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The Racing Rules of Sailing

NSC Protest by a Boat Requirement to Inform the Protestee

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John Allan
Nationality: Australia
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • National Race Officer
2021 RRS 61.1(a)(3) stated (emphasis added)

if the incident was an error by the other boat in sailing the course, she need not hail or display a red flag but she shall inform the other boat either before or at the first reasonable opportunity after the other boat finishes;

WS RRC Part 5 Rewrite - Destinations Guidance states that the 2025-28 RRS Destination corresponding to 2021 RRS 61.1(a)(3) is RRS 60.2(b)(2)

2025 RRS 60.2(b) states (emphasis added)

... if ...
(2) the incident was an error in sailing the course,...
then the
only requirement for the protestor is to inform the protestee of its intention to protest at the first reasonable opportunity.

I understand this to mean that, for a NSC protest, a protesting boat is required to inform the protestee of its intention to protest at any reasonable opportunity that may arise during the race and before the boat finishes, otherwise the protest is invalid.

That is to say the protesting boat is required to inform the protestee of an intention to protest before the boat has actually broken RRS 28.

Does anyone have any other understanding of how this rule now works?
Created: Today 15:37

Comments

Format:
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John D. Farris
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Regional Race Officer
  • Regional Judge
So that I understand, are you asking whether "first reasonable opportunity" runs from the course error or from the point at which the uncorrected error becomes a breach of RRS 28? 
Created: Today 16:09
John Christman
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • International Umpire
  • Club Race Officer
  • National Judge
Here is how I parse this:

if the incident was an error by the other boat in sailing the course, she need not hail or display a red flag but she shall inform the other boat either:

            (1) before, or;
            (2) at the first reasonable opportunity after


the other boat finishes;

A boat can wait until after the other boat has finished to see whether the other boat has properly sailed the course.   She is not required to do it when she first thinks that the other boat has not sailed the course properly.

 See WS Case 112.
Created: Today 17:24
Let's think logically. Two boats are racing. The "lead" boat misses a mark and becomes even further ahead of the other. The only reasonable opportunity the other boat will get will be once the leading boat has crossed the finish line as he can't get the the leading boat to tell them of his protest.
Created: Today 17:44
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