Advertising via sail numbers? 55

Originally posted by boatshed Why should the competitor be allowed to race if  out-of-class sails were declared ?

The applicability of RRS 78.1 is a separate item, and one which I think badly needs clarification.

But in terms of basic sportsmanship I think there's a yawning gulf between declaring the use of equipment that does not measure and not doing so. This is especially the case if there was, as stated above, a specific requirement in the SIs that Class rules should be adhered to.

To put it brutally, if your boat was out of class, you knew it, and did not declare it, then I think you are in rule 2 territory. If you did declare it, whatever the rights and wrongs of accepting the entry might be, I don't believe Rule 2 applies.

Originally posted by JimC [QUOTE=boatshed] If you did declare it, whatever the rights and wrongs of accepting the entry might be, I don't believe Rule 2 applies.

So, it's up to the RO to accept or decline the entry of a boat that declares it's self out of class ?

Originally posted by GarethT Just like, I'd imagine, most of the people expressing an opinion about this, I was not there. I would imagine that there were a number of Fireball sailors in attendance, sponsored by a rival sail-loft, who would have certainly noticed anything untoward and been perfectly able to report it to the RO.   Until the RRS are amended to include 'trial by internet', surely protesting on the day is the only way to resolve issues like this.

Edited by pondmonkey - 07 Feb 13 at 9:12am

not much at all Gareth in my not so humble opinion, if we are refering to the original post and questions raised, that is....  any vitriol extolled against the Little Johnny Fanclub was more in response to the tone of their engagement with the thread.

Edited by pondmonkey - 07 Feb 13 at 9:15am

Originally posted by rb_stretch If a competitor is knowingly out of class and declares so to the RO beforehand, the RO has basically three choices:   - let them race as any other class boat - penalise their handicap - not let them enter the race

If these are the choices the RO can make, then the first two cannot be the right decisions.  

First, the boat is out of class and will successfully be protested be any of the competitors.

Second, the RO has no experience, evidence or knowledge of what a correct PY should be and the RYA PY scheme can not help.  By accepting the entry and adjusting the PY, the RO would rightly be open to protest by any  competitor regarding the adjusted PY and it's correctness - including the out-of-class entry. 

The third choice is the only fair decision which is right for the race to proceed and not make a nonsense out of the race.