J/24 Fleet 26 Tuesday Night Arbitration Process

At our recent Fleet meeting several suggestions we made to address concerns about the increased number fouls and what seems to be a lack of accountability by some competitors.  In an attempt to address this, we are forming an arbitration process in which a protest that is unresolved on the water can be heard at the club immediately following racing.

Given the intent to improve on-the-water sportsmanship and to increase understanding of the racing rules, we have taken a less-formal and expedient approach.  Rather than arranging for having a US certified judge, we will leverage our own fleet membership to provide the arbitration.  As such, each of our top 16 boats will be assigned to provide an arbitration committee representative.  The goal is to convene a small committee (3 members) who will hear both sides of the event in question and quickly size up the situation and make an arbitration ruling.

Participation in the arbitration is voluntary; protestors can choose to file a formal protest, which will be heard by a CYC protest committee.  In addition the entire process can be avoided by exonerating yourself on the course by taking penalty turns as prescribed in the racing rules.

Qualification:

• The protest involves rules covered in Part 2 of the RRS.
• On the water boats must follow rules for notifying the other boat of protest - flying protest flag and hailing "protest".
• The protest does not involve more than two boats.
• No allegation of damage exists.
• The protesting boat must notify the protested party that they would like to utilize arbitration and both parties must agree to participate in the arbitration. (Notification should be made immediately following the race where the foul allegedly occurred)

If the protested boat chooses not to participate in arbitration or either party does not accept the results of the arbitration ruling the protestor is strongly encouraged to file a formal protest to be heard by CYC protest committee at a later date.

Arbitration:

• Immediately following racing the protesting boat must sign-up for arbitration in the clubhouse.  Protest forms are allowed but not required.
• The arbitration hearings will be 10 minutes long.
• 2 minutes for each party to present their case
• 1 minute each for questions from the parties
• 2 minutes for questions from the arbitration committee
• 2 minutes for the arbitration committee to make a ruling.
• 3^rd Party Witnesses from another boat will be allowed as part of the 2 minute presentation of either party.

Penalty:

• No penalties will be assessed where the Arbitration Committee rules that no foul occurred.
• A boat that accepts the Arbitration Ruling that she broke a rule of Part 2 shall receive a 40% penalty added to their score for that race.
• A protested boat may acknowledge she committed a foul after race completion and prior to arbitration and request that a 40% penalty be added to their score for that race.