The H16 should have went up instead of down. As was mentioned, this type of things should be addressed with new or older sailors coming back.
We always have a post skippers meeting gathering with people that need a explanation of the starting sequence and some basic rules.Addressing what to do around spin boats is a great topic to add.
This year a buddy system has been formed to assign an A fleet skipper to a novice and help with boat setup,rules and questions someone new may have.
The one thing I have not seen mentioned is that if the I20 boat used profanity in expressing his concerns, then he can be tossed no matter how correct he may have been.
The H-16 in this post was beating upwind and was below the port tack layline. It would have been worse if he had tried to tack from my vantage point. The best thing that could have happened in this case was for the I-20 to head up slightly (they would not have flipped) and the H-16 to bear off slightly. Instead, they both held their course until it was suddenly very close.
The I-20 sailor never used any profanity and per my previous post is a very nice sailor. Again, I think he was pre-occupied with his set and the H-16 sailor was not paying enough attention to boats coming down the leg. Lesson learned here is both sailors should have been more heads up. The right of way boat is in control and should try to communicate what they want the give way boat to do if possible. That's good sportmanship and is very common on the race course amongst experienced sailors. BTW, I never protest a sailor who is trying to avoid me even if they cause me to alter course. The only time I take it to the protest level is when someone blatantly and knowingly breaks a rule and does not exonerate themselves on the water with a 360. Live and let live (but that does not mean I will let you barge or pass me to windward and if you flip while I take you up, tough luck!).
Bob Hodges
A-Class USA 230
