Exoneration for hitting a mark

No turn required from you. Trust you didn't forget to hail protest.

Originally posted by iGRF It's a doddle that not having to reround the mark turns exoneration, especially in dodgy tide, you just have to bear off and get your nose just enough round it so it scrapes down the side in tide and happily do your spin as you get carried off down tide whilst those in pursuit spit feathers trying to out pace the tide to even round it. Not entirely the penalty it used to be.

Is it not a question of going for it and taking the penalty if you get it wrong? I raced Raceboards for many years and the standard of rule observance was dire. It seemed pointless doing turns unless the threat of protest was there as you knew nobody else was going to bother. Now I'm back in dinghies where rule observance is significantly better I do turns without being asked if I know I'm in the wrong but if it's debatable and nobody shouts I'll sail on ('cos that's what everybody else does).

Originally posted by iGRF and happily do your spin as you get carried off down tide whilst those in pursuit spit feathers

44.1 b if the boat ... despite taking a penalty, gained a significant advantage in the race or series by her breach her penalty shall be to retire.

So it doesn't matter whether its a misjudgement or not, a turn isn't good enough if you get an advantage like that, you are required to retire. No need to invoke RRS2.

Edited by JimC - 18 May 21 at 9:27pm

• In the last race of a series, in very strong adverse current, Roger and Carla are nearly even as they approach the final windward mark. Both are barely able to make positive progress over the ground against the current, and both are barely fetching the mark. Roger manages to round the mark without tacking but, as he rounds, he hits it and it rolls down his leeward side. He takes a One-Turn Penalty while being swept towards the next mark by the current. Carla tacks twice to avoid touching the mark. After she finally rounds, Roger is well ahead of her and he goes on to win the series by one point over Carla.

taken from sailingworld.com/how-to/situations-when-judgment-required/

The article even addresses the issue of lack of cases/appeals around the "significant advantage" aspect.