Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing

Who qualifies as a “race official”?

P
Angelo Guarino
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Fleet Measurer
RRS 5 states: (emphasis added)

“The organizing authority, race committee, technical committee, protest committee and other race officials shall be governed by the rules in the conduct and judging of the event.”

Q1: Would you agree that, by the use of “and other race officials”, that RRS 5  indicates that the list preceding it are “race officials”? Thus ....
  1. Representatives of the OA, and 
  2. Members of the RC, TC and PC?

Q2: Who are “other race officials”?.. what are some examples that fall outside #1 and #2 above … how to they get designated as such?
Created: 22-Jul-21 03:03

Comments

Ben Fels
Nationality: Australia
Certifications:
  • International Judge
  • International Umpire
  • National Race Officer
1
Off the top of my head, I think these people need to governed by the rules, Umpires, Investigators under 69.2 (d), Observers under P1.1, a jury secretary, people that help with a process such as registration by the OA, possibly people  providing equipment such as trackers and cameras.
Cheers
Created: 22-Jul-21 03:37
P
Greg Meagher
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Club Race Officer
  • Umpire In Training
  • Regional Judge
0
In addition to officials appointed under RRS 89.2(c), the 'terminology' section of the Introduction identifies "any other person or committee" performing a race committee or technical committee function as a member of the respective committee.
Created: 22-Jul-21 05:09
P
Angelo Guarino
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Fleet Measurer
0
Greg and Ben... right .. but those people then seem to end up falling within #1 and #2 above.  I was scratching my head as each time I thought of someone, they seemed traced back to being part of the OA, RC, TC, PC by extension. 

Or maybe that’s the point of the phrase it to provide that ease of extension to the peripheral and auxiliary members of those core entities. 
Created: 22-Jul-21 10:59
David Hubbard
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Club Race Officer
0
You may want to check out the 'US Sailing Race Management Handbook'.  Available for downloading free from US Sailing.

Created: 22-Jul-21 12:22
Steve Comen
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Regional Race Officer
0
If appendix T is in affect, the arbitrator is typically not a member of the protest committee. There are also many cases where umpires are not members of the protest committee, and appendix P defines observers who are appointed by the protest committee but are not necessarily part of the protest committee. I think all of these are considered to be race officials.
Created: 22-Jul-21 16:13
Ben Fels
Nationality: Australia
Certifications:
  • International Judge
  • International Umpire
  • National Race Officer
1
Hi Angelo,
I have a different view, that is aligned with Steve's comment.  An Umpire acting as an Umpire doesn't do protests and is not part of the PC. Likewise Observers for App P and Arbitrators for App T. 
Also, A Technical Delegate appointed by WS , Classifiers for the Para's or MNA Officials that might need to give an approval under say 70.5. 
Another is a person on a body responsible for interpreting the class rules, who is not part of the TC of the event.
But these people can also have more than one designation at different times.
Often Judges, Umpires and Measurers etc.. even coaches will help laying marks and for that period they become part of the RC. 

Created: 22-Jul-21 22:37
Philip Hubbell
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Club Race Officer
  • Judge In Training
0
I would say anyone who has influence over how the racing is run, etc.
My opinion is that there are way too many in the top echelon of well-populated youth sailing class that could use a refresh of the RRS regarding NOR and SI.
Probably in many other classes as well.
They are not race officials, but they dictate terms.
Created: 22-Jul-22 00:32
P
John Allan
Nationality: Australia
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • Regional Race Officer
1
I think Ben has got it covered.

But

RRS 5 obliges compliance with the rules by the organizing authority, race committee, technical committee, protest committee and other race officials.

Before examining the scope of the entities referred to, it should be noted that nearly every one of the RRS imposes its obligations on a specific identified entity, thus, for example:

·         The Part A, When boats meet rules apply between boats.
·         RRS 27 Other race committee actions before the starting signal applies only to the race committee
·         RRS 37 Search and rescue instructions applies to boats, official vessels and support vessels
·         RRS 63.4 Conflict of interest applies only to protest committee members
·         RRS 89 Organizing authority; notice of race; appointment of race officials applies only to the Organising Authority
·         RRS 90 Race committee; sailing instructions; scoring applies only to the race committee

Note that, in particular, RRS 2 Fair sailing applies to boats and their owners, and RRS 69 Misconduct applies to competitors, boat owners and support persons.  These rules do not impose any obligations on race officials.

Thus, there is no express obligation in the RRS for race officials to act fairly or for the Organising Authority, race committee or technical committee to be free of conflicts of interest.  Unfair, partial actions or misconduct by race officials is usually dealt with by MNA or WS Codes of Conduct, and MNA or WS complaints and disciplinary procedures, although these procedures may sometimes apply to accredited officials only.

Created: 22-Jul-22 07:02
P
Angelo Guarino
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Fleet Measurer
0
John, those are very interesting insights and thanks to Ben, Steve and others who contributed.  

I wondered down this path after reading Case 138. Answer 1.14 references “race officials” and thus my latest rabbit hole was found. 

When doing a simple search for the term in the RRS, there are only 3 places “race official” is used. 

RRS 5: RULES GOVERNING ORGANIZING AUTHORITIES AND OFFICIALS
The organizing authority, race committee, technical committee, protest committee and other race officials shall be governed by the rules in the conduct and judging of the event.

RRS 89.2(c): Notice of Race; Appointment of Race Officials: The organizing authority shall appoint a race committee and, when appropriate, appoint a protest committee, a technical committee and umpires. However, the race committee, an international jury, a technical committee and umpires may be appointed by World Sailing as provided in its Regulations.

M5.3 Unless World Sailing has appointed a person for the role, the protest committee may appoint a person to present the allegation. This person might be a race official, the person making the allegation or other appropriate person. When no reasonable alternative person is
131

In particular, a tight reading of 89.2(c) might lead one to conclude that “umpires” are  the only “other race officials” as they are the only officials added to the list given in RRS 5. 

I think one might look to the definitions of “official” (noun) and “officiate” (verb) and test if someone is a “race official” that way (from Merriam-Webster online). 

“Official” (noun) 1: one who holds or is invested with an office :
2: one who administers the rules of a game or sport especially as a referee or umpire

“Officiate” (verb) 1: to perform a ceremony, function, or duty
2: to act in an official capacity : act as an official (as at a sports contest)
transitive verb
1: to carry out (an official duty or function)
2: to serve as a leader or celebrant of (a ceremony)
3: to administer the rules of (a game or sport) especially as a referee or umpire

I think applying the above captures all the examples offered by Ben and others. 

Back to Case 138, John your point about paying attention to who the rules apply to is really good. 

A competitor calls the PC Chair a %#$%#@-ing #$&%!! .. after a decision doesn’t go their way, that’s a potential RRS 69 report. 

The PC Chair looses their cool and returns the favor, that’s potentially a report for a different administrative process.  

Created: 22-Jul-22 13:30
Gordon Davies
Nationality: Ireland
Certifications:
  • International Judge
0
Here in Ireland  Irish Sailing propses qualifications for: Race Management, Judges, Umpires, Mark Layers, Safety Leaders and Results Managers. All are described as race officals
Created: 22-Jul-24 14:58
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