Forum: Protest Hearing Procedures
Videoconference skippers' meetings & protest hearings given coronavirus
Al Sargent
1
Given recent concerns about coronavirus, it'd be good to have some guidance on how to properly conduct skippers' meetings and protest hearings using videoconference technology. Here's why I ask:
Keeping sailors out of an enclosed space for skippers' meetings and protest hearings, and away from each other and race officials, means that everyone is much less likely to get sick and regattas can continue on as planned.
The technology piece of the puzzle is pretty much solved. Videoconferencing is today widely available: Facetime, Zoom, Webex, Skype, etc. All these can be run on mobile devices (phones, tablets, laptops) that sailors can bring to regatta venues. Most yacht clubs have good WiFi and/or cellular network coverage. Portable batteries mean that devices should still have power at the end of the day when protest meetings are held.
My question are around what guidance does World Sailing, or other national authorities like US Sailing or RYA have for ensuring that the notice of race and sailing instructions are properly written to accommodate videoconferencing.
Some specific questions:
Is it okay for a sailor to submit a photo of their protest form to the protest committee? Can the protest committee then distribute this photo to the competitor(s) being protested?
When explaining a protest situation, is it okay for sailors to video plastic boats moving on a table, similar to what they do in an in-person protest hearing?
Any guidance welcome. Thanks.
Keeping sailors out of an enclosed space for skippers' meetings and protest hearings, and away from each other and race officials, means that everyone is much less likely to get sick and regattas can continue on as planned.
The technology piece of the puzzle is pretty much solved. Videoconferencing is today widely available: Facetime, Zoom, Webex, Skype, etc. All these can be run on mobile devices (phones, tablets, laptops) that sailors can bring to regatta venues. Most yacht clubs have good WiFi and/or cellular network coverage. Portable batteries mean that devices should still have power at the end of the day when protest meetings are held.
My question are around what guidance does World Sailing, or other national authorities like US Sailing or RYA have for ensuring that the notice of race and sailing instructions are properly written to accommodate videoconferencing.
Some specific questions:
Is it okay for a sailor to submit a photo of their protest form to the protest committee? Can the protest committee then distribute this photo to the competitor(s) being protested?
When explaining a protest situation, is it okay for sailors to video plastic boats moving on a table, similar to what they do in an in-person protest hearing?
Any guidance welcome. Thanks.
Comments
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Unless changed in the SI’s, the only requirement for the protest submittal is that it is “in writing” and includes the info in 61.2, and is filed within the PTL. Often the SI’s will provide an email address. I think if you are reading the words, it’s “in writing” even though it’s a picture of the words.
Yes. They can also make it available digitally at a central location and send a link or simply post it on the ONB without specifically distributing. The key is that the protest needs to be made available to the protestee. The PC has a lot of latitude in how they accomplish that.
I don’t see why not. There is no specific restriction on the form or structure of the evidence/testimony that a party might present. That said, it is up to the presenting party to provide or ensure the means for display/playback/dissemination to the PC and the parties at the hearing.
Therefore, if the video is recorded in a format or with a product which is not readily available on multiple platforms or is done in a proprietary app, the PC is not required to accommodate the playback for the presenting party... and if the PC can not ensure that all parties can see the testimony when presented during the hearing, IMO they should disallow it.
If the VC was done with a screen sharing app, many of these apps allow the screen that is being viewed to switch between participants’ desktops. So everyone could be seeing the Protestor’s screen at the same time and then switch the Protestee’s.
Here are a few things that we came up with to add to the guidelines that USS published. I offer these as optional items for your individual consideration to add to your upcoming VC hearing. Comments welcome.
If you have anything to offer based upon your experiences, please let me know.