Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2010
Yacht Racing News
PORTSMOUTH, RI - US SAILING President
Gary Jobson and US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member Farrah Hall today announced that the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has agreed to Hall’s re- quest to dismiss her February 2008 complaint that The Racing Rules of Sailing do not com- ply with the Ted Stevens Act, a federal law, and USOC’s Bylaws. Hall’s request followed US SAILING’s adoption of three prescrip- tions regarding the conduct of protest and redress hearings.
The prescriptions will become official for certain events on July 1, 2010 (see below). When the prescriptions apply at an event, these new protest and redress hearing practices will be in effect. The new protest and redress hearing procedures are: Notification of redress hearings: Protest committees must make a reasonable attempt to notify all boats in a race when redress is to be considered for another boat. This notice, which will likely be posted on the official notice boards commonly used at events, must allow reasonable time for the other boats to make written requests to participate in the redress hearing.
Participation in redress hearings: Boats that request to participate in a redress hearing must be allowed to do so, and may present evidence, call witnesses, and fully partici- pate. The request must be made in writing before the redress hearing begins. Evidence from Protest Committee mem- bers: A protest committee member who brings an incident to the attention of the protest committee, or gives evidence at a protest or redress hearing, will not serve on
US SAILING NEW PROTESTS AND REDRESS PROCEDURES
the protest committee for that hearing if that is practical.
Redress based on protest committee decisions: If a boat requests redress based on a protest committee decision, the request must be heard by a different protest commit- tee if that is practical.
In addition to these prescriptions, US SAILING will encourage all event organizers to appoint protest committees that are com- prised of at least 20% racing sailors. Finally, US SAILING will follow additional proce- dures at events conducted in the United States that are designated by US SAILING as a direct qualifier for funding or one of its international teams. Sailors competing in these qualifiers will be advised of the addi- tional procedures.
“These new prescriptions establish practices that are good for the sport, racing sailors, event organizers and race officials,” said Jobson. “Many event organizers, from local to the highest level, have been following these practices for years. For those events that may not presently follow these practices, US SAILING is confident that they will be able to do so comfortably.”
Jobson stressed the importance of rac- ing sailors participating on protest commit- tees. “US SAILING hopes that this common practice will become universal. Racing sailors add a valuable perspective to protest commit- tees, and should be encouraged to volunteer in support of this great sport. The basic principle underlying the racing rules states that competitors are expected to follow and enforce those rules. Serving on a protest committee is one important way in which
racing sailors can uphold that principle.” “Farrah Hall has been resolute in her quest to resolve an issue in the racing rules,” said Jobson. “Although she lost the oppor- tunity to compete in the 2008 Olympics, her efforts have culminated in a positive outcome for all sailors.”
The changes result from a redress hear- ing decision in October 2007 at the U.S. Olym- pic Trials for sailing in the RS:X Windsurfing class, which took place at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in Long Beach, Calif. After the 16th and final race, Hall led the regatta. She was dropped to second place after the re- dress decision about a collision, neither of
which she was involved. As a result of the decision, Hall was not named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.
“The new prescriptions and the proce- dures that will apply at US SAILING’s quali- fying events resulted from a lot of hard work to find common ground. I’m pleased with the result,” said Hall.
Hall (Annapolis, Md.) is a member of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics and the highest ranked American women’s windsurfer on the ISAF World Sailing Rankings. She has her sights set on repre-
Continued on Page 20.
Early-season regatta to benefit SailMaine
PORTLAND – Maine’s sailing regatta season will get off to an early start on Saturday, June 5 at the Shakedown Regatta, when sailboats will race on courses inside Portland Harbor to raise funds for SailMaine, a local community sailing program. The Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Association is teaming up with SailMaine to host the second annual event, which will provide a wide range of benefits for SailMaine, its students, and the skippers and crews of the racing boats that participate.
The regatta is an opportunity for current Gulf of Maine racers to make connections with new sailors and potential crew members; SailMaine students get the chance to experience the thrill of racing on larger boats.
“Our students learned on smaller boats and sailing dinghies, and the next logical step is to move onto bigger boats and a more competitive racing environment,” says Sarah Helming, director of SailMaine’s Events and Junior Program. “At the same
time, Gulf of Maine skippers and crews are anxious to clean out the cobwebs that developed during their long off-season, and some may be looking to add people to their crew list. This regatta brings everyone together.”
Each racing boat will be assigned a certain number of SailMaine students from the organization’s junior, high school, and adult sailing programs who are new to Gulf of Maine racing. SailMaine coaches will evaluate the experience, skill level, and aspirations of students and match them with the appropriate racing yachts.
Funds for SailMaine will be raised through sponsorships, entry fees, sales of apparel and other items, and a benefit dinner and party following the race.
The post-race festivities will be open to the public, but advance reservations are recommended. People interested in dinner tickets should visit:
www.sailmaine.org.
Continued on Page 14.
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