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).
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:
- 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?
- 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
