Dear Sailor,
I
am very pleased that The Book of US SAILING Appeals and ISAF Cases is
now available on-line for free for US SAILING members (download
here). To
me, the Appeals Book has been too much of a deep dark secret over the years.
As a competitive racer, coach and judge, I can say this book is loaded with
important and useful interpretations of the rules that will help sailors,
race officers and judges from making unnecessary mistakes that sometimes are
costly. The Appeals are decisions of the US SAILING Appeals Committee, and the Cases are decisions of national authorities from around the world published by ISAF. Typically, protest committees conform their decisions to the Appeals and Cases when the facts are similar, which makes them invaluable to know and use.
Most Appeals and Cases are only a few paragraphs long, with a clear explanation of the Facts and often a diagram, followed by a clear interpretation and application of the rules to those Facts. The book can be read as a quiz book. And its best feature is the Index of the summaries of each appeal (called abstracts) sorted by rule number. So, if you are in a protest involving rule 17.1 (proper course), you can quickly scan through each appeal pertaining to rule 17.1 to see if one applies to your situation.
Some of the Appeals and Cases are actual situations, and some are interesting hypothetical situations and questions sent in by yacht clubs and other organizations. Subjects in the Appeals and Cases include: when does it violate rule 2 (the fair sailing rule) to intentionally slow another competitor down in a race, what rules apply when two boats sailing their proper courses converge, when are boats “about to round” a mark, do you have to keep clear of equipment out of its normal position, what does “injury” mean in rule 62.1(b) (Redress), can the race committee score a boat DNF (did not finish) when it sees the boat fail to sail the course correctly, and can you submit written testimony from a witness who had to leave before the protest hearing?
I strongly recommend and urge all sailors, race officers and judges (including any sailor who may be hearing a protest or redress request) to take a look at The Book of US SAILING Appeals and ISAF Cases. In addition to being available for free on-line to US SAILING members, the book will also continue to published and sold in hard copy, and can be purchased through the Store on the US SAILING website (www.ussailing.org).
Dave Perry
Chairman, US SAILING Appeals Committee