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