The racing at PHCC is relatively informal but it is still competitive. As such we abide by the Racing Rules of Sailing, in which are included the rules regarding protests. We’ve had a number of incidents on the race course that should have been protested or the one turn penalty taken but we are lax on this. These incidents are best reviewed by a protest committee where a formal process is used to ascertain the facts and decide on penalties, rather than being discussed in an open forum afterwards. We all probably think that protesting is a lot of effort and not worth it, but the protests give an opportunity to become better educated on the rules and this will make the racing fairer and safer in the longer term.
Here’s part of the protest process.
When a competitor knows he has broken a rule he takes a penalty or retires whether or not the other sailor hails “Protest”.
When a competitor involved in or witnessing an incident thinks another competitor has broken a rule, and the other competitor doesn’t retire or take a penalty, he protests.
When the race committee (or protest committee if there is one) see a breach of rule that affects the fairness of the competition and the boat doesn’t take a penalty, it protests.
Any boat may protest, provided that the protesting boat was involved in or witnessed the incident
The important thing you need to do at the time of the incident is to hail the word “Protest” at the first opportunity. So there is time to ask the other boat whether he’s going to do a penalty and if he says no, then hail “Protest”
You need to display a protest flag at the first reasonable opportunity. This is very soon after the incident. The flag must be red. It must be kept displayed until you have finished and cleared the finish line.
You cannot lodge a protest if you don’t hail but you don’t have to go ahead with the protest if you have hailed.
The Twilight Series sailing instructions stipulate that Appendix T - Arbitration will apply.
A meeting is held prior to the protest hearing. Each party must be represented by a person who was onboard at the time of the incident. No wtinesses are called.
The arbitrator will offer an opinion as to what the protest committee is likely to decide:
The protest is invalid
No boat is penalised for breaking a rule
One or more boats will be penalised for breaking a rule, identifying the boats and the penalties.
Unless all protests involving the incident are withdrawn a protest hearing will be held.
The details of the process to protest are in the Racing Rules of Sailing and the Sailing Instructions.
In most situations, if you think that you are in the wrong then find a clear space away from other boats and do a one turn penalty. This will exonerate you from most incidents and a protest is not required.
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