Final Score in LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Scoring this final episode of our LTW 2012 Winter Challenge brought one contestant over the 100 points, and therefore he's declared as the winner. Congratulations Grey Bear, well done!
Your coveted prize will be banged in the post asap….

As to our final Episode, most of you did arrive at the 'correct' answer. Tiger was within the rules to try to improve her series score by making sure Hamilton Eleven finished after other boat(s).

The fact that the score of another boat was improved is more or less the point. If you sail someone to the back of the fleet - early in the race - a lot of boats benefit. The fact that is was only one, makes you think it was done for another reason. It's prudent to investigate the relation between the two boats benefiting from this manoeuvre, but even - like in our case - you can find such a connection, actual team racing is very very hard to prove.

You have to investigate all rules in the incident, because although the protest is about rule 2 and or 69, rule 2 can be infringed if you break a rule of part 2 using this tactic of improving your score. Tiger broke no rules, she was entitled to sail to the mark (18.2(b)), she was right of way boat (11) and Hamilton Eleven had to keep clear, therefore it was no rule 2 infringement nor a rule 69 issue.

Hamilton Eleven should have crossed astern as soon as Tiger luffed and defended her position instead of trying to pass to windward…. But that is hindsight.

Everybody who used Case 78 was deducted one point, it has been withdrawn from the book (well spotted Zaphod). But if you used Q&A 2011-022 you got a bonus point.

Scoring was based on the following criteria:
Adequate facts found? 2 points;
Rule 18 & rule 11 mentioned? 1 point;
Improved scoring (series) for Tiger? 1 point;
No rules broken by Tiger? 1 point;
No rules broken by Banks? 1 point;
Conclusion about rule 2 and 69? 2 points;
Dismissal of the protest? 2 points

Bonus or Malus points
Using Case 78? -1 point
Using Q&A 2011-022? +1 point
(redress 62.1(d)) only for Goomer two +1 point

Which gives us the final result:

I also have to congratulate Zaphod on his (almost) catching up and second place. And Dauphine who - despite not having entered in this last episode - managed to hang on to third place. (I did check the spam box!)

There will be an Epilogue to this series. I'm cooking it, but time is scarce, so it will take (at least) another week before it's ready.

Score 03/23 LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

Scoring Episode 03/13 has been based on the following criteria:

• Adequate facts found, leading to conclusions about;
• Validity P1 (valid);
• Validity P2 (not valid, for several reasons; P-time, flag and hail);
• Use of rule 60.3(a)(2) by the PC;
• Yellow's breach of rule 11;
• Green's breach of rule 11, forcing Yellow's infringement of rule 11;
• Exoneration of Yellow 64.1(c);
• No Mark-room for Blue. Because 18.3 switches off 18.2
• Mark-room for Yellow 18.2(b), Green did not give that, see Case 114
• Decision to DSQ Green and exonerate Yellow;

All criteria - if solved correctly - earn you 1 point. (in total that makes 10).
Deductions were done if you brought up unnecessary rules: i.e. rule 16 or rule 17. Minus one point for each.
I can accept the use of 15, although I would not have done so.

Have a look at the second entry by Grey Bear.
That is what I would have written when being scribe in an actual panel. (Save conclusion 1)

This gives us the following scoreboard:

With probably one episode to go, it looks like numbers one, two and three are more or less decided.

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge E03/30; Last Episode!

In all likelihood this will be the last in the series. Two contestants have a good chance to reach over 100 points if they participate in this one. I still have to score the previous episode but that should bring them over 90 points..... And looking at there average the 100 is within reach.

Today's episode is with an animation. There are three boats involved, but only Purple protests, against both others. Boats are 11:Metre One Design in a Class championship. The incident happens in race 2. One race is scheduled every day for a total of 6 days.
The Grey boat is called Banks, the Red has the name Tiger and the Purple one has been named Hamilton Eleven.

The skipper of  Hamilton Eleven writes on his protest form:
"I protest against Tiger and Banks for helping each other. Tiger prevented me from finishing, so that Banks could finish before me. This is team racing and very unsporting. I protest on rule 2 and rule 69."

The incident happened at the finish. The RC recorded Tiger as having finished 4th, Banks as 5th and Hamilton Eleven as 6th in race 2.

You are a member of the Protest Committee panel and have been assigned as scribe. All three parties come to the hearing and you are allowed to ask three questions. One question to each of the boats. All questions before Tuesday 23:59 hours. They will be answered ASAP.

Your assignment is to write Facts Found, Conclusions & rules involved and a Decision.
Deadline is THURSDAY 23:59 hours, so as to be able to score on Friday April 6th and announce a winner for the LTW 2012 Winter Challenge before Easter.
Good luck,
J.

Animation LTW 2012 Challenge 03/23

Almost forgot. Grey Bear's mail reminded me, fortunately.
Here's the animation:

Deadline for the challenge is like always 23:59 tonight.
J.

Score LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 03/16

You are not making this easy!

First of all I must confess that I had some difficulties deciding this incident myself. I would have liked have had the opportunity to discuss the rules involved in a panel to reach the most equatable solution. By having a panel with more persons (read opinions) you get a better balance.

Most of you decided that Red's protest was invalid because she didn't hail 'protest'. I can't say that this is wrong, but would like to point out that the rule states she must do so 'at the first reasonable opportunity for each'. So my question to you is: "What has to happen before you decide that hailing has not to be done immediately?"

For instance: If both the helmsman and the crew were thrown overboard by the sudden deceleration, would any of you have insisted on Red yelling protest to Purple?
I think not. By the time they were able to get back on board Purple would have long gone and hailing would have been pointless. Then 61.1(a)(1) would have allowed the protest to be validated.

In our situation only the crew was thrown overboard. The skipper was still aboard. But picture what the situation was. A spinnaker flying in front of the boat, the mainsail full, the boat about to be smashed against the committee vessel, you crew in the water and you yourself recovering from having been thrown forward by the sudden deceleration. Would you have the wherewithal to clear your head and, before starting to keep your boat out of danger and check your crew was okay, yell protest?

At least a consideration.
In these circumstances it is in my view not 'wrong' to allow the validity to be decided in favor of the sailor.

Because of declaring the protest of Red invalid we never go to the issue if Purple did keep clear and or give enough mark-room. In my opinion she did. Boats should be able to pass marks - even if if they are committee boats -  very close. Or if that is not possible because of anchor-lines or such, at least clearly marked where or where not to pass.

In my opinion the shallowness of the anchor-rode coupled with the lack of clearly marking the save point of passage, was an improper action of the RC. So redress is possible for Red. She should have been able to pass the committee vessel safely without any chance of getting entangled in the line.

Did any of you ask if she wanted redress? It was not on the original protest-form.....
Most International Jury's have a policy decided beforehand. To offer redress if it is appropriate when not asked and talk with the representative of the boat what it should be. Or not to do this. It should be - at least - consistent for all competitors in the event.

Then there's the issue with rule 41. Rule 41(b) allows members of the RC-boat to help in getting clear. Most of you concluded this. Good. Then the rubber-boat brought back the rudder. Almost all of you concluded that was not permitted under rule 41. Also correct. But what about rule 1.1?

A boat or competitor shall give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger

Was Red in danger?
In my opinion you can answer with yes. Without her rudder there was a real possibility she would have ended up on the rocks. Could she continue in the race after getting that help? That is depending on what was written in the sailing instructions. Why do you think the RC brought this protest?

None of you asked if there was a provision in the SI allowing a boat to get help as long as it didn't involved progress in the race......

I was reminded not long ago by one of my friends (who's also a judge) that you are allowed to find a solution that is within the rules, that gives the best outcome for the competitor.

I've scored the entries according to this criteria:

• Format and consistency between facts found and conclusion: 2 points;
• Answer on finishing: 1 point;
• Validity decision: 1 point for each protest;
• Restricted the second protest on the issue: 1 point;
• Decision on rule 41: 1 point.
• Decision on redress: 1 points; Giving back finish position (2e) to Red: 1 point
• Decision on rule 31 (mark touching) and exoneration: 1 point.
• If you managed to get to rule 1.1 you earn 2 bonus points.

Except for the bonus points, I haven't looked at if you had the same outcome as me, only if your decision was based on valid grounds and arguments.

This has resulted in the following score:

Still very close at the top, but no ties at the moment.

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge E03/23

During a 6 day Tornado regatta, a protest is handed in at the race office on day four within the protest time limit. Blue protests against Yellow for failing to keep clear as windward boat (Rule 11)
The following diagram is attached to the paper.

Diagram by Blue

Yellow reads on the noticeboard she's being protested and asks for a protest form herself. She hands it in about fifteen minutes after protest time limit has passed.

The jury secretary schedules both protest simultaneously and all three parties come to the hearing.
You find out that Blue did hail protest and fly a red flag immediately after position 4, but Yellow never did.

The challenge as per usual:
Find facts, draw a conclusion and decide the protest(s).

Limitations:
You are all allowed one question. And only one. But to make it interesting, you can decide when to ask it, up until next Wednesday 23:59. Better make it a good one!
All questions will be answered ASAP. So you might want to wait until last. Or not. Maybe your one question will trigger a question by one of the other challengers that will really solve the problem. Or not. You decide.

As compensation for this one question limitation, I will post the animation on Thursday.
Good luck,
J.

Score 03/09 LTW Winter Challenge

First of all I must apologies for not getting scoring and commenting sooner

It's tax-time in the Netherlands and I had an appointment with my bookkeeper today going over the results of my first year. That took all my time preparing. Luckily I had some post pre- prepared to go on the blog. But the LTW 2012 Winter Challenge got the short end of the stick. I'm satisfied with the comments of my bookkeeper and can do the changes in coming days, so this evening I'm catching up.

The case with the crew in the water was send to me by Jason, who told me it has really happened. Thanks Jason!

There are three rules to consider in this situation. In numerical order 42, 47.2 and 49.2

Most of the contestants went for 47.2, which is the obvious rule.  There is however one consideration to make. What is 'on board'? That is not defined in the rules. Can a person be on board while hanging onto it?
It is standard practice that if you need a definition of something that is not defined in the RRS, you go to the standard use/definition in the (nautical) dictionary.

Webster: On shipboard; in a ship or a boat; on board of; as, I came on board early; to be on board ship.

To me that means, the person should be at least 'out of the water'….
So the boat continues to race with a crew member not on board, therefore breaking rule 47.2 > DSQ.

There is also a breach of rule 42! The wording in the rule states: ......using only wind and water to increase, maintain or DECREASE her speed. Sticking an arm or a leg in the water to slow down for the start is breaking rule 42! Let alone a person.

Finally rule 49.2
You found out in the questions the boat has stanchions…. Logically that would mean that she also had lifelines, and one of you specifically asked this. In order to consider 49.2 you need to know this.
There is a case to be made that a person hanging onto the boat is positioning his body outside the lifelines, and certainly not performing a necessary task. But because of the other two infringed rules, you can also not use this at all.

Some of you also used rule 2. The skipper, by sailing on without recovering his crew, was deliberately breaking rule 47.2.

Hmm, I'm reluctant to go there. I think the skipper just didn't realise he was doing this. He should have, perhaps. But to find this a rule 2 issue I need to be sure. It must be clearly established, like the rule says. I don't blame anyone from bringing it up in the room, but my vote would be no.

I've scored the entries accordingly and commented individually.

The leader and runner up have only 1 point between them. It could be over in three episodes......
J

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge E03/16

Today’s episode is about a situation send in by Eric Robbins from the US. I’ve only made some (small) textual changes and provided the animation. I’ve deleted the sail numbers and changed them to colours to identify the boats. (Red and Purple). (What is it with those two? They seem to be in an awful lot of protests!).

Protest #8:

In an eight-boat class, in the last race of the day, the first two Fireballs (17 feet long), leave the leeward mark to port, then reach across the bow of the finish boat to cross the finish line which was between the starboard shroud of a J-105 and a mark set off the starboard bow. The finish boat had a long anchor rode. The finish line was approximately 10 boats lengths from the leeward mark.

Fireball Purple rounded the leeward mark clear ahead of Red. Both were flying spinnakers on the reach to the finish, planing at about 10 knots. Fireball Red established an overlap to leeward and inside when Purple  was approximately two boat lengths from the anchor rode. Purple barely cleared the anchor rode, and finished overlapped, one-half length ahead of Red, but Red hooked the anchor rode with its rudder, with its bow just across the finish line. In the absence of the anchor rode, there would have been enough room for Red to pass between Purple and the finish boat.

Red was hung alongside, and touching, the finish boat, with the crew in the water hanging on the side of the Fireball, for over one minute, and had to cast off its rudder to get free. There was minor damage to both Red and the finish boat.

Red requested and received help from the finish boat and a mark boat to retrieve his rudder, then took a One-Turn Penalty, came back and re-finished in last place. At this point Red announced to the RC that he was protesting Purple. Red did not hail “protest” to Purple, but informed him on shore after the race. The protest was filed within the time limit. The skipper of Purple stated that he never saw Red get an overlap, as he was looking forward, but he did later see Red hung on the side of the finish boat.

The RC filed a protest against Red for breaking rule 41, outside help, also within the time limit.

What should the RC record for Red’s finish?
Is the protest by Red valid?
Write the protest with Facts Found, Rules that apply, Conclusions and a Decision

As always you have a limited number of questions, three in this episode, since there are three parties involved. But you can ask all three to the same party if you so want. Deadlines on Monday 23:59, Tuesday 23:59 and Wednesday 23:59. Final entry before Friday 23:59.

Score 02/24 LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

As most of you have found the Challenge in episode 02/24 was to choose.
The stories by both sailors (and diagrams) were the same, except in a crucial point:
Did Purple pass head to wind before or after Grey had to bear away to go behind?

Choose!

I've tried to give answers to the questions as if I was the representative of the boat(s). Both truthful and believing in their story, as much as possible.

The PC does not have the luxury to NOT decide an incident. They must choose and write down the facts found - thereby determining what has happened. Sometimes that can be different than what has actually occurred, but they must choose. If you can't, get the parties back in the room and continue the hearing.
A conclusion of "cannot decide" is unacceptable.

The presentation by the party can therefore make a huge difference. If a representative of the boat is able to convince the panel members of his side, they are more likely to go for his version. And since the outcome of a protest is usually very black and white (DSQ or not), that skill should be developed - as much as any sailing technique. It can cost you the race!

I'm happy to see that all of challengers did choose.

Scoring and comments are done with the comments in the original post:
LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 02/24:YES/NO

This is the new scoreboard:

No more ties at the moment. But if they occur, they will be resolved according to RRS A8.

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 03/09: Finished?

In today's episode of our LTW 2012 Winter Challenge you assignment is about a protest by the Race Committee.

During a regatta the finish committee witnesses a boat crossing the finish line, while one crew member is in the water being dragged by the boat. The committee score the boat and then report the incident to the RO who, after some thinking, decides to lodge a protest. The PC declares the protest valid.

In the subsequent hearing the skipper tells that the crew member fell overboard just 30 meters from the finish but managed to hang onto a rope (jib-sheet). The crew pulled himself towards the boat and with one hand on the rope and the other on a stanchion, the boat continued. The water was not cold and the crew was in no danger, according to him. He decided to continue sailing and help the crew back on board after crossing the line, as to not lose any places. The boat finished first in that race.

Write the facts found, draw a conclusion and analyse all rules involved. Then decide the protest.

As per usual, you can ask any question to either party, but only two in total. Deadline for question one is Monday 23:59 and for question two Wednesday also 23:59.


I'm doing a clinic on rules tonight and have a Match Race event tomorrow. Scoring on Episode 02/24 will be on Sunday - if nothing else happens. Don't forget the deadline for your submission: Midnight tonight.

ESS 2012 Act 1; Muscat, Oman

I’m in Muscat, Oman for Act 1 in the Extreme Sailing Series 2012. A great venue, with nice summer weather and the Indian Ocean to sail on. That part is going great.

What isn’t working and a bit frustrating is that I’m having problems getting on-line. The internet connections at the hotel and at the venue have to deal with too much traffic and the capacity isn’t nearly enough to accommodate everyone. I’ve been trying all Tuesday when ashore, but with rarely any success. It is now 22:10 hours and I’m back in the hotel. Only 15 minutes so far.

I’ve written this post in Windows Live Writer and uploaded it in the short time I’m able to connect. It also means that I’m having to use any connection, as far as I can get it, for Email. Receiving and sending necessary messages without enough time to write much on the blog. I’m unable to connect long enough to answer comments in a meaningful way. Approving them to be published is already problematic.

This has prompted me to decide to put our LTW Winter Challenge 2012 on hold for the time being. All deadlines are extended with one week. This Friday there will be no new challenge post and the current challenge case is on ‘suspended’. I’m sorry to have to do this, but I see no other way.

We are here in Muscat with six umpires looking after the rules for eight Extreme 40’s. A couple of newcomers have joined the circuit. ZouLou from France, skippered by Loick Peyron (who has sailed E40’s before) and Trifork, a new Danish team, co-skippered by Jens Gram-Hansen. Back are Alinghi, but this time skippered by Ernesto Bertarelli himself, Oman Air, skippered by new comer Morgan Larson, The Wave Muscat, skippered by Leigh McMillan, and Gitane, Red Bull and GAC Pindar. The last three have been competing in 2011 as well and are again skippered by Pierre Pennec, Roman Hagara and Ian Williams, respectively.

It was a fairly light day with 6-10 knots wind and open water, up and downwind courses. Tomorrow the close inshore stadium racing will start, in front of a brand new location for the VIP-tent.

In order to not leave you completely without any rules issues, a situation from today (with a little adaptation) to think about:

Before the starting signal three boats are close to the line. There is an opening in between Red and Grey because Grey is sailing away from Red. Purple decides to go in the opening and gets and overlap with Red fairly close. In position three the distance between Purple and Red is reduced to only half a meter, although Red has luffed in response to Purple’s overlap. Purple realises she is not giving Red the room to keep clear and decides to bear away to open up the distance.

But in position three when Purple was still about 4 meters away, Grey has come up. She’s changed course but within the limitation of rule 16.1. Purple is now boxed in. She has to give room to Red to keep clear, but can’t go down anymore without breaking rule 11 towards Grey. Purple goes down anyway and Grey protests.

Who should be penalized?

Grey has not broken 16.1. When she changed course she gave enough room to Purple to keep clear. Only not enough room for Purple to be able to give enough room to Red to keep clear.

Purple has to give room to Red to keep clear, but can only do so by not keeping clear of Grey…

Come on, decide…

The Yankee flag was already 7 seconds ago.

In the meantime the starting signal has gone and boats are accelerating

Decide.

 

Signing off for today with a picture of Alinghi who has new dark sails with the familiar red swirl.

Score 02/17 LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

For individual comments see my remarks after your entries in the comments of the original post:
LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 02/17: Request for Redress

Key factor in this incident is to find as fact whether Red established the collision course before Purple became keep clear boat or after. In other words, was Red pointing at Purple before Purple passed head to wind or after. A lot of what you conclude is determined by that fact.

Option ONE
If before, Red has no restrictions under rule 16.1 since the course change was before she became ROW boat. And no restriction under 15 because she became ROW boat by Purple's actions. In this scenario Purple breaks rule 13 by not keeping clear as tacking boat and Purple breaks rule 14 because she shouldn't have tacked in that position. It was therefore reasonable possible for her to avoid the contact

Option TWO
If after, Red has a restriction under rule 16 (she changed course as ROW boat and established a collision course) and must give Red room to keep clear - which being a tacking multi hull - can take some time. Then you also must draw a conclusion on whether or not Purple did enough to keep clear. Could she have accelerated faster, getting out of that position in front of Red? If she could have done more, she breaks rule 13, if she couldn't have done more, she's exonerated because of Red's infringement of 16.1.

Could Purple avoid the collision? Once she was in that tack she could do little else than go forward asap. Did she do that? Another conclusion to be drawn. Remember, in option two she is a boat entitled to room, so under rule 14 she didn't need to act to avoid contact until it was clear that Red wasn't going to give her that room. I think not. Purple couldn't reasonably avoid contact any more and did not break rule 14.

When it became clear that Purple wasn't going to keep clear, was it reasonably possible for Red to avoid the collision? The fact that she "missed" hitting Purple only by ten centimetres, is more or less irrelevant. You must either conclude she reasonably could avoid or couldn't.
In my opinion she could. She broke rule 14. And that is completely separate from if you've found as fact option one or two.

Red did a two turns penalty. Is that an appropriate penalty for breaking RRS 14? That depends on the damage - was it serious or not. A boat that cannot continue is serious damage. So Red should have retired> Red DSQ.

If you think Purple is at fault, you nevertheless may not DSQ her. She is to be scored DNF.
She retired and that is an appropriate penalty. The reason for her retirement is irrelevant. (Case 99 & 107)

The protest is valid despite the fact a red flag was not shown. The damage was obvious to both and Red was informed before end of protest-time. RRS 61.1(a)(3)

If you concluded that Purple is to be exonerated for breaking rule 13 and did not break rule 14, she's entitled to redress. In all other scenarios it is more or less her own fault (at least partly) and she's therefore not entitled to redress.

If you give Redress you can give her her first place or an average of her 6 sailed races (excluding or including her discard). For that you need the total number of boats that sailed in the races. Nobody asked this question. But then only one of you granted redress.

This brings our score to:

Equal Points on first place.

I must decide on a way to resolve ties.....
Any suggestions?

.

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge E02/24: YES/NO

Another Friday, another Challenge in our Winter Series. This time I'm presenting you with two animations.

Protest between two F18's. Purple and Grey at the first upwind mark to be left to port. Protest is delivered in time and has all necessary details are filled in. Grey protest Purple for not keeping clear under rule 13. The hearing is scheduled and started. The PC declares the protest valid.

The situation depicted in the animation ONE is what GREY tells in the hearing room.

The situation depicted in the animation TWO is what PURPLE tells in the hearing room.

You can ask two questions to both parties. (that is two to Grey and two to Purple)
Deadline for Question 1 (one to each) is Monday 23:59, and Question 2 (one to each) Wednesday 23:59

Your challenge:
Write the facts found, conclusion and decision of the protest.


Deadline for the previous Episode 02/17 is midnight tonight (23:59hours)

Score 02/10 LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

Phew, that were a lot of questions.
Some good, some not so, but because of different perspectives, everybody could experience that a fellow judges question may trigger a thought in your brain. Not so good questions, got 'bad answers', so I'll only count and not value the content... But in a next round I might.. (>.<)

As most of you discovered, this episode was about Case 50. The Port tack boat must convince the PC that their was not a reasonable apprehension of collision by Starboard. Read (pillow)Case of the Week (08) - 50, if you want to brush up.

This was the picture/animation I made when writing the Episode. In it you see the Red boat bearing away in position 3, just short of a boat length from Purple. There's also a Pink boat. It is only to show what would have happened if Red hadn't changed course.

Individual; remarks about FF, Conclusions and Decision are - per usual - in the comments in the original Episode Post: LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 02/10; Questions


The Score:
I've counted the number of questions + 5 points for a perfect and correct answer. Anybody mentioning Case 50 got a bonus point. There were a some challengers who asked questions but didn't send in an answer.....

We are almost halfway towards the hundred points, dear challengers, keep it up!

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge E02/17: Request for Redress

Request for Redress

During a port-starboard incident in a fleet race for Tornado's, there's a collision between Red and Purple. Red's starboard bow hits the starboard rudder of Purple and sheers it completely off. Purple cannot finish the race but manages to sail home with one rudder. Red does a two turn penalty. Purple hands in a protest form with the attached situation-drawing and asks for redress.

In the hearing you find as fact that Purple NOT displayed a red flag, but did hail 'Protest'
The incident happened in the one but final race. Both boats have equal points (out of 6 races) and both already have a discard. Purple discards a BFD and Red a DNF. The boat winning this protest is most likely to win the event. (A National Championship).

 Animation E02/17

Picture from RED

Write the facts found, draw conclusions and decide the protest & the request for redress.

You may ask two questions related to what happened on the water, before Monday 23:59 which will be answered on Tuesday. And you may ask two questions related to the request for redress, before Wednesday 23:59, which will be answered on Thursday.

Deadline for FF, C and D, as per usual Friday 23:59

Score 03/02 in LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

As per usual the scoring for last weeks challenge. You can find the my remarks with the individual entries in the comments in post: LTW 2012 Winter Challenge - Episode 03/02

I've measured the entries against my own Facts Found, Conclusion and Decision:

Facts found:
TUR delivered the protest after time limit because of a cue at the desk.
DEN was on starboard close hauled course on the first beat, toward mark 1 in race 5.
TUR on port close hauled, overlapped with BRA who was 2 meter to leeward and 3/4 BL forward, both on a collision course with DEN.
BRA bore away to go behind DEN and left approx. 0,5 meters of room between her and the transom of DEN.
TUR slowed down and passed very close astern of DEN. BRA luffed to close hauled.
There was collision between TUR’s bow and BRA’s port aft quarter.
No damage to any boat. Neither took a Penalty

Conclusion:
PC extended the time limit, because there was a good reason to do so.
TUR to windward, failed to keep clear of BRA to leeward, but was forced to break rule 11 because BRA as outside boat did not give enough room to pass an obstruction (DEN on starboard) to TUR on the inside, while she was able to. BRA broke rule 19.2(b) and TUR is exonerated under rule 64.1(c).
BRA broke rule 14, because she could reasonably avoid the contact, TUR could not. BRA is not penalized for rule 14 because there was no damage or injury.
Rule(s) applicable:
RRS 10, 11, 14, 16.1, 19.2(b), 61.3, 64.1(c)

Decision:
Protest Upheld
BRA DSQ in race number 5

(232 words)

Deadline for first question in Episode 02/10 is 23:59 tonight.

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 02/10: Questions

This episode of our Friday LTW 2012 Winter Challenge series is all about questions.

Two stories
Two parties, one witness
Five questions, each worth one point.
FF, C&D also worth five points.

I'm giving you two stories from two parties. Your challenge is to come up with good questions to get to what really happened. You are allowed one question a day, each with a deadline (midnight) . They will be answered the next morning. If you don't ask a question, your turn is forfeited for that day.

On Tuesday there's is a extra story by a witness, who then also can be asked questions. But again only one question per day per challenger. Don't rush in with five questions; sometimes the answers to your fellow challengers questions can help you. Think about what you want to know! At the end you have to write down Facts Found, Conclusion and Decision, like always. The shorter, the better.



This time there's only ONE solution. Better make those questions count!

Deadlines:
Question 1 Sunday 23:59
Question 2 Monday 23:59
Question 3 Tuesday 23:59
Question 4 Wednesday 23:59
Question 5 Thursday 23:59
Facts Found, Conclusion & Decision Friday 23:59

On the protest-form: End of Protest time 18:00 hours, Protest delivered (by Red) at 17:44 hours. Protestor Tornado Red - Protestee Tornado Purple - Witness Tornado Grey. Incident in Race 3, halfway up the second beat to Mark 1, at appr. 15:05 hours. Rule(s) infringed: 10.

Red's story:
On the beat to the second windward mark I was on starboard. Purple came on port and wanted to pass in front of me. My crew saw them coming and shouted "Starboard", but they continued. When they were halfway passed my starboard bow, I eased my sheet and bore away to go behind them.

Purple's story:
I agree with everything he said, only he didn't have to bear away. We would have passed in front easily. He didn't have to change course at all. We would have cleared with room to spare. We crossed twice already in that beat and both times we were in front.

Good luck!


J.
NB: Scoring Episode 02/03 will probably be on Sunday again.


UPDATE 14-02-12; Witness Grey boat:

I was on starboard to windward and in front of Red. I saw that RED bore off to pass astern of Purple. Then Purple passed behind me. Nobody did a penalty.

Score 27/01 in LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

Episode 27/01 has been scored. There are a couple of late entries added.

This was an interesting exercise.
I will not post my view, because the challenge was not to find out what happened, but to see how consistent the challengers wrote. The readers of LTW can pick the one they think most came near what actually happened. As long as they are aware that finding facts out of a 43 second video is very tricky without any statements from sailors involved. That is more than obvious, after you’ve read the different facts found, the challengers came up with.

Instead of publishing the specific entries in the comments after the LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 27/01: Rolex Miami OCR 49er Crash post, I’ve copied them all in this post and commented on them as well.
That way I can add the pictures that were send in by some of the challengers.
(There are a couple of comments in the original post, but those are from non contestants and published after the deadline)

So in order to read what the Challengers send in for this episode:

LTW 2012 Winter Challenge - Episode 03/02

Below you'll find a protest form from TUR, delivered at the desk. You are member of the panel who has to decide this. All parties are present.

You are allowed to ask TWO questions. but not to the same party!

Protest No. 23
Event: Laser; Provincial Championship Fryslân
Race: 5
End of Protest time: 17:34
Protestor: TUR
Protestee: BRA
Witness: DEN
Protest delivered at desk: 17:36
Protest details:

On the first beat to windward I almost hit DEN because BRA did not give me room to pass behind. Although I slowed down, I could not prevent from hitting BRA. I lost three places.

Place of incident: First beat to mark 1.

Rules broken: 10 en 19

 

Facts found:
.
.
.
.
Conclusion:
.
.
.
Rule(s) applicable:
.
Decision:
.

Fill in the blanks. The challenger who uses the least number of words - without compromising any detail - gets two bonus points!

Deadline for Episode 27/01; Rolex Miami OCR 49er Crash is today at 23:59 hours. Scoring will be per usual, on Sunday.



Previous Episodes:
LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 27/01: Rolex Miami OCR 49er Crash
LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 20/01
LTW 2012 Winter Challenge 13/01

Score 20/01 in LTW 2012 Winter Challenge

Episode 20/01 has been scored:

The entries are getting very good already.

Several of the challengers have not send in a entry. Please don't quit so soon. I'm sure you can learn a lot by participating. I've asked for nicknames so you can remain anonymous.


This is what I came up with:

Conclusions

• Blue on Port tack is keeping clear under rule 10, by passing in front of Orange on Starboard tack.
• Blue continues to keep clear, first under 13 and then under rule 11 until position 4.
• Blue is subject to rule 18.3, because she was subject to rule 13 in the zone and Orange is fetching the mark. Boats are overlapped as soon as Blue passes head to wind with Orange as inside boat and entitled to mark-room under rule 18.3(b). Rule 18.2 does not apply. Orange's luff above close hauled was to fetch the mark, not to avoid Blue, therefore Blue did not infringe 18.3. It was also a proper course for Orange therefore any 16.1 infringements are exonerated under rule 18.5
• Orange is right-of-way boat under rule 11, Blue is not keeping clear in position 5
• Blue could have avoided the contact, therefore breaks rule 14
• Orange could not avoid the contact, after it became clear that Blue would not keep clear, so does not break rule 14

Decision

Protest upheld
DSQ Blue

J.


A final question to think over:
What would change if Orange had passed head to wind, just after position 4?