Was this 18Ft Skiff Disqualied at Race End?

[Noel Heslop]

I am just a beginner, so seeing these old fellows sail a classic 18ft skiff, close up, with a very much Australian laidback commentary is a pleasure.

Hope you all enjoy the footage.

At 61, I bought Breezy, my first yacht, so with no real experience of racing, I wonder what happens to the "unlucky" finisher?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFGINs_4xrs

[D Rush]

Brillant

I am rusty on my racing rules (PHRF racing rules) and I don't know if the rules are different down under..... If the boat had touched the mark, in this case the committee boat, before finishing the race, he would have a "one turn" penalty, he would need to circle the mark.

But since he seemed to have cross the finish line before entangling the committee boat, I believe he had finished the race and would not be penalized.

I love that the committee boat crew is standing there in disbelief.
Brillant

[Ron Churgin]

Some of the best coverage of sailboat racing I have seen. Very interesting and informed commentary.

Thanks so much for posting!

[John Vigor]

According to the yacht racing rules, a boat finishes when any part of her crew or equipment crosses the finish line in the right direction.

So this 18-footer had finished before the entanglement with the committee boat and presumably was not disqualified. Her owner has some damage to pay for, though.

From the rules:

28.1 A boat shall start, leave each mark on the required side in the correct order, and finish, so that a string representing her track after starting and until finishing would when drawn taut
(a) pass each mark on the required side,
(b) touch each roundingmark, and
(c) pass between the marks of a gate from the direction of the previous mark.
She may correct any errors to comply with this rule. After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely.

Cheers,

John V.

[Joe Myerson]

Noel,

Thanks for posting this link. The commentator obviously knew what he was talking about--does Australian television cover skiff racing, or is this a specialized video channel?

No matter--the action was great, especially as I look at almost 4 feet of snow on the ground. (What happened--have I been transported to Oswego?)

I'd have to agree with John V. that the boat finished before getting entangled in the committee boat's masts.

Cheers,

--Joe

[Noel Heslop]

Joe,

My apologies for a slow reply.

Yes, free to air commercial channels do cover modern 16ft skiff racing also on Sydney Harbour, usually Saturday afternoons, of course, when I do not normally watching TV.

This coverage to my mind looks like private enterprise doing their own thing. Somewhere I thought I saw a production company name or logo?