Riou still wants a prize (only the French)

MoodySabre

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OK it may be part of the rules but "first you to have to finish" must surely apply, particularly in this race of attrition.

This from the website for those who don't look:

After sustaining damage to his rigging during Jean Le Cam's rescue operation Vincent Riou informed the Chairman of the International Jury, Bernard Bonneau, in writing that he was requesting redress.

Riou considered that he could in no way be held responsible for the damage that occurred to his monohull, PRB during Le Cam's rescue. He added that «This damage requires a lot of work that cannot be carried out alone at sea.»

After PRB was completely dismasted on 7th January 2009 after the temporary repair they had made failed, Riou confirmed to the Jury in writing that he was still seeking that redress be awarded.

The skipper of PRB stated that these recent “events were directly linked to and indeed caused by the rescue operation” and noted that it was now entirely impossible for him to "continue the race back the finishing port of Les Sables d’Olonne."

Within a reasonable time frame it would be impossible for Riou to find a replacement mast nor could one be sourced and delivered within reasonable time period.

Consequently, Riou has therefore requested that his boat continues to be scored, as is regularly the case in international racing, when a skipper falls victim to damage and/or is materially prejudiced by something beyond his or her control.

As chief representative of the International Jury, Bernard Bonneau has indicated that this subsequent incident in no way affects the jury's decision to agree to listen to this case and meanwhile has asked the race directors to indicate that PRB and her skipper are RDG (Redress Granted).

In simple terms this means that, in theory, Redress is Granted, but that the precise details have not yet been considered.

Until the decision of the jury is known PRB will remain ranked in the official race standings.
 
Re: Riou still wants a prize (only the French)

And maybe the Anglo Belgians? How about for the next Vendée Globe, if I set off from S d'O, get a good , say 10 mile start, then have to attend to a distressed East Coaster and retire, can I claim 'redress'?
Maybe Riou wants some kind of special recognition for his act, that would be fair - but to still be considered to be "racing"? il pousse le bouchon trop loin.
 
What's the problem?

Let him get a new mast, return to the point where he stopped racing, then restart the clock and let him continue racing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Quite!

He wants to do the last 7000 miles on a cargo ship and get ranked according to where he would have been had he not stopped and assuming he had no boat problems for the remainder of the course. Doesn't seem very fair to me especially in the light of the number of boat failures.
 
I'm sorry, but the whole of this thread has left me baffled.
Redress for yachts which have gone to the rescue of others has always been a normal part of yacht racing. Not just with French yachts. Where's the problem?
 
I have no issue with the principle of redress and it has already been given fairly in this race. I just think that it is a strange concept in a race where finishing is by no means certain. If Riou is delayed and it takes him several months to finish then fair enough, but why assume that he will finish and give him a placing.

Guapa - I am not anti-French but they do seem to have a different view on things to other people. The honour of saving another man's life regardless of the cost in sailing honours should be enough. Just my view.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'm sorry, but the whole of this thread has left me baffled.

[/ QUOTE ]

The thing is he won't finish, or, if he does, he will be weeks, possibly months behind the rest of the fleet.

Redress is given as a time allowance to be deducted from the actual finishing time. If you don't have a finishing time you can't apply a redress. I also feel that a yacht that is weeks astern of the fleet will be not only in a different weather pattern but almost in a different season to any attempt to predict where he would have come is pointless.

I feel very sorry for Riou who has suffered the most awful misfortune but he is, I'm afraid out of the race and should be compensated and recognised in other ways.
 
I'm sorry for Riou and personally I don't believe he should receive redress to the point of giving him a finish place ... however, there are ways to redress for boats failing to finish the race through no fault of their own - ie rendering assistance to another ... however as these are generally based on "average points during the series" I'm not sure how this can be applied to this race ... although I suspect he'll request an average of placings from the various gates ... it isn't a perfect resolve - nothing would be - but then he did carry out a selfless act to save a fellow competitor ...
 
I don't see what is the problem in claiming redress. As in so many things, if you don't ask, there is a 100% chance that you won't get it. And asking does not reflect badly on Riou, it is simply in compliance with the Racing Rules of Sailing, which specifically permit redress when one competitor goes to the assistance of another.

The protest committee (I think it is the protest committee that hears requests for redress) has very wide latitude to come up with a "fair" result. One possible "fair" result might be to give him some kind of scoring position, without affecting the scoring position of others.

Don't forget, he requested redress before he was dismasted. I think it is a bit off criticising him for making a request that the rules specifically provide for - especially after the heroic deed he did, followed by the cruel disappointment of finding himself out of the race.
 
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I am not anti-French but they do seem to have a different view on things to other people.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very true. I remember very clearly when Bernard Moitessier decided to go round the globe again when he was well ahead - leaving Robin Knox Johnston to receive the 'accolades'. Many true sailors still consider that Bernard was the real winner ... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I don't think that is unfair. It doesn't affect the other finishers, recognises the fact that the reason he had to withdraw was because he went to the assistance of another competitor, and undoubtedly recognises the fact the he saved the life of another competitor.

Personally, I think it might have been more fair to give him equal fourth - to reflect the fact that there has been such a high attrition rate, and there is no certainty that he would have finished (although if he had finished, there is a strong chance he would have been third).
 
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