Bring back the Biff

Originally posted by rodney ...only to discard one of the competitors' rights under these rules when it suits them?

They probably suspect that if they didn't have that exception half the competitors would put in a redress claim if a press boat got within one mile of the race course, or a helicopter within three miles.

More here from an NA perpective http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/

Also, just a little thought, why is it that ISAF invest significant time, money and resources on producing the RRS to provide us with the framework to allow for safe and fair sailing only to discard one of the competitors' rights under these rules when it suits them?  Rule 62 is there to ensure that a competitor can seek redress if he  or she feels that their result has been affected by 'an improper action or omission of the race committee, protest committee or organizing authority' so it seems that ISAF have declared themselves above this basic right of 'fair sailing'.

Edited by rodney - 13 Dec 11 at 7:15am

One thing I've thought all along is that if they ban him over the Olympics, they completely undermine the value of that competition as they did the worlds. If the best sailor isn't there, it is no longer a competition of the best in the world; it becomes a competition for who's second, and the gold medal loses its value. If he takes part and is beaten, he obviously isn't the best, but if he - almost certainly the best Finn sailor in the world - isn't present, it becomes a meaningless victory. Just another point to consider in a very difficult situation.

The IJ will and can and will only report the facts found in the protest room to ISAF and YA. So the fact was found that he didnt 'hit' anyone will go in BA favour...but and gross misconduct suspensions are running between 16-24 months.