John Craig, the AC PRO spoke about the rethinking of the rules for the cup compettion at a talk i attended. The accuracy of the data collection on the AC45's changed the culture of the fleet with respect to their using the AC version of the RRS. All of the sailors started out with the mindset of ... Let the other guy call foul.... Push the line etc. ...Standard operating principals here.. So, they pushed the rules. (They were long past the standard of call your own foul.)
Craig reports that he was surprised at how quickly the AC guys adjusted when they figured out that the computer did not lie... They could not BS anyone and they recognized it... With no chance to game the system or their opposition they adjusted ... So... they reset and sailed by the rules. The on the water judges had less to do... They still make errors on the water but he said it is different. He noted that they had not anticipated this outcome on the game.
And no, I don't accept the assertion that the "norm has shifted". Sailors broke the rules 50 years ago and they didn't DSQ themselves (the only penalty available at the time) without a protest hearing.
Of course people broke the rules, that is a silly argument.
We disagree about the shift.. and your POV is in the majority.
How sailors view the responsibility inherent in the rules has a huge effect on the game.... (see Craig) The pro's shifted to an exact standard of the rule. ... They don't call their own fouls on themselves with on the water judges but the reset was demanded by the accuracy of the on board data on each boat.
