Page 48 - Judge Manual 2017

H.3 Briefing of Competitors

It is highly desirable to have a competitors' briefing. The briefing’s main purpose
is to introduce the key individuals of the Race Management Team and protest
committee to the competitors. This will allow a competitor to know who to speak
to if he needs help solving a problem during the regatta.

Anyone from the organizing committee, race committee or jury could chair the
meeting. The meeting should be held in English if the competitors speak
different languages. This means that the chairman of the meeting should be
proficient in English, and be experienced with speaking to multi-lingual groups.

The following points in relation to the service provided by the jury will help to
promote an atmosphere of friendliness, fairness, and impartiality:
• Introduce the protest committee members.
• Emphasize that the jury is there to provide a service to competitors.
• Comment on Appendix P Special Procedures for Rule 42, if it is in effect,
and post the World Sailing interpretations on the Official Notice Board.
• If there are likely to be specific problems in certain areas, describe what
action the protest committee will be taking to monitor those areas. It is
comforting for rule observing competitors to know that the protest
committee is aware of likely problems and is ready to address them.
• At regattas, with youth or less experienced competitors, it may be
appropriate to remind them of the importance of taking a penalty promptly
for breaking a rule, whether or not the boat is protested. Also remind them
of penalties in rule 44 for breaking a rule of Part 2 or hitting a mark. Stress
also the importance of one or both boats protesting after a collision when
no penalty is taken.
• Competitors often ask questions concerning a Sailing Instruction or some
other regatta procedure question. Great care must be taken in
responding. On the one hand, the protest committee wants to help
competitors by answering their questions quickly. On the other hand,
questions are often more complicated than they first appear. If the
answer is not obvious, it is best to ask for the competitor to submit the
question in writing so the protest committee can give it proper attention,
and answer in writing. It is also helpful to emphasize that no answer to a
question becomes official until both the question and answer are posted
on the Official Notice Board.

When a protest committee is dealing with inexperienced or young competitors
an even greater empathy and understanding is required. Make every effort to
answer all their questions. Upon request, explain all decisions so the competitor
and their coach/parent understands. At all times protest committee members
should maintain an atmosphere of fairness and impartiality.