If I've misunderstood your previous posts, I'll gladly retract my statements. Perhaps you can shed some light on:
If protested by a class member who does not exercise good judgment, I will dsq myself before the hearing and allow the class members to deal with the aftermath.
and
...some individuals will use the rules as a weapon to win.
and
If the class you sail in does not have members with good judgment... instead of changing the vest... change the class or switch to a class with no fools!
and
I think the choices are Change the Class... or Change classes.
where it looks to me like you plan to blame other competitors if they ever enforce this rule.
Also:
If the PRO or RC protests me... I will dsq myself and never return to the event.
where it looks like you will blame RC.
Don't tag me that way... I have repeatedly said.. the rules apply. If protested... I will either RAF (you were correct) or Go through the hearing and get DSQ'd.
Look... as Sarah Palin would note... I am one of those fish just going with the flow set out by the class
Really, I don't want to tag you or anybody that way. I'd be much happier to be wrong, but when you say things like:
My observation is that the class members ignore this prescription.... therefore, I choose to fall in line with the class philosophy.
that sounds uncomfortably like "everybody else cheats so why shouldn't I?".
At the NBA level... you don't see a player standing up and calling a foul on himself. When there is a consensus of the competitors that the aformentioned rule is not significant to the competitive game. I assert that this is not poor sportsmanship...
I wouldn't hold up the NBA as the epitome of sportsmanship.
Here's another anecdote. A couple of years back, I was helping out on RC for a Special Olympics regatta. In one of the classes (sailed on Hobie 16s), each athelete was paired with a "unified partner". Coming up to the finish line in light wind, I saw one partner blatantly and repeatedly ooching. I said to her "You're ooching" and she replied "that's what they teach us to do in college sailing". I then said "This is not college sailing, we expect a higher standard here".
At the professional level, you can count on sailors using any rule they can to beat another boat. After all, that is what they're paid for. At the club level, sailors let a lot of infractions slide because social harmony is more important than winning. In a sport with "corinthian values", however, this places a higher ethical standard on the sailors to obey the rules without outside enforcement.
The interesting question is what role does the PRO and Race Committee and marks boat people have in enforcing these rules.
Should they go looking for violations?
Should they listen to competitors who want some one else to raise the issue and go check out the gear of tagged sailor and file the protest?
Should they ignore the complaint and tell the competitor to file their protest themselves?
Should someone in another class on the race course be able to protest this violation?
I refer you again to the "Basic Principle" section of the rules:
Sportsmanship and the Rules
Competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty, which may be to retire.
Sailing is a self-policed sport. The competitors themselves are primarily responsible for enforcing the rules. Note the fundamental principle of sportsmanship means that you take a penalty when you break a rule - even if you aren't protested.
While race committee
may protest (see RRS 60.2(a)), they are usually under no obligation to do so (exceptions exist). When competitors are in a position to witness and infraction and protest but do not, RC rarely takes it upon themselves to do so. Think of it as a hierarchy of responsibility:
- You are primarily responsible for following the rules.
- If you don't, competitors are primarily responsible for enforcing them.
- If RC witnesses an infraction where competitors could not, RC may enforce them. RC also enforces rules when appropriate, such as starting penalties and measurement violations. Protest Committee can also get involved if the need arises.
Sometimes, RC does perform safety inspections (especially for youth regattas). I have heard equipment protests filed by RC regarding lack of personal safety equipment witnessed on the dock.
A boat may protest a boat in another class. The rules don't make any distinction on class membership.
Sincerely,
Eric
US SAILING Certified Judge
Member Area D Appeals Committee
