Ben Ainslie AC Team annoucement

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by Jon711 the RYA or ISAF, would have the balls to ban Ben from racing?? And I'm not convinced that it would be deserved anywa Or Australian Sailing, who also have a voice... I have no idea whether he'll cop a ban or not, and I'm very glad its not my decision, but some sort of further penalty wouldn't be hard to justify. And if the precedents suggest a ban is justified and the RYA don't impose it because its Ben Ainslie then they don't deserve to be running the sport. We certainly don't want to end up like Soccer. I'd tend to hope it would work the other way on the "to whom much is given, much is expected" principle.

Jim,

I can not totally disagree, but both parties admitted they were at fault, would you also envisage a ban for the camera boat?? If not why just pick on Ben?

Jon

Originally posted by Jack Sparrow Originally posted by Jon711 why just pick on Ben? because he broke a rule that we all sail under.

'xactly so. And while the camera boat crew were selfish, thoughtless and arguably made the event less of a fair contest, they didn't actually break any rules I am aware of.

On this video, there is mention that Ben had already complained earlier in the event about that particular media boat.

Hasn't Ben already been penalised enough by being disqualified from the Worlds?  I believe even that was too harse and should only have been disqualified from that days racing.  From what I have heard, the camera boats had been a nuisance on several occasions and complaints had already been made.  What Nationality was the camera boat and what penalty did they receive?  Were they banned off the race course for the rest of the races?  Did the competitors from their country benefit from Ben being banned?  I, for one, will be very disappointed if the RYA do not support Ben and make sure that he takes part in the Olympics this year.  He is one of this country's best sailors (if not the best) and we should support him.

fuBAR!