As result of a hearing, a protest committee issues a warning to a support person. After the warning, the support person again breaks a rule against the will of the supported competitor.

May the protest committee penalize the competitor without a hearing?

No.

If the answer is no, under which rule shall the protest committee protest the competitor?

A protest is an allegation that a boat has broken a rule. If a boat (the competitor) did not break a rule herself, there is no grounds for the protest committee to protest her.

In a hearing called by the protest committee under rule 60.3(d) to consider whether a support person has broken a rule, the supported boat is a party. A hearing under rule 60.3(d) shall be conducted in accordance with rule 63.9. Therefore, the boat’s representative has the right to be present in accordance with rule 63.3(a). For a hearing under rule 60.3(d), rule 64.4(b) sets the conditions under which the supported boat may be penalized.

The following changes to the Racing Rules of Sailing were approved in November 2017 at the World Sailing Annual Conference and come into effect on 1 January 2018.

Definition Party

Rule 63.1, Requirement for a Hearing

Rule 63.9, Hearings under Rule 60.3(d) – Support Persons

Rule 64.4, Decisions Concerning Support Persons