Page 85 - Misconduct a Reference for Race Officials

RACING RULES GUIDANCE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROTEST COMMITTEES

(RRS APPENDIX M WITH FURTHER ADVISORY NOTES FROM THE RYA)

This appendix is advisory only; in some circumstances changing these procedures may
be advisable. It is addressed primarily to protest committee chairmen but may also help
judges, jury secretaries, race committees and others connected with protest and redress
hearings.
In a protest or redress hearing, the protest committee should weigh all testimony with
equal care; should recognize that honest testimony can vary, and even be in conflict, as
a result of different observations and recollections; should resolve such differences as
best it can; should recognize that no boat or competitor is guilty until a breach of a rule
has been established to the satisfaction of the protest committee; and should keep an
open mind until all the evidence has been heard as to whether a boat or competitor has
broken a rule.
Hearings concerning Support Persons
Rule 60.3(d) allows a protest committee to call a hearing to consider whether a support
person has broken a rule. Such a hearing is not a protest hearing but the general
principles of procedure in this guidance represent good practice for the conduct of the
hearing.
In early 2018 the RYA will publish separate guidance concerning procedures to apply
the RRS to support persons and for hearings when a support person may have broken
a rule.

Data Protection
Material created as a result of a protest hearing which amounts to “personal data”
(data that can identify individuals) is subject to data protection legislation. The
legislation is changing in 2018. Protest committees should be mindful of their
obligations under the applicable legislation.

M1 PRELIMINARIES (may be performed by race office staff)

When appropriate, ensure that the protest room is accessible to people with physical
disabilities.

 Receive the protest or request for redress.
 Note on the form the time the protest or request is delivered and the protest time limit.

Use the latest protest form, either from the World Sailing website or the RYA version
on the RYA website.
Unless the sailing instructions say otherwise, there is no obligation for a protest or
request for redress to be submitted on a protest form, anything written will suffice, and
it need not be signed. Attach the document to a blank protest form and proceed
normally.

December 2017 83