I don't think this is a validity issue. Validity is based upon a series of elements that must be satisfied. There isn't an "occurred in a race which was later abandoned" in 60.4.
The race is "voided" as far as scoring is concerned .. so any penalty will end up having no effect as long as the incident occurred while racing, but the hearing must proceed if the protest was delivered within the PTL.
If this incident occurred prior to the prep-signal .. and this was not the last race of the regatta ... would one apply any penalty to the next race of the regatta? .. since abandonment voids the race?
If a boat has broken a rule when not racing, her penalty shall apply to the race sailed nearest in time to the incident.
If a boat has broken a rule when not racing, her penalty shall apply to the race sailed nearest in time to the incident.
I haven't thought about this in the context of a regatta.
For club racing where the incident occurred at first or last race in a series I've had the view that the penalty should apply to the race in the previous or subsequent series (for which the boat was entered) as tested by simple comparison of dates and times.
I think for the last race in a regatta, the race nearest in time will be the preceding race.
A protest has to be heard if submitted. The committee must check validity before continuing to hear the Protest. The fact a race has been abandoned is not a reason to invalidate a protest. The reason for the protest is probably a final claim for redress. The problem the committee might have is if the protest ends up in a rule 2 with a DNE decision which race to apply the decision if any.
If the incident occurred before the Preparatory Signal, the boats were not racing and RRS 60.5(c) last sentence says a boat's penalty shall apply to the race sailed nearest in time to the incident.
If the incident occurred after the Preparatory Signal while boats were racing:
If the race is restarted or resailed RRS 60.5(c)(3) says a boat shall not be disqualified.
If the race is abandoned and not restarted or retailed no penalty applies.
Seriousness of damage makes no difference to the severity of a penalty unless the NOR/SI gives the protest committee discretion to give a penalty less than disqualification.
The parties are entitled to get a written decision in accordance with RRS 63.6(b) in any case.
I think the purpose of the Protest is find facts . As the race was abandoned and no boats had a score for the race, presumably it is about facts found , and rules broken by either boat, with no penalty applied as no boats scored in the race. ??
The race is "voided" as far as scoring is concerned .. so any penalty will end up having no effect as long as the incident occurred while racing, but the hearing must proceed if the protest was delivered within the PTL.
If this incident occurred prior to the prep-signal .. and this was not the last race of the regatta ... would one apply any penalty to the next race of the regatta? .. since abandonment voids the race?
For club racing where the incident occurred at first or last race in a series I've had the view that the penalty should apply to the race in the previous or subsequent series (for which the boat was entered) as tested by simple comparison of dates and times.
I think for the last race in a regatta, the race nearest in time will be the preceding race.
If the incident occurred before the Preparatory Signal, the boats were not racing and RRS 60.5(c) last sentence says a boat's penalty shall apply to the race sailed nearest in time to the incident.
If the incident occurred after the Preparatory Signal while boats were racing:
Seriousness of damage makes no difference to the severity of a penalty unless the NOR/SI gives the protest committee discretion to give a penalty less than disqualification.
The parties are entitled to get a written decision in accordance with RRS 63.6(b) in any case.
Printed, framed and already hanging on the wall :-)