Page 87 - Judge Manual 2017

• Allow the recording to be viewed first without comment, then with the
comments of the party bringing the evidence, then with those of the other
party. Questions may be asked in the normal way by the parties and the
protest committee members.
• The depth of field of any single-lens camera is poor and with a telephoto
lens, it is non-existent. When, for example, the camera's view is at right
angles to the courses of two overlapped boats, it is impossible to assess the
distance between them. Conversely, when the camera is directly ahead or
astern, it is impossible to see when an overlap begins or even if one exists,
unless it is substantial. Keep these limitations firmly in mind.

• Use the first viewing of the recording to become oriented with the scene.
Where was the camera in relation to the boat? What was the angle and
distance between them? Was the camera's platform moving? If so, in what
direction and how fast? Is the angle changing as the boats approach the
critical point? (Beware of a radical change caused by fast panning of the
camera.) Did the camera have an unrestricted view throughout? If not, how
much does that diminish the value of the evidence? Full orientation may
require several viewings; take the time necessary.

• Since it takes only about 30 seconds to run and re-wind a typical incident,
view it as many times as needed to extract all the information it can give.
Also, be sure that each party has an equal opportunity to point out what he
believes the clip shows and does not show.

• Hold the equipment in place until the end of the hearing. The recording
should be made available during deliberation for review to settle questions
as to just what fact or facts, if any, it establishes. Also, one of the members
may have noticed something that the others did not.

• Do not expect too much from the recording. Only occasionally, from a
fortuitous camera angle, will it clearly establish the central fact of an incident.
But, even if it does no more than settle one disputed point, that alone will
help in reaching a correct decision.
K.15 Written Evidence

Written evidence from a witness or a party who cannot attend a hearing violates
the principle that a witness’ testimony can be cross examined or questioned by
the other parties and protest committee members. Written evidence in the form
of scores, mark roundings, or class interpretations does not carry that limitation.

K.16 Use of tracking information in hearings
K.16.1 Terms and Acronyms Used in this Section

2D
The graphical display of objects drawn in two dimensions. For sailboat race
tracking, this is generally a simple overhead view of the race course.