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.
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.
Hail “Protest” at once and fly your flag — a real foul goes free if the protest itself is invalid (rule 60.2).
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
- Rule 60.2 — Intention to Protest
- Rule 60.1 — Right to Protest
- Rule 10 — On Opposite Tacks
See the underlying rule: Rule 10 — On Opposite Tacks.