Hi

This becomes an insurance matter only (Sadly from personal experience)

The protest committe judgement is not binding on the insurance companies. The paperwork that you and the other boat submit at the protest serves to document the two sides of the story (at that time). The absolute judgements of port/starbord collisions made by a protest committe have nothing to due with shared liablity.

If your company agrees that you were not at all at fault.. they pay for your damage (minus the deductable) and then sue the other guy or his insurance carrier. It becomes their problem to get their money.

I believe that is why most regattas require liability insurance for all competitors. (Would you serve on a protest committe if your judgment determined the fate of someone's injury)

The insurance companies agree on the relative fault and settle the claim. I think its just like auto insurance which uses the police report to determine facts.

The sportsmanship issue is entirely seperate though. Not my fault sounds pretty lame.

Stay warm
Mark