RRS A8.1: when boats are tied on net points, each boat's race scores are listed best-to-worst (excluding discards) and the tie is broken at the first point of difference in favour of the better score. Alice and Bob both score 5 net points. Best-to-worst, Alice is [1, 1, 3] and Bob is [1, 2, 2]; their best scores tie at 1, but Alice's second-best 1 beats Bob's 2, so Alice ranks ahead.
Scoring configuration: No discards. DNF/OCS scoring: A5.2 (series entries).
Alice: 1st, 3rd, 1st → 5 pts, sorted best-to-worst [1, 1, 3]
Bob: 2nd, 1st, 2nd → 5 pts, sorted best-to-worst [1, 2, 2]
Carol: 3rd, 2nd, 3rd → 8 pts
Bob wins; Alice struggles
Alice wins again; Bob 2nd
Alice and Bob both total 5. A8.1: [1,1,3] vs [1,2,2] — equal at the best score,
Alice's second-best 1 beats Bob's 2 → Alice wins.