Top dog

 

A copy of my post on the Merlin forum:

 

I wasn't there, and my knowledge of the incident is limited to what I have read on this and another forum, but if what I understand is correct then I'm very pleased that Geoff is appealing because I think it sets an appalling precendent.

My understanding is that Geoff Carveth, along with others, was black-flagged on the start line. Whilst other boats returned to shore, the showers and the bar, Geoff sailed the race, finished in 3rd place and then protested the black flag. After consideration, the protest committee upheld his appeal and awarded him average points.

If that understanding is correct, then the protest committee is wrong. Average points is all they could have awarded had Geoff returned to shore with the other competitors because they would have no way of knowing how he would have fared in the race. But as he sailed the race, there are only two possible outcomes:

1) The black flag was correctly applied to his boat, he was disqualified from racing and his third place is null and void.

2) The black flag was incorrectly applied to his boat, he was therefore racing legally and entitled to his third place.

In upholding his protest the protest committee have opted for 2) and the only option should be to reinstate him in his proper finishing place. To apply 'average points' in such a situation is to try to create a middle ground where there patently is none. In my opnion this makes a mockery of the rules and creates a very dangerous precedent which would have ramifications far beyond this particular incident.