Page 95 - Judge Manual 2017

K.23 Recording the Facts and Decision; Rule 14
When there is contact between two boats, a rule has been broken. Therefore,
the protest committee must, under rules 63.6 and 64.1, find the relevant facts,
make a decision and penalize one or more boat(s).
In cases where the contact caused damage, it is essential for the protest
committee to decide whether the boats fulfilled their responsibilities under rule

14. In every case involving contact, a rule other than rule 14 was broken.
However, rule 14 specifically addresses the obligation to avoid contact between
boats. Take care to record the necessary facts to indicate whether either the
right-of-way or give-way boat broke rule 14, and whether any penalty applies.
K.24 Announcing the Decision

The protest committee will recall the parties to the protest to announce the
decision. Observers and members of the press may be included. The chairman
or scribe will read the facts found, the decision, the rules that apply and any
penalties imposed. When appropriate, an interpreter will translate the decision
for a party.
The decision will be to dismiss the protest, to conclude that no rule was broken
or that a boat broke a rule and is to be disqualified, unless some other penalty
applies. The penalty will apply except when:
• a boat was compelled to break a rule by the actions of another boat
breaking a rule;

• a right-of-way boat, or a boat entitled to room or mark-room, broke rule 14
but caused no damage; or

• rule 36, Races Restarted or Resailed, applies,
Disqualification under these rules may not be excludable (DNE):

• rule 2;
• rule 30.4;

• rule 42, if P2.2 or P2.3 applies.
Promptly notify the scorer of all protest committee decisions that affect scoring,
and keep a running record of this scoring changes. The IJ Library has a Scorer
Notification Form
When a party to the protest requires clarification of the decision, this can be
given immediately, but no further discussion should be permitted at this time.
Any further discussion with a dissatisfied party at a future time, and its content
will depend on the experience and confidence of the chairman and members of
the protest committee.

Permitting an informal discussion with the protest committee and setting a time
for this discussion in response to dissatisfaction when the protest decision is
announced can often defuse a stressful atmosphere. Conversely, refusing any
future discussion can often exacerbate the bad feeling.
Alternatively, two protest committee members may be appointed to informally
explain a decision.