SAILING:Irish Laser champion Roger Craig put his overall Eurolymp standings to one side in this week's regatta on Lake Garda to come to the aid of a competitor, but he has been awarded average points following an appeal by the Dun Laoghaire sailor to the international jury.
The incident arose in Wednesday's race three of the Italian series of the Eurolymp circuit. Points count towards world rankings and the event is an early indicator of form ahead of Olympic selection this September in Portugal.
As fleet leaders crossed tacks in strong winds on the approach to the windward mark, Craig, in sixth place, noticed two French boats - that so far remain unidentified - on starboard (right of way) tack crossing Italy's top-ranked Pietro Magnahi.
"I heard shouting between the three of them just a few boat lengths to weather of me, and then I saw Magnahi tack but he collided with one of the French boats."
The Italian boat capsized and Magnahi was thrown overboard. Craig spotted him, injured and screaming, trying to keep his head above the choppy waters.
"I could not believe it," said Craig's coach Trevor Millar, who watched the drama unfold from a coach boat. "The French guy just carried on and left the Italian to his own devices. Then I saw Roger stopping to help him and I realised it was serious."
Craig grabbed him by the collar and dragged him onboard the Irish boat. "He just lay across the cockpit screaming. A few minutes later a rescue boat turned up and took him off," he said.
Clearly the interruption cost Craig as many as 30 places in the 40-boat division of the 92-boat fleet. He resumed racing and managed to regain 10 or more places by the finish line to end 19th. The Irish immediately appealed to organisers when Craig came ashore. They sought redress under the rules for the assistance given.
In a hearing by an international jury, Craig was awarded average points based on his previous race performances.
He was counting two fifth places, so got another fifth position, roughly the place he was in when he came to the Italian's aid.
Yesterday Craig was in the jury room again but this time he was disqualified from the morning's race as a premature starter. He came 15th in the afternoon, slipping from seventh to 12th overall.
