CASE 01

Rule 60.1, Right to Protest and Request Redress
Rule 63.1, Hearings: Requirement for a Hearing

A boat that breaks a rule while racing but continues to race may protest over a later incident, even though she is disqualified for the breach of a rule after the race.

Question
Boats A, B, and C are racing with others. After an incident, boat A hails and displays her protest flag, but boat B neither retires nor takes a penalty. Later, B protests a third boat, C, after a second incident. The protest committee hears A’s protest against B and disqualifies B. Does this disqualification invalidate B’s protest against C?

Answer
No. When a boat continues to race after an alleged breach of a rule, her rights and obligations under the rules do not change. Consequently, even though A’s protest against B is upheld, B’s protest against C is still valid and, when the protest committee is satisfied from the evidence that C broke a rule, she must be disqualified.

RYA 1962/25