A competitor in trouble
The situation
Racing along in a good position, a sailor sees a competitor capsized and tangled in her rig, clearly in trouble and unable to free herself.
The question
Do you have to stop and help, even though it's a race?
The ruling
Yes. Rule 1.1 — the most important rule in the book — requires every boat and competitor to give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger. You stop and help. If helping costs you places, you can ask for redress under rule 61, and your score can be adjusted so you aren't penalised for doing the right thing. Safety and helping people always come before the result.
Someone in danger? Stop and help (rule 1.1) — and you can get redress for places you lost (rule 61).
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
- Rule 1.1 — Helping Those in Danger
- Rule 61 — Redress
Related cases
- A capsized boat ahead · Any Time
Charging downwind, Ava sees a boat just ahead that has capsized, the sailor in the water beside it, right in her path.
- Run aground · Any Time
Near a shallow shore a sailor runs aground and is stuck fast; another boat is bearing down on her.
- Getting your race put right · Any Time
A sailor is fouled by a boat that doesn't take her turns, and the contact breaks her rudder fitting so she can't finish the race.
- You fouled someone — now what? · Any Time
Beating upwind, Jonah on port tack doesn't quite clear a starboard-tack boat, who has to luff sharply to avoid him. There's no contact and no damage, but Jonah knows he broke the rule.
Related guide
- How to file a sailing protest: the step-by-step
How to file a sailing protest under RRS Part 5: hail "Protest", show your red flag if required, beat the time limit, and write clear, factual evidence.