1. Surf, beach, weather and time constraint issue conditions permitting, “round robin” racing may be conducted over three rounds to determine qualifiers to further rounds of competition in boat events. Progression into further rounds and finals shall then be by elimination. The conditions detailed are not to be subject to protest.
2. Qualifiers to further rounds of the competition will be determined based on total points gained in the rounds of the round robin (unless otherwise disqualified from the event). The points available in each of the rounds of the round robin are as follows:
| 1st place | 10 points |
| 2nd place | 9 points |
| 3rd place | 8 points |
| 4th place | 7 points |
| 5th place | 6 points |
| 6th place | 5 points |
| 7th place | 4 points |
| Did Not Finish (DNF) | 3 points |
| Did Not Start (DNS) | 0 points |
| Disqualification (DQ) | 0 points |
Note 1: A DNF result and points may be allocated to crews who have made a “reasonable attempt” (as determined by the Referee or their delegate) to complete the course in the allowable time limit (if established).
A reasonable attempt may be defined as a crew:
- Making continuous attempts to complete the course and have been significantly impacted by forces outside their control (e.g. surf conditions or other crews) and time has been exhausted.
- Being directed by an official not to re attempt the seaward journey after they have correctly reset their boat and equipment from an earlier incident in the race
- Being directed to get into/on a safety craft and are therefore unable to get into their boat to attempt to complete the course.
Note 2: If a crew finishes a race without incident but are outside the finish area (as per Rule 5.2.7(a)) or the set time limit (Rule 2.23 refers), the crew shall be disqualified and allocated zero points for that round.
Note 3: It is not always possible to have heats of equal size within a round of a division. For example, a round may have two heats of 5 crews and one heat of six crews. Crews shall be allotted the points based on the position they cross the line (or otherwise), regardless of their heat size.
3. In the event of a dead heat in an individual round of the round robin, equal points shall be allocated for the placing achieved. For example, if two crews finish equal first in a race, they shall be awarded 10 points each, with the crew finishing third being awarded 8 points.
At the completion of the Round Robin racing any crews on equal points who are in contention to qualify for future racing, or to determine an overall final result (if no finals are planned to be conducted – see notes below), result shall be decided on the following basis:
- (a) The crews involved will be compared firstly on head-to-head results, with the winner of the head-to-head qualifying to the next (elimination) round of racing.
For example, if Crew A and Crew B only raced each other in heat two of the second round and Crew A beat Crew B in that race, then Crew A will qualify for the next round. - (b) If the crews have not raced each other, or are still equal after comparing head-to-head results, the relative places from all round robin racing will be reviewed and the crew with the highest individual placing will proceed over the other crews.
For example, if one of the crews on equal points has a first place, they will proceed over other crews who did not receive a first place in the rounds. This comparison will continue for second, third etc., places until there is a clear qualifier. - (c) If the crews are still equal after both of these comparisons, then the round robin result will be declared a dead heat between the crews involved (as per Rule 2.24). All crews achieving the dead heat will share the round robin finish result and/or be allowed to progress in the competition.
Note 1: If no finals are able to be conducted after the conclusion of round robin racing, (e.g. deteriorating ocean and/or weather conditions) the Referee, in conjunction with the Competition Committee, shall decide whether the procedure detailed above will decide whether it is appropriate to declare an overall result or to abandon or postpone the event.
Note 2: If no finals are planned to be conducted after the conclusion of round robin racing (e.g. an event involving up to, say six crews where a single final is not appropriate) the procedure detailed above will determine the overall event winner and placegetters.
5. Prior to the first round of an event commencing the Referee shall advise the number of qualifiers to progress to the elimination rounds of each division of competition or the finals (as appropriate).
6. If a crew is disqualified from a round robin race (other than for Competing Unfairly, Abuse/Inappropriate Behaviour or a Code of Conduct breach), they will receive zero points for that round but may be permitted to continue to compete in any following rounds.
7. If a crew is disqualified in a round for a serious discipline offence (e.g., Competing Unfairly, Abuse/Inappropriate Behaviour or a Code of Conduct breach – as detailed in Section 2), they are disqualified and lose all standing in the event. Other penalties may also apply.
8. If a penalty is applied a crew may continue in an event or be allocated placings or points (in the round robin) or be eliminated from a round or event as determined.
9. A “penalty” is defined as a punishment or consequence as a result of an infringement or breach of the competition rules. Penalties may include but are not limited to:
- (a) Allocation or reallocation of placing(s) (and therefore points in the round robin). In such circumstances the aggrieved crew may be allocated or reallocated placings and therefore points, and the crew may be permitted to continue through to the following round if they qualify on points.
- (b) Elimination from a round in round robin racing (but allowed to continue) in the event. In such circumstances zero points will be allocated to the crew in that particular round of the round robin, and the crew may be permitted to continue through to the following round if they qualify on points
- (c) Total disqualification from the event.