Hearing Decision

1. Race 13 for Division 1 of the Brighton Championships was sailed in light wind conditions with a windward/leeward course.


2. The windward mark was laid in shallow water with a short sink line, to which the anchor line was attached.


3. Martini, leading the fleet, rounded the windward mark leaving approximately half a boat length between her and the mark.


4. While rounding the mark, Martini caught the anchor line around her keel and began dragging the mark.


5. Martini started her motor and unclipped the mark from her keel. Martini then brought the mark aboard.


6. A RC vessel who was in the vicinity collected the mark from Martini and re-laid it in its original position using a spare anchor.


7. Martini did not continue racing and was scored DNF; all other boats that crossed the finish line were scored in their finishing position.

There was an improper action of the race committee in setting the windward mark in the position that it did with a short sink line.

Martini’s place in race 13 was made significantly worse through no fault of her own by an improper action or omission of the race committee. Therefore, the requirements for redress in RRS 62.1(a) are met.

Redress is given to Martini. Martini is to be scored in race 13 points equal to the average of her scores in all races in the Brighton Championships sailed with a windward/leeward course before race 13. No other boat’s score shall change.