RRS A8.1: A series may exclude (discard) a boat's worst race score. The threshold here is: 1 discard when 5 or more races have been sailed. Key test: without the discard Bob leads (8 pts) and Alice is second (11 pts). Once the discard applies, Alice drops her race-5 DNC penalty (6 pts) and nets 5, while Bob drops his worst 2nd place and nets 6. The ranking inverts — Alice wins.
Scoring configuration: 1 discard from race 5. DNF/OCS scoring: A5.2 (series entries).
Alice wins races 1–3 and finishes 2nd in race 4, then takes a DNC in race 5.
Bob finishes 2nd in races 1–3, then wins races 4 and 5.
Alice does not race (DNC = N+1 = 6 pts). Bob wins.
Points per race (N+1 = 6):
Alice: 1, 1, 1, 2, 6 — total=11. Drop race 5 (DNC=6) → net=5.
Bob: 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 — total=8. Drop race 1 (worst=2, earliest) → net=6.
Carol: 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 — total=14. Drop race 1 (worst=3, earliest) → net=11.
David: 4, 4, 4, 4, 3 — total=19. Drop race 1 (worst=4, earliest) → net=15.
Eve: 5, 5, 5, 5, 4 — total=24. Drop race 1 (worst=5, earliest) → net=19.
Without discard: Bob(8) leads Alice(11). With discard: Alice(5) leads Bob(6).