Rule 61.4(b)(1) has three requirements for giving redress. The first is that ‘an improper action or improper omission’ has occurred. Here, the race committee did not make the sound signal required by rule 29.1, an omission that was clearly improper. The second requirement is that a boat’s finishing place has been ‘made significantly worse’. Here, this requirement is met since A was scored OCS. The third requirement is that a boat suffered the consequences of the improper action or improper omission ‘through no fault of her own’. Here, A had no part in causing the race committee to omit the sound signal and she thought she had started correctly. The requirement in rule 29.1 and in Race Signals regarding the making of a sound signal when flag X is displayed is essential to call the attention of boats to the fact that one or more of them are being recalled. When the sound signal is omitted from an individual recall, and a recalled boat in a position to hear a sound signal does not see the visual signal and does not return, she is entitled to redress. However, a boat that realizes that she was on the course side of the line is not entitled to redress, and she must comply with rules 28.1 and, if it applies, rule 30.1. If she fails to do so, she breaks those rules. In addition, she fails to comply with the first Basic Principle, Sportsmanship and the Rules, and breaks rule 2. When it is decided that a boat is entitled to redress, rule 61.4(c) requires the protest committee to ‘make as fair an arrangement as possible for all boats affected.’ When the situation involves a boat scored OCS, if the redress given is to adjust the boat’s race score or finishing place, it should reflect the fact that, generally, when a recalled boat returns to the pre-course side of the line after her starting signal, she starts some time after boats that were not recalled. An allowance for that time should be made. Concerning B’s request, the provision of rule 26 that ‘the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded’ applies only to the warning, preparatory, one-minute and starting signals. When the individual recall signal is made, both the visual and sound signals are required unless the sailing instructions state otherwise. B’s appeal is dismissed. The protest committee’s decision to give redress to A is upheld.

2: FAIR SAILING

FAIR SAILING