Disclaimer: Some people like crossword puzzles. I love rules quizzes – so there.
Protest Scenario #1:
Boat A is approaching the leeward mark with Boat B following behind. Boat A ascertains that B won't gain an overlap before the zone so they don’t bother to hail. As A enters the zone they trim in to round the mark and A’s boat slows down. All of the sudden Boat B (with more speed) has gained an inside overlap and is calling for room. A is certain they did not establish the overlap before the zone, but B is really yelling a lot! A protests (RRS 18), more yelling ensues, and B ends up taking the inside lane at the mark beating A to the finish. Despite A’s protest hail B doesn’t do their penalty turns. So what's a sailor to do? Take it to the room of course!
"Take it to the room."
This is a comment I have used on occasion. Unfortunately too many sailors are hesitant to follow through with protests. Maybe they aren't 100 percent sure of the rules or there's a perception that protests are time consuming. Fortunately since our Rhodes 19 fleet has added Carl Zimba, President, Massachusetts Bay League High School Sailing, as RC he’s implemented 5 minute justice. Protests are dispatched before you can “superkagigfragi…” whatever it is.
Protests are inevitable so take preventative measures:
The RRS requires only 2 hails: “Room to tack” (RRS 19), and “Protest” (RRS 61.1) but in scenario #1 it would have behooved Boat A to use a “protection hail” such as “No Room” or “No Overlap” before they entered the zone. Most likely B would have rounded behind A as they were meant to do. If not A’s hail helped to establish their case for protesting B.
How to prepare for and handle the protest:
- Have a plan before you go out on the water. Protests are like wind shifts. They are inevitable so be prepared.
- Familiarize yourself with RRS 2009-2012 (especially Part 2, When Boats Meet) and carry a rules book with you on the boat. They're not hard to learn and there are tons of on-line resources to assist you in understanding the more complicated rules. If you are involved in a protest refer to the rules book to clarify which rules were broken. Going into a protest knowing numbers and rules is a plus on your side but you aren’t required to know every rule that was broken (RRS 64.1). Merely state the facts if you're not sure. Most race committees don't expect you to quote the rules chapter-and-verse but you should have a general idea.
- Get all the facts. Which race was it; wind direction; which tack were you on; what happened prior to the infraction; how many boat lengths were you from the mark or other boat when the infraction occurred? Designate a crew member to keep track of boats nearby so you can call witnesses to corroborate your story. It’s customary for one person (usually the skipper) to speak so make sure she is armed with all the information. Be concise. Stumbling through an explanation won't win you any points with the RC.
- Draw a clear picture of the incident as soon afterwards as possible. A waterproof notebook and pencil are great additions to your ditty bag.
Why it’s important to follow through with protests:
The sport of sailboat racing is self-policing. For the most part the onus is a competitor who fouled to do his turn. I would argue there are two sides to this protest coin in that those of you who have been fouled have an equal obligation to follow through for several important reasons:
- Everyone will learn the rules. Most fleets combine regulars along with newcomers each season. It behooves us to hold each other accountable and elevate the whole fleet to the highest standards of practice. Respect for the rules means respect for each other and the fleet. Although protests are sometimes contentious they are also a great way to put a face to the name. People are less likely to press the rules if they’re familiar with and respect their competitors.
- Fouls not protested have a viral effect. Two years ago we had a rash of starboard tackers tacking too close. While there was a lot of grumbling no one actually protested so the incidents increased until the RC had to put an umpire on the water. Maybe if those first few had protested and made an example the action wouldn't have become so prevalent.
- We are all obligated to follow the rules and if you decide to hail "Protest" than you should follow through.
- Protested boats are more likely to do their circles the next time. It only takes one time being DSQ'd to teach someone it's better to take the smaller lump than the big kick.
As always – try new stuff, have fun, don’t hit anything, don’t break anything. Be safe and remember: It’s just a game.
I welcome your comments and suggestions for topics!
Look for new postings to “Center-of-Effort” every couple of weeks. Topics include aspects of racing tactics and strategy, boathandling, and interviews with some of our best Boston area racers. As always I enjoy hearing your comments and topic ideas.
