Page 31 - Judge Manual 2017

F.1 Introduction to On the Water Judging

On-the-water judging, or direct judging for fleet racing has become popular with
classes and Organizing Authorities. It provides immediate and final
determination of a breach of a rule of Part 2, and often, Rule 31. Breaches of
Rule 42 are covered under Appendix P, with penalties given by judges on the
water. Some classes include class rules limiting crew positions as well.

When protests and breaches are resolved on the water with an immediate
penalty or no penalty, boats know their relative positions and can continue to
strategize their race without waiting for the result of a protest hearing.

On-the-water judging places judges on the race course with the competitors.
Judges work in pairs to observe the racing and to signal infringements in
accordance with the various systems provided in the event’s SIs and as
discussed below.

These practices have been developed for fleet racing and continue to evolve
as each system is refined through experience. Typically, a class association will
choose to have on-the-water judging as part of their regatta and will ask the
judges to implement the system preferred by the class.

The components required to implement a system include, reference in the
Notice of Race, changes in the SIs, availability of judges, suitable boats for
judges, and equipment including whistles and flags.

Briefing competitors before racing clarifies how the judging will occur, as
indicated in the Sis and other rules governing the event. Debriefs are very
beneficial to competitors in a large fleet held after racing or the following
morning where judges explain the calls and all the sailors can learn from each
call.
F.2 Basic Rule Infringements

F.2.1 Introduction

Basic rule infringement is the simplest form of on-the-water judging and is
different from Appendix Q and Addendum Q which will be discussed in a later
section. There are currently different systems in use.

When judges observe a breach of a rule of part 2 or rule 31, they notify the boat
immediately. Signals to the boat include a sound, typically a whistle, hail of the
sail number, and a visual signal, typically a red flag pointed at the infringing boat
or boats. These signals indicate that one or more boats have infringed a rule
and may take a penalty under rule 44. If no boat takes a penalty, the judges
may lodge a protest for the incident they have witnessed, or they can act as
witnesses if a boat lodges a protest.