I'll take the risk of getting attacked here...
Isn't that why there's an RC and PC? If half (or more) of the fleet can't start, someone has to have the common sense to realize that's not a fair race and find a way to deal with it.
Mike
I agree with John - it is a different kind of deal and I can understand how race sponsors would not like to see complete leg cancellations. There is a lot of technique to getting through the surf and some people are REALLY good at it - I'm learning. For an event held off the beach around some buoys it's one thing - but the surf is part of the course here and can be a big part of the race.
I didn't mean to imply I had any beef with that - I just thought 8 hours was a bit much of a penalty and makes the race less exciting.
