International Race Officer Seminar in NED

From The ISAF Website:

ISAF Race Officials News
The Hague, The Netherlands

Are you an experienced national race officer and do you want to become an International Race Officer?
From 16 - 18 March the Race Management Seminar will be organized in The Hague by the Royal Netherlands Yachting Union and ISAF.

With instructors Charley Cook and Christophe Gaumont we are sure it will be very interesting and instructive days, with theory and practical exercises. At the end of the seminar we finish with an exam, which gives you the entrance to become an International Race Officer. The costs are € 294,- , including two nights hotel accommodation.

For more information and registration please contact: edwin dot lodder at watersportverbond dot nl 

The ISAF Race Official Seminar and Clinic programme aims to improve standards of officiating around the world by increasing the number of officials qualifying for ISAF International status. The programme depends on the co-operation of ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs) who host the seminars. You can find details on the guidelines and procedures for hosting a seminar or clinic, together with application forms for MNAs wishing to host one on the ISAF Race Officials site at www.sailing.org/raceofficials.

I'm already at an event, otherwise I would have gone...

How about you?

A little tragedy…….

It’s a glorious summer day with a nice breeze. Perfect weather for the 300 competitors in the clubs annual regatta, sailing in 18 different classes, who all have a good time.
The balcony of the clubhouse, overlooking the race area, is packed full with family and spectators who follow the racing with great enthusiasm. Daddies of the competitors in the youth classes, can be recognize by the size of their massive binoculars on tripods.

A Pluis Cadet is sailing on starboard-tack on a half wind reach and is having the time of her life. A Regenboog Rainbow on port-tack, also on a half wind reach, is approaching. The Regenboog Rainbow is sailing a course to windward of the Pluis Cadet.
While the Regenboog Rainbow is passing to windward, the Pluis Cadet looses pressure in her sails, turns upright, flips trough and capsizes to windward. The top of the mast of the Pluis Cadet hits the sail of the Regenboog Rainbow and a big tear in the sail appears.
Big panic, the children in the Pluis Cadet end up in the water, as does the middle-man in the Regenboog Rainbow and the ‘fun’ is over.
Both Pluis Cadet children in tears, Dad Pluis Cadet almost has a hart attack and Grandpa Pluis Cadet is shouting and cursing.
Grandpa Pluis Cadet, who’s been world champion in the Vrijheid Freedom-class at least three times, demands a protest form and while fuming starts to fill it in.
The wind indicator has sunk to the bottom, the fittings on masthead are bent, children don’t want to sail ever again and the Pluis Cadet is practically unsellable. In short, beside a rule infringement, this is also a case with mental injury and serious financial damage.
Grandpa Pluis Cadet will straighten this out! He will represent the boat in the hearing and demands the middle-man of the Regenboog Rainbow as his opponent.

This was the exercise that was used to start discussing rules and procedures in our National Race Official education program, which I was part of last Saturday.
(I gave a presentation on Umpiring & Match Racing, later that day)
Although in first glance the case was easy enough – the discussion that took place, made one thing very clear. There are a lot of rules involved!
Rule 10 is a given, but what else?

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Umpire Seminar GBR 18-22 Nov 2009

One of the judges at this event told me that the Umpire Seminar in November in the UK will be the very first TEAM Race Umpire Seminar. I've published about upcoming seminars a couple of days ago, but had no idea this was such an unique event.

Since one of my goals this winter is to learn more about Team-race umpiring, I'm very tempted to go. I want to see how they do it, across "the pond" in the UK, a team race nation if there ever was one. The reason I have this goal is that the umpire system we use in one of the few team race events we do have here in the Netherlands (Five against five with 'Regenbogen' in Holland-Friesland), is no longer working. The action is getting so tight and fast and the sailors are getting so good in there rules-knowledge, that simply following the boats of one team with five umpire boats is not enough to be in the right places at the right times. We are missing too much. Perhaps I can learn something to use next year.

I'm surprised this wasn't advertised with big letters on the ISAF site. At the moment the entry stands at 6. Not enough.

There are a couple of snags.
First one is that the deciding date is Monday the 21st. If by then enough people have entered (minimal 10 persons) the seminar will be held, if not, it will be cancelled. So I need to decide in a couple of days. I can't check about free days at work before Monday, so that is cutting it close.
I've already send in an Email expressing my interest, so I hope they will give me the time to decide.

Second snag is the costs. I'm already an Umpire - don't need another seminar to become one. But to attend I need to pay 375 pounds for the seminar. Add flights (Schiphol - Heathrow), bus to Oxford, Bed&Breakfast for five days, parking at Schiphol and travelling to the airport by car, the total cost runs up just short of a thousand Euro. That is very expensive for a bit of education.

The seminar instructors will be Jack Lloyd and John Doerr, two of the best Team-race umpires. I'm sure I can get a lot out of those two.
I better start checking flights and B&B's.....
To be decided...

In the meantime: If you want to go yourself? Click on the link:
18 Nov 09 - 22 Nov 09; International Umpire Seminar, Great Britain
Oxford Sailing Club, Great Britain.

Upcoming ISAF Seminars 2009

For International Judge:

21 Sep 09 - 23 Sep 09
International Judges Seminar, Uruguay
Yacht Club Uruguayo

For International Race Officer

25 Sep 09 - 27 Sep 09
Race Management Seminar, Austria
Austrian Sailing Federation, Neusiedl am See, Austria

02 Oct 09 - 04 Oct 09
Race Management Seminar, Argentina
Yacht Club Argentino, Buenos Aires - Argentina
23 Oct 09 - 25 Oct 09

Race Management Seminar, Belgium
Bloso SportsHotel - Ghent - Belgium

23 Nov 09 - 25 Nov 09
Race Management Seminar, Australia
Brisbane QLD, Australia

For International Umpire

07 Oct 09 - 11 Oct 09
International Umpire Seminar, Sweden
GKSS, Talattagatan 10, Langedrag, 426 76 Vastra Frolunda

18 Nov 09 - 22 Nov 09
International Umpire Seminar, Great Britain
Oxford Sailing Club, Great Britain

02 Dec 09 - 06 Dec 09
International Umpire Seminar, Argentina
Yacht Club Argentino, Buenos Aires, Argentina

ISAF International Race Officer Seminar; Belgium

My E-mail in box showed this message today:
________________________________________________________

Dear Friends, Race Officers,

I have some places left for the 2009 October International Race Officer seminar in Belgium in October 2009.
Can you forward the info below to interested parties such as your MNA, National Race Officers with international aspirations, friends, websites….
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

From October 23rd till October 25th 2009 the VYF / Royal Belgian Yachting Association organizes the 4th ISAF International Race Management seminar in the Sportshotel in Ghent at the Flanders Sports Arena site.

This ISAF Race Official Seminar aims to improve standards of officiating around the world by increasing the number of officials qualifying for ISAF International Race Officer status. The seminar is followed by the official “ISAF-test” that allows applicants to formally apply for the ISAF-IRO status.

You can find all the information on the Belgian IRO seminar on the ISAF website through this link: http://www.sailing.org/26926.php
The entry form is available on http://www.sailing.org/Official_Entry__Form_1.doc
You can also download the event and social program on http://www.sailing.org/program.pdf
Attendance fee is between 60 and 200 euro depending on the chosen formula.
The ISAF instructors for this seminar are Tomasz CHAMERA (POL) and Ion ECHAVE (ESP).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks for your help in spreading the word
Good winds and
Kind regards,

Bruno De Wannemaeker
Sportmanager Topsporthal Vlaanderen

Sunday Rules Snap |2

Two very different pictures this Sunday.

The first a little bleak - perfect for today (it's been windy, cold and raining here all day) - also signifying no sailing.

No wind - no sailing

Taken on the second day of the Tulip race 2009 (first weekend of April) by Hedwich

The second one send in by Manuel, who attended the IRO Seminar in the last weekend of April:
Enclosed I send to LTW a photo of a relax moment with LRF Laser RangeFinders. The seminar was organized by the RYA/ISAF in Southampton (GBR)

If you have a picture, please send it to rrs-study ed home dot nl and perhaps it will be posted in a next episode of Sunday Rules Snap....

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Benelux Race Officials Seminar 2009 | 2

At the seminar last weekend we were given a presentation about the interaction between the different Race Officials and how to gain an advantage with interacting better.

At any (major) event there are several Race official (groups) who need to cooperate to make it a success; Race Officer (committee), Judges and or Umpires and Measurers.

If you are a Judge or Umpire, what do you know of the responsibilities of the Measurer? If you are a Race Officer, when do you ask a Jury member if you have an issue. If you are a Measurer can you disqualify a boat without the Jury?

I must admit that I have a fairly good picture of what a Race Officer can and cannot do, but almost no idea about the obligations or rights of a Measurer. At the seminar we were asked to consider what we would need to know of the others to perform our own task better. Not only arriving at an event but well before. Not what you think "they" should know. But what you think you need from them....

It begins with having respect for each others work.
Then we all need knowledge about the responsibilities and rights of each group and knowledge about procedures the others follow.
Furthermore we need to check that the documents each group prepares don't have contradictions, like in the last Olympics. Each document must also be screened by the other groups to know the impact on each others work.
It is sometimes frustrating for a Race Officer to get a paper from the Jury on the first day amending several rules in the Sailing Instructions. It is equally frustrating to have to do protest after protest because the SI haven't been properly written. Do you always read the Class Rules before you go to an event?

ISAF has/will develop more interaction between the Race Officials using Internet. They already have streamlined and build consistency in the four groups, by making several requirements to become an international Race Official, general applicable. All four have a sub-committee which are guided by the Race Official Committee. All four must follow a code of conduct and all four represent ISAF. It will take some time, but it is on the agenda.

Perhaps it would beneficial to do an event helping in the group you are not familiar with? I wouldn't mind helping out a Measurement Team for an event to learn about there responsibilities.

How about you? Do you know enough?

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Benelux Race Officials Seminar 2009

If all goes according to plan this post will appear on the blog when I'm travelling to Rotterdam to attend a two day seminar: The Benelux Race Officials Seminar 2009.

Every year, alternating between Belgium and the Netherlands, the race officials of the "Dutch" language area are given the opportunity to meet and discuss the rules, race management and catch up on International developments. This year the focus will be on the new RRS 2009-2012, of course.

But we will also get a presentation on the interaction and cooperation between Race Managment, Measurement Team and Judges during big events. Furthermore, the head coach of our Dutch Olympic Sailing team will give a presentation and Josje Hofland, who has been to Qingdao as a member of the International Jury, will tell something about her experience.

I must also mention that a couple of the cases we will be discussing are from the BI Star Fleet blog and from Look to Windward.

It promises to be an interesting weekend....

If I can, I'll post about it during, but most likely it will be Monday before I can get on-line again to do that.

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Dave Perry Teacing Rules | 2 & ISAF Q&A update

In addition to yesterday's video a bunch of new video links have appeared on the Sailgroove site with Dave Perry teaching about the new rules. I haven't had a chance to see them all, but the ones I did, are certainly insightful. Go to http://www.sailgroove.org/videos/more

Also on the ISAF website the 'old' Q&A's have been updated to reflect the changes in the RRS 2009-2012. I already posted about the new ones for 2009, but now the ones starting from 2001 through 2008 have been updated:

Racing Rules Q&A 2008-004

Racing Rules Q&A 2008-003

Racing Rules Q&A 08-002

Racing Rules Q&A 08-001

Racing Rules Q&A 07-008

Racing Rules Q&A 07-006

Racing Rules Q&A 07-004

Racing Rules Q&A 07-003

Racing Rules Q&A 07-001

Racing Rules Q&A 06-005

Racing Rules Q&A 06-003

Racing Rules Q&A 06-002

Racing Rules Q&A 05-001

Racing Rules Q&A 04-008

Racing Rules Q&A 04-006

Racing Rules Q&A 03-007

Racing Rules Q&A 03-004

Racing Rules Q&A 03-002

Racing Rules Q&A 03-001

Racing Rules Q&A 02-001

Racing Rules Q&A 01-001

I still have to go through these as well to see what has changed.

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Dave Perry Teaching Rules 1

Found on the Sailgroove website:
US Sailing's National Sailing Programs Symposium; Dave Perry teaching the new rules:

I've embedded the video here as well:

Sailing Videos on Sailgroove

The four questions Dave Perry uses to answer most protests:

1. Who, what, when & where?
   Different classes? What kind of boats? Are they windsurfers?
   Fleet racing? Match racing? Team racing?
   Before prep, during a race or perhaps after finishing?
   Near a mark, at the start or in a leg of the course? Near a shore or other obstructions?
   
   
2. Relationship of boats?
   ROW rules: one of four: 10 Port-Starboard/ 11 Windward-Leeward/ 12 Clear ahead - Clear astern/ 13 Tacking (one or both)
   
   
3. Limits - Obligations?
   Rules 14, 15, 16 and 17: limitations on ROW-boat and obligations on Keep-clear boat, or perhaps on both boats?
   
   
4. Action - what happened
   The actual positions of each boat leading up to, during and after the incident.
   

From the answers to these questions he draws a conclusion and decides

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US Race Officer Training & Certification

My Google alert on Racing Rules of Sailing mailed me today that the first Race Officer Training & Certification seminar in 2009 will be held at the White Rock Boat Club, Dallas, Texas USA.

The US SAILING Race Management Committee, Area F, and the Texoma Sailing Club are sponsoring this seminar. It is designed for people who have some race committee experience. However, newcomers are also welcome. It will be held at the Texoma Sailing Club beginning at 0900 on Saturday, January 24, 2009 and will end by 1800. The topics covered include: RC objectives, competition formats, notice of race, sailing instructions, RC jobs, RC equipment, race day preparations, setting the course, starts, during the race, finishing, post-race RC responsibilities and scoring.  Read the full post:
http://www.whiterockboatclub.org/2008/12/race-officer-training-certification-jan.html (red: no longer available)

In order to prepare, participants are asked to study a basic test available on the US Sailing Website: RMStudy-Basic.pdf
This is the first test I've come across which is rewritten for the 2009-2012 rules.

Australian Judges Seminar Report

Brass send me a report on how the National judges program is doing 'Down Under'. He attended a local judges seminar and Emailed me the following report:


Dear Jos,

I've been away for 6 weeks delivering a boat and sailing in two large regattas in Northern Australia.

Since I've been back I have attended a local judges seminar. The Seminar Preparation series on LTW was extremely helpful, and just at the right time for me. Thanks to LTW I managed to pass the test at the National Judges standard. Now all I have to do is get my assessments and accumulate the experience requirements.

I thought our seminar spent too much time on administration matters noticed that it was much less fast-paced and demanding than the IJ seminars you have described, but it was absolutely terrific to have two IJs spending their weekend trying hard to convey their vast experience and improve your standard.

I guess I have been working up to this for some time. Two years ago I did an Umpires course which was extensive and very good. I have been following LTW and other sailing websites and doing the exercises and solving rules problems pretty regularly.

To prepare myself for the seminar and the test, I took copies of all the quizzes and test material in the LTW downloads directory

http://rrsstudy.blogspot.com/2006/10/download-directory.html

Tests were
a.. ISA 100 Questions.doc
b.. NASS rules Test 2001.pdf
c.. NASS rules Test 2002.pdf
d.. Quick Test.pdf
e.. US SAILING Judges Workshop Study Questions 2003.pdf
f.. US SAILING Judges Workshop Study Questions 2005.pdf
I also used Dave Dellenbaugh's Racing Rules IQ Quiz Speed&Smarts/87_Rules_IQ_Test.pdf

I started by doing the Dave Dellenbaugh Rules IQ Quiz and I scored about 70%.

Looking at where I went wrong, I was able to identify rules areas where I was weak, for example, in my case, because I sail heavy keelboats, I knew next to nothing about rule 42, so I re-studied the rules that I had identified I was unfamiliar with.

I then worked my way through the other tests on LTW, correcting each test, and looking up and ensuring my correct understanding for each question I got wrong.

I did each of the LTW Seminar Preparation problems.

To finish my preparation I did the ISAF 100 Questions Quiz and made about 92%. When I eventually completed the formal Judges Test, I scored about 90% so the ISAF 100 Questions Quiz was a pretty good predictor.

The Australian Judges test consists of 45 short questions in 45 minutes.

Unlike the IQ Quiz, or the ISAF 100 Questions Quiz they are not True/False questions. They are short 'problem' questions, some with diagrams, some without. Each question has three possible answers for candidates to choose from. Unlike the ISAF Quick Test, candidates were not expected to cite rule numbers for every question.

The questions in the ISAF Quick Test were a new type to me. Each question was a 'snapshot' at one instant in time, instead of the more usual position by position build-up to the eventual incident that we usually find in LTW exercises, and each question required candidates to state the rule numbers applicable. I would be interested to know if this is typical of IJ examinations.

All in all a worthwhile seminar and I am looking forward to moving forward with judging.

Brass


Thanks Brass, and congratulations on passing the test!
I don't think the ISAF Quick Test is representative if the questions you would get at an IJ Examination. But I haven't been attending a seminar for a couple of years. The questions I made as preparation posts are my best "guess" at what kind you can expect. Perhaps other recent attendees would like to comment?

Seminar Report Ghent 2008

I received another report from Bruno about the second seminar this autumn in Ghent Belgium. He writes:

Hi Jos,
As promised another small report . We had 17 participants from 8 countries, 2 continents:

Antonio Fernandez ESP
Chris Atkins GBR
David Taylor GBR
Dirk Sledsens BEL
Douglas Sloan USA
Eric Kling NED
Frank Cleeren BEL
Jana Lemberg FIN
Joep Straus BEL
Johannes Diefenbach GER
John Borsboom NED
Jonathan Haines GBR
Karelina Buijtendorp NED
Olaf Veerman NED
Peter Taylor GBR
Vic De Smedt BEL
Zlatko Jakelic CRO

Pat Healy (USA) and Josje Hofland (NED) where the instructors of the IJ seminar and I was this time the organiser. Most of the participants were staying in the Bloso Sportshotel, a part of the Flanders sports Arena. ( See www.topsporthal.be )

The set-up of the seminar was, as last week, focused around conduct of an International Judge, procedures to be followed and decision making in protests.

On Friday night we had a guided tour in Ghent and ate a typical Flemish stew with Belgian fries (Stoverij met frieten). With this delicious food we where prompted to try the local beers and the Duvel’s, Trappists, white beers and normal beers where all thoroughly tested and approved. Johan De Vocht, IJ and Secretary General of the Belgian Yachting Association honoured us with his presence.

On Saturday we had a full schedule but in the evening we took a 30 minutes ride to Bruges and Trine (the same guide as yesterday) showed us the nice places of the inner town. Flabbergasted was the word some participants used.

The extra hour sleep/study due to change of summer- to winter-time was appreciated by most of us…;-)

On Sunday the written test was done by 16 of the 17 participants and Chris Atkins claimed he had no mistakes in part 1. That is for sure a new World Record…… We estimate that 6-7 participants passed the test. This is also a new record and well above the 30% average of the last 2 years. Chris, Johannes, Zlatko, Antonio (with his 18 years the youngest participant ever to past the test) and Joep are pretty confident they passed. Douglas, Jana and some others will be right on the edge of the 80%. Lets keep the fingers crossed for them.

I believe the instructors did a fantastic job in preparing the students and I am confident that the rate of successful participants will be higher then ever before. Big thanks once more to the great instructors Pat and Josje, they made a perfect teaching-pair, not always agreeing but always challenging the participants to there limits

Good winds and see you on the water
Bruno De Wannemaeker

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Seminar Preparations | 10

How much time did it take you to come up with the answer from yesterday's question?
Be honest - longer than you thought!

In my opinion rule 62.1 (d) does permit redress for a warning under rule 69 against a competitor. The wording used in the rule is "disciplinary action"! Not "a penalty" or "has been penalized". A warning is a disciplinary action against a competitor who has committed the alleged misconduct.

Perhaps an example?
A young sailor trows a soft drink can in anger away in the boat park. It hits a boat and holes the deck. That boat has to go to the repair shop and cannot sail in the race the next day.

The competitor who has thrown the can is called into a hearing under rule 69, admits he threw the can and is sincerely sorry, apologizes and offers to pay for the damage. In light of the age of the sailor, his admitting of the facts and his remorse, not to mention his offer to pay, the PC decides to give him a warning instead of a DGM.
The boat that missed the race the next day can ask for redress because the outcome of the Rule 69 hearing confirmed the misconduct and disciplined the culprit with a warning.

This concludes the posting series on Seminar Preparation.

Seminar Preparations | 9

In order for you to calculated the score correctly in yesterday's question, you need Appendix A! (hint, hint, nudge, nudge)
Secondly you also need the SI. Organizers change things in the SI. Specially for medal races there are double points and probably no discards allowed. So you need to assume a couple of things.

The intent of all IJ-test questions is to give you all the information you need, no more and no less. If you feel you need to assume a fact or a premise, don't think up something new. As with yesterday's question, go for the most "normal". Oh, be sure to point out your assumption in the debrief afterwards. Questions can always be improved.

The correct order for the ten boats, with one discard in the first six races, double points for race seven is, and the medal race deciding ties:

	Sail#	Points	discard	results
1	1102	23	7	16
2	216	39	8	31
3	1103	41	10	31
4	1068	42	10	32
5	1013	58	25	33
6	18	43	8	35
7	1064	64	25	39
8	1045	58	14	44
9	908	57	12	45
10	892	65	12	53

(UPDATED 23/10/08-16:24 hours)

The tie between two and three is broken in favor of 216 because of her second place in the medal race.


Today's final question in this preparation series, is about rule 69 and redress. Or to be more accurate, a question were you can test how quickly you can look up something in the rulebook. I've included this because during the test you are allowed to keep your (clean) rulebook and check. So if you know your way around in the structure, you can quickly find the appropriate rule and check your answer. Mind, if you need to read before answering, it will take too much time...

I suggest you time yourself. Here's the question:
Can a boat ask for redress when a competitor has been warned in a rule 69 hearing?

Tomorrow the IJ-seminar in Ghent will start. I wish all who participate a good time and all candidates best of luck in the test!

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Seminar Preparations | 8

Yesterday I asked you to have a look at how you would change the rules in the Sailing Instructions. Before you do that, have a look at 86.1 to see if you are allowed to do so. Something I also forgot, when I was asked this question.

In rule 86.1 it is specifically stated that rules in part 2 may not be changed in the sailing instructions. Changing rule 14 is only allowed as an experiment and you need permission of ISAF or your MNA to do that, for an event.

I do understand the need to satisfy a sponsor. And understand his interest in keeping his boats in one piece, undamaged. But changing the rules to accomplish that, is not permitted.
Rule 14 is designed to put blame where it is appropriate. ANY damage - even a nicked gel-coat - can be penalized. The rule does not mention 'serious' like in 44.1.

Mike B's solution is one I could live with to 'scare' sailors to behave in sponsored boats. But remember, they have already had to pay a damage deposit of a couple of hundred Euros.
Perhaps it would be better to increase that, instead of changing RRS 14

If you decide to change rule regardless, I suspect that an attentive sailor will be able to get it overturned on appeal.....

Today's question is about scoring. Below You'll find a table with scoring of ten boats
These ten have competed in the medal race. Before that they all were in a qualifying races in two groups. That is why some boats have the same score and other scores are missing:

Sail#	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7
18	3	6	8	6	6	2	6
216	6	8	7	3	6	5	2
892	12	9	9	8	4	3	10
908	12	11	5	2	4	9	7
1013	5	1	25(dnf)	4	2	5	8
1045	8	5	14	12(dip)	3	10	3
1064	25(bfd)	1	6	5	5	4	9
1068	10	3	4	6	7	2	5
1102	1	3	1	7	5	4	1
1103	2	2	2	10	8	9	4

Please, put them in order: 1st through 10th as prescribed by the RRS.


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Seminar Report Bulgaria 2008

I received an Email from Bruno De Wannemaeker about the Seminar last weekend in Sofia. Thanks Bruno!

Hi Jos,

I write a small report in English so you don’t have to translate. I’m flying home from Sofia right now after a weekend of Rules, Procedures and finally the written test. We where with 16 participants from 10 countries:

1. Adrian Bauder SUI
2. Alexandru Micu ROU
3. Athanasios Papantoniou GRE
4. Bruno De Wannemaeker BEL
5. Caterina Gouleliou GRE
6. Dean Osavkov MKD
7. Dragomir Andonovic SRB
8. Iskra Yovkova BUL
9. Iulia Negoescu ROU
10. Luigi Cuccotti ITA
11. Petar Kaloyanov BUL
12. Plamen Georgiev BUL
13. Roumen Paunov BUL
14. Stanislav Kassarov BUL
15. Yoram Sharett ISR
16. Zsolt Regenyi HUN
    

Pat Healy (USA), Hans-Kurt Andersen (DEN) and Kamen Filljov (BUL) where the instructors of the IJ seminar and Stanislav Kassarov (President Bulgarian Sailing Federation) was the organiser. Most of u where staying in a nice, simple hotel Talinka and the courses where held in the World Trade Center on the other side of the road.

The seminar was focused around conduct of IJ, procedures to be followed and decision making in sailing protest. Some participants took the seminar for the second time after failing the first time last year in Istanbul. Being more a windsurfer then a sailor myself, I had prepared double for rules 42, 17 and 18 and sometimes Kamen and I could even help the instructors on specific items of Appendix B and A related to windsurfing………

The IJ test had 3 parts: First, 12 multiple choice questions with 1 to 6 good answers about part 2 racing rules. Second, 12 multiple choice questions with 1 to 6 good answers about procedures and protest hearings and finally 2 Protest cases. Based on a drawing and some declarations of sailors, we had to write out the facts, the conclusions and the decision we would make in case of a one man jury. There where some F*** Y** questions, but in the end I believe it really tested the knowledge of the candidates on most of the rules to be mastered.

I believe the instructors did a great job in preparing the students and hope that the rate of successful participants will be higher then ever before (normally around 30 %). I have been preparing for this seminar for 2 years with a lot of on the job training in Jury-panels, studying all possible clarifying rulebooks (Brian Willis, Dave Perry, Paul Elvstrom,….), all the ISAF and RYA cases, ISAF Q&A and looking up as much as possible quizzes about the Racing Rules of Sailing
(www.finckh.org , www.UKHalsey.com , www.speedandsmarts.com and http://rrsstudy.blogspot.com) on websites.

Besides this self-study I had a great group of Belgian and Dutch fellow students (Joep, Frank, Erik, Olaf,..) which whom we worked the past year to prepare. The Belgian/Dutch jury clinic last December with Josje Hofland and Leo-Pieter Stoel opened our eyes and really introduced us in the ISAF way of thinking. Also the clear structure Josje introduced was a big help.

E-mail is a fantastic tool to prepare and study. Whenever I got stuck or had questions I turned to some IJ friends and within 24 hours I received replies on my (sometimes stupid) questions.
A big thank to Frans Bolweg (NED), Ewan Mc Ewan (GBR), Elena Modesto (ESP), Andrus Poksi (EST), Jos Spijkerman (NED), Kamen Filljov (BUL) and Johan Devocht (BEL)…… Without them I would never have succeeded. Although we now have to wait 2-3 weeks before we get the results of the test, 4-5 people (Stanislav, Yoram, Adrian, Luigi,….me) felt very good after the test and even better after we went over the results. We will keep our fingers crossed.

Big thanks once more to the great instructors Pat, Hans-Kurt and Kamen. They also learned somethings. Like a port-end start mark, how to connect a beamer, “F***” is a normal word for non=native English, windsurfers have a better tie system then sailors. Also, Iulia is not heavy enough to be used as hooking strap for a star sailor, the need for a new kind of flagpole for the green “Change of course flag” in the 2009-2012 rules and how to deal with the dilemma: is it “meter” or “metre” …

Friday starts the seminar in Belgium which I’m hosting in Ghent. I look forward to work one more weekend with Pat Healy and Josje Hofland and the 17 participants for the seminar. If you let me, I will write a report about this second seminar next weekend as well.

All the best and good luck to the participants in the Belgian seminar.
Bruno De Wannemaeker

Seminar Preparations | 7

In answer to yesterday's questions: the following movements are illegal according to the rules: 1, 5 and 6

1. Sticking a foot in the water to slow the boat next to a mark. ILLEGAL
   It's the same as if you would stick a paddle into the water: Rule 42 does not only prohibits gaining speed in that way, but also loosing speed.
   
2. Pulling the main to accelerate down the leeward side of a wave. LEGAL
   This is specifically allowed in rule 42.3(c), but only once for each wave or gust of wind and not on a beat to windward. The latter looks a little redundant because, how can you surf down the leeward side of a way going upwind. But there are also other waves on the racecourse. A wake of a passing boat for instance.
   
3. Pushing down the centerboard in the mud in a shallow area just before the starting line to stay still in a current against the boat. LEGAL
   This is the same as anchoring, which is allowed in RRS 45. You may also stand on the bottom and hold your boat.
   
4. Repeatedly moving the tiller to turn the boat from head to wind to a close-hauled course. LEGAL
   Another exception in 43.2 (d). Watch out though! Only when your moving slowly or are stationary. You may scull to a close hauled course but not PASSED that.
   
5. Using the propeller (by turning on the engine) to get clear of another boat after a collision. ILLEGAL
   You may use any equipment and the force applied by the crew of either boat but NOT the propulsion engine.
6. Pulling in the anchor and let the momentum carry the boat over the starting line. ILLEGAL
   Rule 45 states that you must recover the anchor before continuing racing but nothing about the momentum you have gained by pulling it up. You can find the answer in the Casebook. In Case 5 it is clearly stated: Recovering an anchor, whether it was lowered or thrown forward, so as to gather way over the ground breaks rule 42.1.

New question:
At an event with sponsored boats the OA asks the jury to write a Sailing Instruction rule which would disqualify any boat which is responsible for a contact. With or without damage. This is a condition of the sponsor for using his boats.
How would you formulate such a SI?

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Seminar Preparations | 6

Firstly the answer in SP | 5. It was already given in the comments: P is not keeping clear. Answer 2 is correct. Keeping clear is something more than avoiding a collision...... (See Case 50)

The first seminar in Bulgaria has been done by now. I hope everything went as planned. For the participants of the next one in Ghent Belgium, I have a new question to think about:

Which of the following movements is illegal according to the rules:

1. Sticking a foot in the water to slow the boat next to a mark.
2. Pulling the main to accelerate down the leeward side of a wave.
   
3. Pushing down the centerboard in the mud in a shallow area just before the starting line to stay still in a current against the boat.
4. Repeatedly moving the tiller to turn the boat from head to wind to a close-hauled course.
5. Using the propeller (by turning on the engine) to get clear of another boat after a collision.
6. Pulling in the anchor and let the momentum carry the boat over the starting line.

My event in Rotterdam was fun, educational and intense, but also very tiring. Team racing with two against two in very maneuverable boats, with good sailors who know what they are doing, can get very hectic at times. I'm sure some of our calls were green, just because I couldn't follow the action that quickly.
I'll leave you with a picture from the "grandstand" which was situated on the roof of a four story building, overlooking the race area. A perfect place to follow the action......

Early morning, before the action starts

view of the start line, shortly before the warning signal

Luckily the boats were a bit smaller then the one in the previous picture of Rotterdam, johnsee! Although, hmmm, the action might have been a little easier to follow...... All I would have needed would have been the red flag, to keep that boat turning circles for the use of an illegal propulsion engine....

Seminar Preparations | 5

Today, Friday 17th of October, the first of two IJ Seminars starts in Sofia, Bulgaria. I wish all participants a fruitful time in the classroom and best of luck in the test. Knowing Pat Healy he will make it fun on occasional too.
To all who participate, if you have time next week, drop me an E-mail and tell me what you thought about the seminar and test.

On with our series: In SP4 I had a question about a protest-form. It was not a trick question All, but designed to have you think about what a protest must have and what it doesn't need, to be considered a protest. You're answer Sen, is correct. Sorry Jan, back to the book for you.

In order to be accepted as a protest we have to look at rule 61.2.

• A protest SHALL be in writing and identify: (a), (b), (c) and (d).

In the last part of the same rule however, we can read that only requirement (b) MUST be met on the initial form. i.e. a description of the incident, including where and when it occurred.

The incident: a boat touching the mark, where and when: in race B at mark 4 on 16/10/08
The form also provides information on requirement (a): the protestor: Falcon 742 and the protestee: Falcon 1020. That must be provided before the hearing can start. Otherwise the parties cannot be notified and have no time to prepare.

If the protestor doesn't remember the exact sail number of the boat, he can nevertheless hand in the form - for instance to meet the protest-time limit - and then start looking in the boat park to try to find the correct number. He has until the hearing starts to get that number and tell the PC. If he can't, the protest will be dismissed, but if he can, the PC must continue.

Requirements (c) and (d) have even a longer time to be met. They can be added during the hearing. You can leave out the name of the person who will represent the boat, send someone in who is best - after for instance, you've talked to the crew - and tell the PC the name when you start. Requirement (c) is by far the least of your troubles. The rule you think the protestor has broken. You don't need to worry about the correct rule number, but you must tell the PC what you think the other boat has done wrong according to the rules. Well, that was why you started this protest in the first place, wasn't it?

So although there are clearly a number of things missing on the form; there is no drawing, no further description how the boat touched the mark or where, etc, this form is a protest! It meets the requirements in rule 61.2

The fact that it is written on a protest form - designed to extract all the relevant information - has no value in the RRS. You can WRITE a protest on any piece of paper as long as it meets the requirements of rule 61.2. Mind, don't do it just because you can. Most SIs have a sentence where it is stated that a protest must be written on such a form. But if you're pressed for time getting back, write your sentence on anything and hand it in, before you ask for the form. That way you at least are sure you handed it in as soon as possible.

In our case, this sentence should suffice:

• " Boat Falcon 742 protests boat Falcon 1020 for touching mark 4 in Race B on 16/10/08. Signed: Jos "

Then write the form as best you can, leave it at the desk in addition to you first paper and prepare for the hearing. If that is not accepted, point the PC to RRS 61.2 and state you think you have met all requirements as best you could. The PC would be hard pressed to find fault.


In today's question I've tried to give you a feel for the type of question you can expect in the test. Those are all multiple choice. With points for correct and deductions for incorrect answers. You can read about the points and scoring in this post: IJ seminar study questions 2


QUESTION LTW08-01:
Boat P on port tack on a collision course with boat S on starboard tack. Both close hauled on a beat in race 3 toward the first windward mark racing in J22s. Boat P thinks he can cross ahead of boat S and shouts " Hold your course ". Boat S however does not think P can pass and hails back "Starboard!" Both boats continue and when P is 2/3 passed the bow of S, boat S bears away to avoid a collision. When S passes the stern of P the distance between the boats is 1 meter.

Which of the following statements are true:

1. Boat S broke rule 16.1
   
2. Boat P broke rule 10
   
3. There is no rule broken
4. Both boats have broken a rule, P broke rule 10 and S broke rule 16.1
5. Boat P broke rule 10 and rule 14.
   

This question is much simpler than the one you will have in the test. Nevertheless it's good practice to make a quick drawing of the situation and then decide. Remember: a wrong answer will get you negative points!

UPDATE: I've been informed that the scoring on the IJ test has been changed. You don't get negative points on wrong answers anymore. In each part there are 12 questions with 62 possible answers. To pass with over 80% you need 12 or less mistakes in each part. So a mistake isn't a negative point, it is one of the 12 goofs you allowed. (Thanks Pat!)

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