Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin 1

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Areva Challenge's penalty turn and subsequent scoring as Did Not Finish (DNF) generated a lot of discussion and some questions.  Below are some diagrams that may help explain what happened.  Areva Challenge carrying a penalty tried to take the turn on the finish line, circling the finishing mark.

A boat sailing a downwind leg will discharge their penalty by doing a turn that includes a tack.  When a boat has a large lead, they might choose to take the turn further up the course.  With an opponent close behind, taking the turn around the finishing mark is usually preferred.

More Explanation:

The required penalty turn:
C 7.2 (a) (2) When on a leg of the course to a leeward mark or the finishing line, she shall tack and, as soon as reasonably possible, bear away to a downwind course.

Finishing after a penalty turn:
C 7.2 (d) A penalized boat shall not be recorded as having finished until she takes her penalty and sails completely to the course side of the line and then finishes, unless the penalty is cancelled before or after she crosses the finishing line.

Several other rules and some practical issues also affect the situation and add motivation for taking the penalty at the finish. 

Spinnaker Drop:
While taking the penalty, by rule the spinnaker must be dropped, only to be re-set after the turn is complete and the boat is heading downwind again.  This maneuver has a huge impact on boatspeed.  Dropping, slowing, tacking, setting, and then accelerating takes plenty of time, giving up a big gain to the trailing boat.  By executing the turn on or near the line, regaining boatspeed is not as critical.  Once back on the course side again with the turn complete, as soon as any portion of the boat crosses the finish line the boat has finished.  The spinnaker does not need to be re-set, eliminating an opportunity for mistakes.

Keeping Clear: Racing
A boat taking a penalty turn has to keep clear of a boat that is racing.  Taking the turn around the finishing mark may help avoid the trailing boat, and because the finish is so soon after the turn, it minimizes the window for another penalty.

Keeping Clear: Port-Starboard
A 270-degree Areva penalty turn on the course would also have left them on port gybe without rights against a fast approaching Shosholoza on starboard gybe.  Again, taking the turn on the line minimizes the amount of time in this vulnerable position which could have led to another penalty.

Reference Point:
The turn can be taken almost anywhere, above, below, or straddling the line, with or without the pin nearby.  Discharging the penalty by sailing around the finishing mark allows the helmsman to gauge his circle with benefit of a visual reference.  The distance sailed can be kept as short as possible, and the finish can happen with minimal delay.  The crew (and the umpires) can see exactly when they are back On Course Side and by how much, then needing only to get the bow down over the line again to finish. 

In Areva's Case, umpires were watching closely and did not observe that FRA-93 returned entirely to the course side.  Areva was scored as DNF, Shosholoza got the win.

Links of Interest:

Read the America's Cup Jury's response to Areva's Request for Redress following the incident, Full text of the Jury Notice ACJ028 (pdf).  Areva requested Redress, suggesting that the call had been made in error, and submitted evidence including telemetry and video that they felt confirmed their position.  The umpires in turn stated that they had watched closely on the points in question and that Areva did not clear the line.  In the absence of sufficient evidence, the Request was denied.

Download the Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008 (pdf), from the International Sailing Federation.