He wasn't the only boat that was at risk. The SC20 was also capsized and headed out to sea when Team Tommy Bahama diverted course and circled them four or five times, talking to them to make sure they were alright. The crew responded, saying "stay with us," as they repeatedly tried to right the boat. They finally got it back up and both teams continued in the race.

One thing that has been stressed within US SAILING race management is to grant redress to anyone who renders assistance. Teams rendering assistance are not often looking at their watch to see how long they are doing so (from the time they alter course, to the time they're back on course). Race officials are enjoined to interview witnesses and err on the side of more time rather than less when they are in doubt. Nobody wants a team to ever think twice about rendering assistance; not the team in trouble, not the team helping, not the race management, and, as Robi points out, certainly not the CG!

Kudos, TB - wonder if anyone saw Eric in trouble, or if the dismast made them too hard to see.