Hearing Decision

When Blue and Pink  flights were approaching the finish of the final race of the day for each, AP/H was ordered by the race officer and displayed at the finish boat.

However, the start boat later displayed AP/N whilst still in position at the starting line.

An unknown number of competitors and coaches saw the incorrect signal made at the start boat. However, many of those still racing and/or not finished, were told by race committee boats or coaches that the race had benn abandoned. At this stage, the weather conditions were deteriorating significantly and safety became the race committee's main focus.

27 of 39 pink flight were recorded as finishing

10 of 37 blue flight were recorded as finishing

The display of code flag N, although unintentional, was an improper action of the race committee.

As the focus quite rightly changed to safety of competitors, many of whom were incorrectly instructed by race committee safety boats to go home and not finish, was also an improper action in the context of rule 62.1(a) noting that competitors in this junior class had no option but to do as instructed.and, as a result, the finishing places of those competitors was made significantly worse through no fault of their own.

Redress is granted.

All competitors who were recorded as finishing are to be scored in their finishing places. All other competitors are to be scored average points based on all races in the qualifying series except the race in question, in accordance with rule A10(a)