During an A Scow race on Tuesday, May 27th, 2025, at the first windward mark, a tense situation unfolded. Two boats were approaching the mark when one boat tacked near the three-boat-length zone. What happened next could have easily led to a lengthy protest hearing and potential disqualification.

The Situation

The initial disagreement was clear:

• One skipper believed the other boat had tacked inside the zone and failed to luff properly
• The other skipper thought they had completed their tack outside the zone
• Both crews were convinced they were right
• A protest room showdown felt unavoidable

The ChartedSails Solution

Before heading to the protest room, both skippers reviewed their ChartedSails tracking data. What they saw surprised everyone—and changed the course of the conversation.

ChartedSails GPS tracking clearly showed the boat tacked outside the three-boat-length zone

What the data revealed:

• The boat in question had actually tacked outside the three-boat-length zone
• The GPS tracking showed precise positions and timing that were impossible to determine accurately in real-time during the heat of racing
• Both skippers' perceptions during the race had been incorrect

The Resolution

Armed with objective data, both parties had an honest conversation:

Skipper 1: "I was wrong, you definitely got across head to wind before you entered the zone."

Skipper 2: "I was wrong too. I thought you luffed more than necessary, but now I see you matched us. If we had tacked in the zone, we definitely would have fouled you."

Since neither boat had actually fouled the other, they withdrew the protest. No time was wasted in the protest room, and everyone got a fair result.

The Impact

The result? ChartedSails didn't just prevent a protest hearing—it improved fairness, understanding, and sportsmanship on the water.

• No protest hearing needed — saving time for sailors and race committee
• Fair racing result — based on what actually happened, not perceptions
• Better sportsmanship — objective data led to honest admissions and mutual respect
• Learning opportunity — both sailors gained insights into what really happened during a complex tactical situation

The Power of Visual Analysis

One of ChartedSails' most useful features for protest analysis is that boats are drawn to scale on the map based on their registered length. Better yet, the system automatically draws the three-boat-length zone around marks—making complex scenarios easy to understand at a glance.

"Using ChartedSails avoided a protest hearing for us. The track showed the other boat tacked outside the zone - we all thought they tacked in the zone. No harm, no foul."

— John, A Scow racer

Try ChartedSails – See Your Races Clearly

Ready to bring objective data analysis to your racing? Get started today with GPS tracking and analysis that helps deliver fair, accurate racing results.

Have a ChartedSails success story of your own? We'd love to hear about it - share your story with us.