The duty to assist is written into the racing rules of sailing: RRS 1.1 states that “[a] boat, competitor or support person shall give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger.” In addition, the Rules provide that support persons, and parents and guardians of children participating in the event, agree to accept the rules. This codifies the shared responsibility we all carry on the water. Efforts should be made to communicate these responsibilities to all competitors and support persons, so that there is a clear responsibility of the shared duty to coordinate efforts to make sure that everyone comes off the water safely in challenging conditions.

Full article here: https://charyc.substack.com/p/proposed-safety-enhancements-for

Additional resources: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/05/16/helping-a-capsized-boat-in-a-race/