Indeed. Well done.

"You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have lost
the respect of your competitors." - Paul Elvström

Properly conducted protest hearings need not be uncomfortable situations. More often, they are learning experiences for everyone. Judges will often take the time to thoroughly explain how they arrived at a decision and what could have been done to avoid the situation in the first place.

I encourage everyone to attend one of US Sailing's judges seminars over the winter. (Schedule is here.) The seminars spend far more time on how to conduct a proper hearing than they do teaching the rules. You don't have to take the test, if you don't plan on becoming certified. The seminars are highly beneficial, no matter which side of the table you're sitting on.