Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing

Protests by Zoom

John Fothergill
Nationality: United Kingdom
Certifications:
  • National Race Officer
Has anyone got any experience of hearing protests by Zoom (or other online means) - indeed, is this actually permissible?  Would anything need including the Notice of Race?

At our sailing club, we tend to form a protest committee, if one is required at the end of an event, by commandeering sufficiently knowledgeable people from around the club house to help. However, that doesn’t always work, and it would be useful to be able to have people on standby at home or elsewhere who we could ask to join the protest committee by Zoom.  I can see that it might also be useful to be able to ask protestors, protestees and witnesses, to join by Zoom under some circumstances.

Thoughts welcome … thanks ... John Fothergill

Created: 22-Apr-06 17:01

Comments

P
Michael Butterfield
Nationality: United Kingdom
Certifications:
  • International Judge
  • International Umpire
  • International Race Officer
0
We often do protests by Zoom. The RYA and us sailing have guidance on their websites. 
Usually the nor specifies Hearings may be virtual. Competitors need to know they need a means of connection. 
It is not fully satisfactory as the competitors do not have The ability with boats to show you the incident 

Created: 22-Apr-06 17:17
P
Nicole B. RBYC Sailing Office
0
Hi there - we've done International Jurys and PC over Zoom. We normally have the Protest/Jury Secretary control who is in a waiting room and who is in the actual active hearing. What we've also found useful is using either an online white board for diagrams - share screen function. Or a facility to upload diagrams along with the protest form. We're also lucky to have a facility that can do two cameras - one looking at a table so the PC/IJs can play with the boats and one looking at the jury. It works very well as long as your competitors are aware of the requirements. WS allows for virtual hearings.
Cheers,
Nicole
Created: 22-Apr-06 17:52
Martin Rheaume
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • Club Race Officer
1
I recommend you check US Sailing document: 
Created: 22-Apr-06 18:22
Tim Hohmann
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Umpire In Training
  • Regional Judge
0
Zoom does have a whiteboard function that would enable parties or witnesses to do some rough diagrams during the hearing & share with the panel. Quality & efficiency might not be very good if they haven't practiced it though.
Created: 22-Apr-06 19:05
John Fothergill
Nationality: United Kingdom
Certifications:
  • National Race Officer
0
Thanks very much. Some very useful ideas. I can see this becoming more commonly used - especially for getting the members of the committee together. 
Created: 22-Apr-06 19:28
Paul Murray
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
0
During covid we used zoom for on line hearings successfully. The USSailing guidelines are very helpful.  We always ask that a diagram be submitted, if possible electronically.   We use the whiteboard for illustrations/boats.  

Where zoom hearings are not preferable to in person hearings, it does make the logistics of hearings more convenient for the parties and the judges in the large metropolitan area. One of the Judges or the Jury Secretary needs to be very familiar with the technology to be successful (I ran lots of remote meetings prior to my retirement so that helps a lot )


Created: 22-Apr-06 20:27
Thomas Koenig
Nationality: Germany
Certifications:
  • Club Judge
  • National Race Officer
0
The F16 class organized a huge racing event last year at Lago di Como. As we did not get support from the local club due to Covid-19 reasons, the event was organized mostly with RRS and online protest organisation. Our judge who is an international judge was in Ireland and the hearings were held via Zom. In Germany the Sailing Federation strongly supports online race management as well. 
Created: 22-Apr-07 07:06
John Fothergill
Nationality: United Kingdom
Certifications:
  • National Race Officer
0
Useful comments - I will try to ensure that we prepare for the possible use of Zoom for protest committees in future. 
Created: 22-Apr-07 07:57
Doc Sullivan
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • National Umpire
0
We have lots of experience doing protest day online (aqua fest) which is a continuing educational opportunity from the judges education page on us sailing. I would suggest you take the course which would help familiarize you with the process as there is a steep learning curve

Doc
Created: 22-Apr-11 14:53
John Fothergill
Nationality: United Kingdom
Certifications:
  • National Race Officer
0
Thanks Doc! 
Created: 22-Apr-11 16:07
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