SAILBOARD
ANY TIMEIntermediateChallenging

A clear foul that went unpunished

The situation

Port-tack Red fails to keep clear and forces starboard-tack Green to crash-tack. It's an obvious foul. Green, fuming, says nothing on the water, takes no flag, and lodges a written protest at the office an hour after coming ashore.

At first glance

There was a textbook rule 10 breach with a witness — of course the protest committee will disqualify Red.

The question

The foul is undeniable — so why might Red keep her result?

The ruling

Because the protest is likely invalid, and an invalid protest is never heard on its merits. Rule 60.2 requires the protestor to hail “Protest” at the first reasonable opportunity (and to conspicuously display a red flag if her hull is longer than 6 metres). Green did neither and then filed late. With no valid hail or flag, the committee can refuse to hear it, and Red's clear foul goes unpunished. Being right is not enough; you have to protest correctly.

Key point

Hail “Protest” at once and fly your flag — a real foul goes free if the protest itself is invalid (rule 60.2).

Play this on the board

Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.

Rules cited

See the underlying rule: Rule 10 — On Opposite Tacks.

Related cases

  • How to protest · Any Time

    A boat fouls Harper and doesn't take a penalty. Harper wants to protest so it gets sorted out on shore.

  • Right of way — and still penalized · Any Time

    Starboard-tack Green stands on, confident in her rights, as port-tack Red misjudges the cross. Green makes no attempt to avoid Red; the hulls collide hard and a boat is holed. Green protests Red and assumes she's clean.

  • Right of way, but contact · Any Time

    Starboard-tack Green stands on, confident in her rights. Port-tack Red misjudges the cross, the hulls touch, and there's damage.

  • 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

← All cases