RE Mark's comments to improve friendly racing proceedings.:
>Protest committes are almost non existant at cat races... so they may not play by the rules and the game suffers.
>What if a USSA judge showed up and did a public Protest Committe hearing .. We get to play the game hard and safely the next time we race.
>the non racers (can still) give it whirl
>Regatta PRO was asked to state his credentials and USSA training at the skippers meeting.

I submit that Protests are a necessary element to racing. They remind one that it is best to race by the rules, and to exonerate yourself as best as possible on the racecourse. It is not intended to be a punitive process resulting in jail-time, lawsuits or total and utter disgrace. Protests are a part of the learning process.

By the way: I suggest that PROs, Race Committees and Protest committees are irrelevant to a lawsuit. I have had my boats damaged, rarely but occasionally, and would prefer the offender to pay to repair the damage rather than inspire a lawsuit. Only Katherine Garelick absolutely refused to be responsible for her damage (and is still an unrestrained renegade IMHO).