How about ITA's Romero pulling off the bronze at 5'7" 154 lbs!?! I know, the races were generally in light air, but I'm still happy to see a shorty like me win a medal in the Laser class.
Its one thing when you need to protect your position in the series, but a different story when all you have to do is finish anywhere other than last.
I'm probably in the minority but it seems to me that, under the circumstances, hampering a competitor to the extent of totally destroying his regatta standing should be a violation of rule 2.
Sailing a tight cover on someone, (and driving them back in the pack because of the tight cover) IMHO is fair game. However, having to turn around and sail the opposite direction of your proper course in oder to go back and try to get the competitor to pick up a foul is, (IMHO) or should be a rule 2 violation.
I think you miss the point. Team racing and match racing are different games than fleet racing. There is also a big difference between defending one's position and deliberately hurting someone else when you have nothing whatsoever to gain from it. Very poor sportsmanship if nothing else.