Case 103 references a "competent, but not expert, crew of the appropriate number.
I suspect that in practice, we shift this definition across events based on the average competition level. In each of the below examples, is that shift appropriate or inappropriate?
- age-restriced opti white fleet... is it a competent age-appropriate sailor, or a competent sailor?
- semi-restricted undergrad collegiate competition... is it a competent 20yo or a competent adult?
- in a multi-day PHRF race designated as a double-handed event?
- same multi-day event but an incident between a boat in the double-handed class, and a boat in a fully crewed class?
- at a community sailing center, racing designated as for beginner/intermediate racers in Rhodes 19's on a weeknight?
- at 470 Worlds (for example)?
- at a teams-racing national qualifier, where every competitor is effectively an expert in boat-handling?
Intrinsic to my question: in "open" (ie. not age/gender/crew-size/otherwise-restricted) competition, do we (and are we allowed to) hold a fleet of beginners to the same standard as a fleet of experts? Does the sailing expertise of the judges come into play here? What if the judges are made up of the same general populace as the racers (meaning their understanding of "competent" is skewed)?
-With the special question #4 of how to handle this when the crew # on one boat is restricted by the regatta.
I hope I haven't asked this hypothetical before.
Thus the competence determination does not change with the competition level.