Protest procedure

Brass regarding the advisory process.

The RYA website quite clearly states you are invited (as it can not be enforced) to accept a penalty if it is written in the sailing instructions or retire. You may do either or even neither as it also states that you do not have to accept the outcome of an advisory hearing and therefore not accept any penalty. This is supposed to be used when neither boat wants formerly protest, but wish to know what the rules mean. This just formalises the gentlemanly and ladylike conversations that have gone on in many clubs anyway.
Arbitration which is more formal does not allow you to retire, as it is a formal hearing. Again the penalty is short of a DSQ.
The reason for mentioning it was that you don't use a written protest form with an advisory hearing, after that this obviously did not follow the process. Most uk clubs ought to be offering these options outside of major championships.

I hope this confuses up any confusion.

Andy

Originally posted by Peaky Is seeking advice on a forum about whether to appeal a protest allowed. It seems a bit like getting outside assistance.

I don't know the technicalities, but couldn't you argue that you are racing all the while your result is still alterable? I guess not, ifficult to have a port/starboard in the bar... But still it seems a bit inconsistent to allow the assistance of others in affecting someone's race result.

Edited by Peaky - 22 Nov 14 at 11:32pm

Originally posted by andymck It is in your link. They even use the word invite for the arbitration penalties in the summary table. Retirement is the only penalty that a boat is invited to accept in cases of serious damage or injury, or if the 20% option is not in the SI's. Definition of invite: to politely request. I was wrong to say a boat may not retire in an arbitration hearing, there is a confusing paragraph in the introductory page. The document itself quite clearly state that a boat may accept an alternate penalty which includes the opportunity of retirement up until the point of the full hearing.

Originally posted by Peaky ...it seems a bit inconsistent to allow the assistance of others in affecting someone's race result.

we're in a sailing competition though, not a rules competition. Why would we want to do anything that might reduce the fairness of a protest outcome? Consider a talented sailor who is Learning Disabled, as I understand the current PC phrase is (correct me if wrong). Wouldn't you want them to have all possible assistance in dealing with the off the water process?