How to File a Hearing Request

What Is a Hearing Request?

A hearing request is the official electronic form for initiating a protest, a request for redress, or another type of hearing at an event that uses the RRS.org jury management system. You do not need to be signed in to file a hearing request — the form is accessible to anyone. However, signing in allows you to track your request, edit it before the hearing starts, and print it as a PDF.

The terminology has shifted from the older term protest form to hearing request, reflecting that the form covers protests, requests for redress, requests to reopen a hearing, and other types of hearings — not just protests between boats.

How to Access the Form

Active events that are accepting hearing requests are listed on the RRS.org home page. Click the event name to go to the public event page, where you will find a File a Hearing Request link in the Actions menu at the top of the event page. You can also access the form directly if an official has given you a link.

AI-Assisted Voice Intake

Some events enable an AI voice intake option. If it is available for your event, you will see a prompt at the top of the page offering two ways to file: the standard form, or an AI-assisted intake where you describe the incident by speaking or typing in plain language.

With AI intake, describe what happened — including the race number, the time and place, who was involved, what rules you believe were broken, and whether there was contact or damage. The AI extracts the information and pre-fills the hearing request form for your review. You can edit any field before submitting, so review the pre-filled form carefully before you click Save.

Date, Race Number, and Hearing Type

At the top of the form:

  • Date of incident — enter the date the incident occurred, not necessarily today. This is required.
  • Race number — enter the race number precisely. This is required and used to match your request to the correct race.
  • Hearing type — select all types that apply:
    • Protest by Boat — a protest under rule 60.1(a) by one boat against another
    • Request for Redress — a request under rule 60.1(b) asking the Race or Protest Committee to correct a score
    • Request to Reopen — a request to reopen a previous hearing
    • Other — if you select this, a field appears for you to describe the type of hearing

Identifying the Parties

The initiating party (you): If the event has registered competitors, you can search by sail number or name and the form will pre-fill your boat and contact details automatically. Otherwise, fill in your boat class, division, sail number, boat name, your first and last name, and your contact details. At least one of email address or phone number is required so officials can reach you. Include your WhatsApp number if you use it for event communications — RRS.org can send hearing notices via WhatsApp.

The other party (the respondent): Fill in the sail number, boat name, and contact details of the boat or party you are naming. Including the other party email address and phone number is very helpful — they will be automatically notified of the hearing request and a hearing can be scheduled much more quickly. If you are requesting redress from the Race Committee rather than protesting another boat, select Race Committee as the party type and leave the boat fields blank.

Incident Details and Notification

Time and place: Be specific. The other party must be able to identify when and where the incident occurred based solely on what you write here. A good answer includes the date, approximate time, race number, leg of the race, and position on that leg. Pro tip: if the time and place is not adequately completed before the hearing starts, the protest is invalid. Get this right.

Rules: List the rules you believe were broken. A best guess is acceptable — the jury determines which rules apply, not you, and is not limited to the rules you identify.

Witnesses: List any witnesses you intend to call. You must have them present and ready at the time of the hearing. You will not be permitted to go and find them once the hearing has begun.

How you notified the other party: Indicate how you told the other party you intended to protest:

  • Hail — check the box, then fill in when you hailed and what you said (e.g., Protest!)
  • Red flag — check the box and indicate when the flag was displayed
  • Other — check the box and describe how you notified them
At least one notification method must be documented. If notification was not given correctly, the request may be ruled invalid at the hearing.

Describing the Incident

Use the Description of Incident field to describe what happened. Keep it concise — you will have the full opportunity to describe events in detail during the hearing itself. A sentence or two is often enough: which leg of the race, which rule you believe applied, and what occurred. Be sure to mention whether there was contact, damage, or injury — the jury handles these situations differently and needs to know this at the outset.

The description field uses a rich text editor. Diagrams and photos should be added as attachments rather than embedded in the text.

Use the separate Damage and Injury field to describe any damage to your boat or injury to any person involved. Attach photos of damage in the attachments section.

Attachments and Submitting

You can attach supporting documents — a diagram of the incident, photos of damage, tracking data, results, or anything else that supports your case. To include a diagram, draw it on paper, take a photo, and attach the photo. The jury will have reviewed your attachments before the hearing begins, which helps keep the hearing shorter.

When you are ready, click Save. If you are signed in as a competitor, a confirmation dialog will appear before your request is submitted. Read it carefully — once a hearing request is submitted electronically, it cannot be withdrawn without the permission of the protest committee.

After submission, signed-in users can find their request under My Hearing Requests in the Race Operations menu on the event page, where you can view and edit your request (up until the point the hearing starts) and print it as a PDF. If you are not signed in, you will be directed to the event schedule page.

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