Huge thanks to Eunice and Ted on LP for a great race today!
I owe everyone a background on the withdrawn protest as part of my discussion with Albert Bossar.
Allegiant had three crew members tending sails outside the cockpit without PFDs on while on the downwind leg of race 1 (safety violation of SIs). I hailed them, they acknowledged but then didn't remedy the situation in my estimation, so I protested. However, I failed to follow protest procedures precisely (RRS 61.1). Allegiant and I later admitted both our faults over the phone, so rather than a counter-protest, I agreed to withdraw my protest and instead share the lessons learned:
- With all the COVID rules that are different this year, It's easy to forget that PFDs are required outside the cockpit while racing Frostbites as a safety precaution. Water temps were 56 degrees today; cold enough for a MOB to turn into a tragedy without a PFD.
- There is a procedure for protesting that isn't as simple as we tend to remember it is in the heat of the moment. It's there to protect both parties and drive issues to resolution on the water; it's worth a quick refresh of 61.1 and HHSA's protest procedures.
- Protests don't have to be a bad thing or engender ill will, especially if they are properly handled and and there is an opportunity to exonerate/resolve the issue on the water and both boats can continue sailing. A legitimate infraction let go in the moment and left for discussion at the bar means the 'guilty party' is left with withdrawal as their option.
Thanks again for a great day on the water!
Jason/
S/V Fine Tuned