Betting and Anti-Corruption regulation is around the corner.

As a judge and umpire at events I’m privileged to hear a lot of information that is not (yet) readily available to the public. I must be aware of my limitations to blog about such information. I have made mistakes in that regard in the past.

That’s why I’m always on the look out for anything that is published or written by ISAF about this subject. In this years mid-year meeting a submission has been approved that has gone into effect on 05/04/2012: Betting and Anti-Corruption - New Appendix 5

Purpose or Objective of the submission: To establish rules on betting and anti-corruption. Proposal: To adopt the ASOIF Model rules on betting and anti-corruption as Appendix 5.
Notes: 1. The Constitution Committee to complete the relevant details. & 2. The Executive Committee to publish draft sanctions by the end of July 2012 for final consideration and ratification by Council in November 2012.

The approved text still has a lot of holes and still needs a lot of work before it is clear. But there are also paragraphs which raise more questions than answer them:

Lets have a look at ‘inside information’. This is defined as:

"Inside Information" means any information relating to any Competition or Event that a Participant possesses by virtue of his position within the sport. Such information includes, but is not limited to, factual information regarding the competitors, the conditions, tactical considerations or any other aspect of the Competition or Event, but does not include such information that is already published or a matter of public record, readily acquired by an interested member of the public or disclosed according to the rules and regulations governing the relevant Competition or Event;

Example: Racing has been postponed. But at one o’clock the jury is told racing will start at three. This is not yet announced on the noticeboard or anywhere else, in other words; it’s inside information.

Back to the text:

3. RULE VIOLATIONS
3.4 Inside Information
(a) Using Inside Information for Betting purposes or otherwise in relation to Betting.
(b) Disclosing Inside Information to any Person with or without Benefit where the Participant might reasonably be expected to know that its disclosure in such circumstances could be used in relation to Betting.
(c) Inducing, instructing, facilitating or encouraging a Participant to commit a Violation set out in this Rule 3.4.

I phone my brother, who’s watching the racing on the internet and tell him he can go and have lunch because racing will not start until three. Am I breaking rule 3.4(b)?
There are countries where they bet on anything. Is it reasonable for me to expect that they would bet on when racing starts?

Have a look at the document and tell me what your think.
Betting and Anti-Corruption - New Appendix 5

Judges Manual 2012

Together with the Race Management Manual, ISAF also published a new Judges Manual 2012
You can find it on this page: IJ Manual 2012

Both manuals have a lot in common and relevant text is printed in both. That's logical - a lot of issues are event related and should be treated the same way by all International Race Officials

But there are specific Judges sections. A few titbits:


K.12 Cautions in Evaluating Evidence
Protest committees can make judgements about the credibility of evidence based on style and presentation of evidence. Witnesses who express their opinions confidently are often given more weight than someone who is less forceful and less believable.
You should be aware of speech patterns that could lead juries to erroneous conclusions:

• Use of hedge words, such as “kind of”, “I think”, “If I’m not mistaken”, “it seems”; 
• Use of rising intonation in a declarative statement, suggesting that the speaker is seeking approval for the answer, e.g. in response to the question of “how fast”, the response “5 knots?”
• Repetition indicating insecurity;
• Intensifiers, such as “very close”, instead of “close”;
• High degree of direct quotation, indicating deference to authority; and
• Use of empty adjectives, such as “charming”, “cute”, “interesting”. 

Do not confuse confident witnesses with accurate ones because their confidence is based on more information than simply the information that determines its accuracy. Their confidence may not be at all related to the accuracy of their recall.

Picture on page 128:

And:

M.2 Damage
There is no definition of exactly what constitutes damage; however ISAF Case 19 makes some suggestions:

• was the market value diminished? 
• was an item or equipment made less functional? 
• was a crew member injured?

Under the ISAF Racing Rules Question and Answer Service Q&A 2010-31 J 013, although not binding, unlike ISAF Cases provides the following definition of Damage: Damage means physical harm caused in such a way as to impair the boat’s value, usefulness, or normal function. The only limitation in rule 31.1(a)(3) regarding the damage is that the damage must be obvious to the boats involved.

M.3 Serious Damage
This is not possible to define but a protest committee should ask:

• was the performance of the boat or crew seriously impaired? 
• was the market value of the boat significantly diminished?
• was a crew member seriously injured?

I did a quick search in both documents on 'social media' and on 'code of conduct'.
Results were 0 on the first one and 4 on the second. The latter all in either the coaches, parents or other support personal sections...... Nothing about blogging.

As with the RM-Manual, please inform me if you find content that is noteworthy.
J.

Obituary: Nick Burgin

With sadness I have to report the death of a friend and fellow race official: Nick Burgin.
ISAF published his obituary on 16/03/2012.

I met Nick at my first ISAF Seminar in 2004 in Hamble, UK and worked with him at several events when we were both in the International Jury or Umpire Team.

Like Sally wrote in his obituary, he was always a supportive and steady person in the group, willing to help others. I remember fierce rules discussions during diner at Kiel-week in which he was a calming factor.

I’m very sorry that we will not have his presence in the room or on the water any more.

My sincere condolences to his wife, family and friends.

J.

Henry Peronneau (1951-2011)

As appeared on the ISAF Website:

Obituary: Henri Peronneau (FRA)

Henri Peronneau (FRA) has died aged 59

It is with great sadness ISAF reports that Henri Peronneau (FRA) an ISAF International Judge has died after a long battle with illness aged 59.

Henri Peronneau sailed a Nacra 5.7 catamaran. In the early 90's he began taking courses about the race management and judging. He quickly became a national race official and as match racing became increasingly popular where he lived he also became an umpire. Henri's work as an umpire showed him there was a need for better explaining umpire decisions and that he could develop software to help achieve this. As a mathematician, Henri worked on a project to develop such a tool and in 2000 introduced Tactical Sailing Solutions (TSS) to the America's Cup in New Zealand. Since then it has been used all over the world and improved as umpires and uses offered feedback.
In 2006 Henri became an International Judge.
Henri passed away on 9 January 2011. ISAF extends our sincere sympathy and condolences to his wife, two children and two grandchildren.

I also offer my condolences to Henry's family.
Unfortunately we never had the change to meet face to face. I only ever corresponded with him about TSS.
I'm sure we both thought it would happen soon enough......

I'm currently inquiring into what is going to happen with that program and will report back when I know more.