Originally Posted by PTP
What should one do during a race if you see the boat ahead of you hit a mark though they clearly didn't see themselves hitting the mark (and couldn't, given the way they were facing).

During a race: Call out "Protest - you hit the mark". This gives the boat the opportunity to exonerate herself by taking a penalty turn. There's no reason to wait. The fact that they were facing the wrong way is irrelevant. A boat is responsible for keeping a good lookout, and that includes watching objects she may hit.

Why is everybody so squeamish about protesting? I understand that nobody wants to wind up in the room, but we are all responsible for following and enforcing the rules. Hailing protest:
  1. is not an accusation of cheating. It is more a statement like "hey, you can't do that". You wouldn't hesitate to point out an error in any other game, would you?
  2. is not unsportsmanlike. Much like ultimate frisbee, the competitors are the sport's referees. Not only are we empowered to make the call, we are expected to. That doesn't make one a "sea lawyer".

Here's my take on penalties. When I break a rule, I promptly take a penalty (whether or not anybody sees me). When I see someone else break a rule, I hail protest and expect them to take a penalty. There's no malice involved.

Regards,
Eric