Race Officials and Judges
GENERAL POLICY
1. No person may serve as a member of the protest committee or as the principal race officer at an event in which any competitor in the event is a close relative'. (see below)
2. Volunteers in any capacity are expected to subordinate their personal and individual interests to the interests of the event and the sport of sailing. See US Sailing Regulation 1.00.
3. The organizers shall use their best efforts to appoint US Sailing certified race officials to the protest committee or the umpire team, and to key positions on the race committee.
4. Except in illness or emergency, the protest committee shall consist of a minimum of three judges.
5. Whenever possible, the organizers shall use their best efforts to appoint:
a. A majority of US Sailing certified judges to the protest committee at fleet racing events.
b. A minimum of 50% US Sailing certified umpires at match and team racing events.
6. The organizing authority shall file an event report that includes the names and certifications of all judges, umpires and principal race officials.
EVENT POLICY
Local level:
1. Recommend and encourage (but not require) the appointment of a US Sailing certified race officer (any level) as principal race officer.
2. Recommend and encourage (but not require) the appointment of a US Sailing certified judge (any level) as protest committee chairman.
3. At match or team racing events, require the appointment of a US Sailing Umpire for chief umpire.
4. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the US Sailing Area representatives to:
• The championship committee involved and
• The applicable race officials committee.'
Ladder event, Regional Sailing Association/US Sailing Area level:
1. Recommend and encourage the appointment of a US Sailing Regional or National RO, but accept a certified US Sailing Club Race Officer.
2. Recommend and encourage the appointment of a US Sailing Senior Judge for protest committee chairman, but accept a US Sailing Judge.
3. At match or team racing events, require the appointment of a US Sailing Umpire for chief umpire.
4. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the US Sailing Area representatives to:
• The championship committee involved and
• The applicable race officials committee.
Ladder event finals and national championship events:
1. Require the appointment of a certified US Sailing Regional or National Race Officer as PRO.
2. Require the appointment of a US Sailing Senior Judge as Protest Committee Chairman. Require a majority of the protest committee to be US Sailing certified judges.
3. At match or team racing events, require the appointment of a US Sailing certified Umpire for chief umpire. Require a minimum of one half of the umpire team to be US Sailing Umpires.
4. The only exception shall-be-a--reduction in certification-level. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the US Sailing Area representatives to:
The championship committee involved and
The applicable. race officials committee.
5. If the requirements for an appointment cannot be met after allowing for exceptions, an appointment of a certified official shall be made by the applicable race officials committee.
1 The Area representative is the Regional Administrative Judge for appointments to the umpire team.
2 The Area representative shall be the Area Race Officer for appointments to the race committee and the Regional Administrative Judge for appointments to the protest committeeorumpireteam
NOTE: 1For the purpose of this policy the term "close relative" is defined as an individual related to another person or the person's spouse within the third degree. This includes parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, spouses and close relatives of spouses including step- or in-law relatives.
2 In all cases, the corresponding ISAF certification will be acceptable in place of the US SAILING certification. For example, an ISAF International Umpire may serve without approval in place of a US SAILING certified Umpire
Approved March 2004