is unusual. I`m not familiar with the law of protest penalties but Comanche certainly did not lose an hour avoiding WI, the penalty must include both punitive and deterrence elements. Putting 2 boats and crews at risk is just wrong. It could include something for WI failing to take the 720 option in the face of her obvious breach, a kind of "plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity",and for no contrition, fighting the offence to the death. I do not think that whether the decision changes the result is a relevant consideration, though it must have been obvious to the Jury that it could.
Personally, I blame testosterone, and hubris. A shame, especially as the lead boats broke race records in amazingly fast racing with a strong following NE breeze which had many boats sailing at 25knots plus in near perfect conditions.
But back in Sydney Harbour, just after the start, there was a classic port/starboard incident between the boats,Comanche on starboard, Wild Oats on port.At/after the last possible moment, WI tacked to avoid Comanche but so late she "tacked in Comanche`s water". To avoid colliding with the stern of WI, the prospect of damage eliminating one or both boats from the race and crew injuries, Comanche took avoiding action by luffing and slowing. Her crew immediately called "Protest" and displayed the protest flag.
The International Jury hearing the protest post race found WI had infringed and awarded a 1 hour penalty.
Having seen the video from several angles it is an obvious simple basic rule breach, not to be expected from highly skilled race crews, or even unskilled amateurs.
WI had the option of curing its breach by performing "a 720", ie 2 full 360 degree turns but chose not to.
The penalty changed the line honours result, and that is unusual. I`m not familiar with the law of protest penalties but Comanche certainly did not lose an hour avoiding WI, the penalty must include both punitive and deterrence elements. Putting 2 boats and crews at risk is just wrong. It could include something for WI failing to take the 720 option in the face of her obvious breach, a kind of "plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity",and for no contrition, fighting the offence to the death. I do not think that whether the decision changes the result is a relevant consideration, though it must have been obvious to the Jury that it could.
Personally, I blame testosterone, and hubris. A shame, especially as the lead boats broke race records in amazingly fast racing with a strong following NE breeze which had many boats sailing at 25knots plus in near perfect conditions.
