Man overboard!!

not a common occurrence this, but did happen at our club today, and has ignited some debate.

Coming up to the finish line, in a 2 handed boat, threw in one last tack to cross the line, missed the toe straps and exited the boat head first. This left the crew to stop the boat capsizing, in the course of which the boat crossed the finish line.

the unfortunate exit from the boat happened within 10 feet of the line.

Helm never let go of the main, and proceeded to haul one very wet body back into the boat, by which time the boat had cleared the line.

there was no infringement with any other boatand did not collide with the finishing marks.  the question is has the boat legally finished, or does it have to go back and re-cross the finish line.

As the helm was still "connected" as he was hanging onto the mainsheet when the boat finished, it could be argued that all is OK.

 

Might depend if the boat speeded up when he "fell" out and so there maybe "illegal propulsion" going on. 

 

 

By strict reading of the rules, they proabably should have circled back to course side of the line and recrossed. However, I reckon the club should honour this incident in some way come prizegiving, as it sounds frickin funny

Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd 47.2 No person on board shall intentionally leave, except when ill or injured, or to help a person or vessel in danger, or to swim. A person leaving the boat by accident or to swim shall be back on board before the boat continues in the race.

Wait so it's actually written in the rules that you can leave the boat for a swim, so if it's an absolute drifter of a race on a hot day the crew could jump overboard as soon as you start then swim around the finish line to be picked up just before the boat finishes, anybody want to try that?

Originally posted by alstorer Read that rule again, Charlie.

Oops missed the continues bit