Section M - The Umpiring Process
MR CALL M2
Rule C8.3(b), Penalties Initiated by Umpires (deliberately broken a rule)
Question
How will the umpires decide if a rule was broken deliberately?
Answer
There is no complete clear-cut answer, but rather a sliding scale of likelihood.
The umpires are likely to conclude that a rule was broken deliberately when:
• the situation has built up for some time rather than occurred
instantaneously;
• there is a potentially match-winning tactical gain from breaking the
rule;
• the breach does not seem to be a simple misjudgement.
Examples could be:
• breaking a rule to avoid being OCS (windward boat bears down on
leeward boat);
• Blue cannot lay the pin and tacks onto port (see diagram above);
• barging at a starting mark;
• denying an inside boat room at the mark.