Hitting a mark having been hit

   Having watched the final race of the Extreme sailing series act I am unclear on why exactly J.P. Morgan were given a penalty. As far as I could see they tacked onto starboard more than three boat lengths from the windward mark, with a boat to windward of them they were unable to luff up to avoid T boning Alinghi (on port), and with The Wave Muscat (on Port) T boning them amidships so they couldn't bear away so they couldn't avoided the collision. As a result of stopping dead they hit the mark once they had got underway again. According to the commentary this was what the penalty was incurred for. I am probably looking in the wrong place in the rules but I can't find anything on hitting marks as a result of being hit. Was J.P.Morgan penalised unfairly? Or was the Umpires deception in line with the rules?

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
Reuben T Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 22 Mar 13 Location: Lyme Regis Online Status: Offline Posts: 74	Post Options Post Reply Quote Reuben T Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Hitting a mark having been hit Posted: 25 Aug 14 at 10:28pm
	Having watched the final race of the Extreme sailing series act I am unclear on why exactly J.P. Morgan were given a penalty. As far as I could see they tacked onto starboard more than three boat lengths from the windward mark, with a boat to windward of them they were unable to luff up to avoid T boning Alinghi (on port), and with The Wave Muscat (on Port) T boning them amidships so they couldn't bear away so they couldn't avoided the collision. As a result of stopping dead they hit the mark once they had got underway again. According to the commentary this was what the penalty was incurred for. I am probably looking in the wrong place in the rules but I can't find anything on hitting marks as a result of being hit. Was J.P.Morgan penalised unfairly? Or was the Umpires deception in line with the rules?

craiggo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 01 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1810	Post Options Post Reply Quote craiggo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Aug 14 at 10:37pm
	Given that BAR (JP Morgan) were moving, you could argue they had sufficient way to have avoided the mark. I suspect Ben took the gamble that by dragging the boat around the mark he could get going much quicker than the other two boats, do his penalty and still be well in front, which as it turned out he was. For me however, he had insufficient boat speed and made some tactical blunders, not least sailing downwind to leeward of all the leaders coming back up the course which let Alinghi come back at him. What I dont understand is how Alinghi appears to have not completed a penalty and has still been given the result? In the video and on the GPS tracks Alinghi undwinds around the windward mark but then completes no additional turns.

gordon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Sep 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1037	Post Options Post Reply Quote gordon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Aug 14 at 9:58am
	2 rules can give exoneration for hitting a mark - rule 21 and 64.1a. From your description - if a boat tacks on to starboard then is unable to avoid T boning another boat then a penalty for breaking rule 15 seems possible. Do you have the link to the video?
	Gordon

gordon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Sep 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1037	Post Options Post Reply Quote gordon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Aug 14 at 10:29am
	Having now seen the video: JP Morgan had completed her tack and given Alinghi and Muscat room to keep clear. Muscat did not give Alinghi room at the mark (breaking 18.2) and did not give room to Alinghi to pass the obstructions (the boats coming in on starboard) Muscat also broke rule 10 (port and starboard). Alinghi passed the wrong side of the mark (compelled by Muscat?), and broke rule 10. JP Morgan having got clear of the other boats bore away and hoisted her gennaker. She then touched the mark when already on a reach. JP Morgan was not compelled to touch the mark by the action of a boat breaking a rule = penalty. Looks like the umpires did a good job sorting that out.
	Gordon