Propulsion (RRS 42) is an interesting argument, but I don't really think it would apply in this case. The rule prohibits moving "a boat", not another object (e.g. mark). The ISAF interpretations state that any action that moves the boat in any direction with the force of one stroke of a paddle consitutes propulsion. pushing a small mark by its anchor line probably has much less force on a boat than one stroke of a paddle. A force that great would most likely cause the mark to touch whatever the crew member is pushing with.

I think RRS 2 "Fair Sailing" is a better argument, although it is still a gray area. It states

While some may believe that pushing the anchor line (thus moving the mark) is unsportsmanlike, I'm not sure that it "clearly violates" the principle of fair play.

I suspect that there would be a lot of variation on this call from protest committee to protest committee.

Regards,
Eric

It may be reasonable, but might not be legal. RRS 42.2 "One-Turn and Two-Turns Penalities" states (emphasis mine):

I once asked an international judge to clarify "promptly" for me, and he said to substitute the words "without delay".

Now, if the boat is truly becalmed such that it is not possible to get "well clear", then it's okay to wait. She must, however, take her penality as soon as possible when the wind allows.

Regards,
Eric

Also in this scenario, when the penalty happens at a windward mark, it is to your advantage to continue sailing close hauled (or reaching slightly) for a short distance to get away from where the boats are turning and then do your tack and gybe. The penalty turn consists of a tack and a gybe - not 360 degrees. So since you need to turn downwind anyway, you can actually get away with a 270 if your foul occurred at the top of the course.

Inadvertently snagging an anchor line and dragging a mark is a far cry from swimming underwater and deliberately moving it away from your boat to avoid contact. The first is accidental and cannot reasonably help you. The second seems (at least to me) to be an advantage gained unfairly.

Regards,
Eric

Rats! I knew there had to be a catch on that one.

Absolutely correct (and very good advice)! The faster you can pull off your turn(s), the better.

Continuing to sail upwind (or reaching) to get clear satisfies the "getting well clear...as soon as possible" part of RRS 44.2. Tacking and gybing in the same direction promptly satisfies turn portion. Nothing says the turn has to be a full 360 degrees (in fact, it may be less than 270 degrees). For what it's worth, that was true even when the rules were titled "360/720 Degree Penalty". Confusion over this issue is why the rules were renamed to "One/Two-Turns Penalty".

Regards,
Eric

So, in this same scenario, I can point the boat at the finish line, say "Tacking!" and push the main from port to starboard and then "Jibe Ho!" and push the main from starboard to port, and be exonerated? All while the nose is still pointed directly at the finish line?

Remember, there's no wind. I mean really no wind. How do you tell a tack from a jibe when there's no wind?

A tack and gybe involves your bows moving around as well, not just your sails.

IMO it seems like you are trying to find loop holes and cheat, not cool and if you are ever taken to the room you will lose, bad.

EDIT: I deleted my post questioning the validity of a normal tack counting as part of a penalty.

This is covered by Case 108 (ISAF website). It starts with 44.1(b) as I mentioned above (if you gained an advantage by breaking a rule, in this case touching the mark, you must retire). Also, as stated by others above, a tack at the weather mark may be counted as one of the two-turns.

Personally, I don't see how this can be construed as a "penalty" but that's not what the rule gods have come up with.

Mike

Thanks for assuming the worst, Robi.

I'd be very surprised if anyone in the same sucky situation didn't think about "loopholes" to get out of it. Not because you want to do better in the race, but because you don't want to sit out there bobbing in the hot sun for an extra 15 minutes while you do an agonizingly slow circle.

I guess the real sportsmen all give up wind the wind dies, so they never have to deal with these sorts of situations.

Read over the SI's. There's probably a minimum wind requirement for racing.

Rhino did this happen at Black Butte?

Yeah. We did get good wind for three of five races this year though, and only the last one was an absolute creeper. The earlier date probably helped.