The "T" Key

Q) Ok so you might have seen or heard people protesting you and then asking "Please press T" or "T that" or "T pls". But what exactly does the "T" key do?
A) The T key or "Transfer key" is used to transfer a system given penalty from another boat to your boat.


Q) When and why should I press the T key?
A) Whenever you have a collision with another boat and realise that you were at fault, but the other boat has been incorrectly penalized by the computer system.


Q) How do I use this "T" key?
A) Pressing the T key, selecting the other boat's name from the list with the right & left arrows, and then pressing the T key again, will transfer the penalty to your boat. Pressing T twice will often do the same, if there has only been one recent collision.


Q) After I have pressed the T key, what do I need to do next?
A) First you will notice that the penalty has been transferred to your boat, shown by your boat's name flashing grey. Next you should either: get well clear of other boats as soon as possible and take a penalty turn, or retire, or hail protest.


Q) What happens if I do not press the "T" key and how could this effect me?
A) If you don't press T, the other boat will probably protest you and she will be forced most times to spin. You can spin too (without having pressed T) to protect yourself, but the other boat will then have to submit a protest in order to get their retained points reinstated.


Q) Can I still protest after I have pressed the T key?
A) Yes, you can raise the P flag and (unless you're sailing with restricted rights) avoid the spin. Or you can protest AND spin. The P flag is required to be able to later file a valid protest.


Q) When another boat presses the T key and takes my penalty; what would this save me having to do?
A) You are not longer penalized by the system, so you can sail on with no automatic Disqualification (DSQ). But any other boat's protest may be accepted against you, and you might end up being Disqualified in the protest room.