Technical protest

64.3 Decisions on Protests Concerning Class Rules (a) When the protest committee finds that deviations in excess of tolerances specified in the class rules were caused by damage or normal wear and do not improve the performance of the boat, it shall not penalize her. However, the boat shall not race again until the deviations have been corrected, except when the protest committee decides there is or has been no reasonable opportunity to do so. (b) When the protest committee is in doubt about the meaning of a class rule, it shall refer its questions, together with the relevant facts, to an authority responsible for interpreting the rule. In making its decision, the committee shall be bound by the reply of the authority. (c) When a boat is penalized under a class rule and the protest committee decides that the boat also broke the same rule in earlier races in the same event, the penalty may be imposed for all such races. No further protest is necessary. (d) When a boat penalized under a class rule states in writing that she intends to appeal, she may compete in subsequent races without changes to the boat. However, if she fails to appeal or the appeal is decided against her, she shall be disqualified without a further hearing from all subsequent races in which she competed. (e) Measurement costs arising from a protest involving a class rule shall be paid by the unsuccessful party unless the protest committee decides otherwise

The authority depends on the class. AIUI if its an International class then its technically ISAF/World Sailing, although I'd seek advice from the RYA first, if its a National Class then the RYA, and if its a CA managed class then the Class Association. Nothing a club PC decides is binding on the CA, since the club is not a responsible authority. It would of course be sensible to notify the CA, since they may wish to correct, clarify or even change the rule depending...

The easiest and most obvious option in most circumstances will be simply to get the boat remeasured by an official CA measurer. Of course someone will need to pay their expenses as noted in the rule.

Edited by JimC - 13 Nov 19 at 6:42pm

Whilst of course the best option is to get someone with an aura of authority and not involved in any future protest to speak to the transgressors . We want to race rather than sit in protest rooms, why dont you revert to original settings and avoid future issues?

One would hope that the protest committee would have an aura of authority?

And would find facts and come to a conclusion based upon them.

Originally posted by ian.r.mcdonald I would have thought some initial discussion to avoid the full protest would be useful. I stand aside to your higher knowledge but would prefer to be out sailing

It's purely because it's development based and mainly down to interpretation of the rules. So it's about how to find who has the final say at club level. Otherwise the discussion is endless and gets nowhere.