Quote:
Originally posted by Peconic
Trent: Apparently - and a cause for some controversy - it is a written rule not to stop. This rule needs to be reviewed. Hats off to Gino & Mark for breaking the rules.
There was great solidarity amongst the racers. For a while, Gino & Mark looked like they would not place due to the penalty. The other teams did not agree at all. And they made their position known to the powers-that-be.
|
Per the 2003 APBA Offshore Rule Book, Downloadable on
www.apbaoffshore.com
RULE 11 – ACCIDENT ENCOUNTERS
The first racing craft to encounter an accident scene shall stop to render assistance (and notify Race Control on 78A). If the ultimate finishing position of a boat stopping to render assistance is negatively affected thereby , points shall be awarded as follows:
A. First Boat to Stop - When one boat stops to assist another boat in trouble: the boat that stops to assist receives points for the position it was in at the scoring point just prior to when he stopped.
B. Points and Prize Money - That boat that actually finishes in that place receives the same amount of points as the boat that assisted, and they split any prize money that would normally be awarded to either or both of the boats.
C. Scoring Instructions - The position the assisting boat actually finished in is skipped. For example, A-1 stops to help at an accident, and at that point he was in third place. There were seven boats running in the class, and A-2 actually finishes third. A-1 and A-2 both receive third place points, and they split third place prize money. The position A-1 actually had been scored in for the finish would then be omitted from the final standings.
D. Awarded Time - If the boat should continue on racing after assisting and if the time out of the race is verifiable, the time out may be taken off to determine their finish. This decision is at the discretion of the Referee and may not be protested or appealed.
E. First Lap Assist Scoring - In the event an accident occurs on the first lap of a race before any official scoring position has been reached, and if the time out of the race is not verifiable, then the boat stopping to assist shall be awarded the median place of finish for that class. (ie: if there are 10 boats in the class, then the boat stopping to assist shall be awarded 5th place) If the boat stopping to assist continues the race and betters their scoring position, then the boat shall be awarded its actual place of finish. This decision is at the discretion of the Referee and may not be protested or appealed. (Prize money and points awarded in accordance with paragraphs B and C above)