The organising authority has the ultimate authority to appoint race officials including the protest and technical committees, and umpire teams.

The Racing Rules of Sailing assign clear responsibility for the appointment of race officials to the organising authority in accordance with rule 89.2(c). The rules then go on to provide the race committee similar authority enabling them to appoint the protest and technical committees.

There are often cases when the class association will want certain race officials at their events, particularly state or national championships. This is entirely reasonable as sometimes a specific technical awareness of the class is needed, or some race officials might have a better cultural affinity with the class and its crews. In these cases, the class association should make sure the club hosting the event know that they will want to influence or approve the people appointed as officials. This is entirely reasonable, but needs to be done up front as part of the hosting agreement so that when the club acting as organising authority appoints its race and protest committees everything is aligned.

Another area is the appointment of umpires for team and match racing events. Umpires are a tight knit community and people acting in this space know who they work well with. The club acting as organising authority may use those connections to draw up an umpire roster, and the authority for their appointment to the event rests with that club.

Protest committees are not dissimilar. It is not uncommon for the organising authority to appoint a chairperson for the protest committee and leave it with them to find the others. This is good; there is a level of trust and comfort in the delegation. But make sure that the delegation is actually there, and not just assumed. Nor should one assume that the club’s usual protest committee chairperson is going to maintain their role as the class association might have their preferred candidate for the gig.

Race officials are reminded that their network of people and usual colleagues at events are ultimately appointed by the organising authority. Check in with the race committee and club’s contacts to ensure that they are agreeing to make the appointments before you make any commitments to those you might like to have join you on the start or umpire boats, or in the protest room.

Search for race officials at https://www.sailing.org.au/accreditation-finder/

By Glen Stanaway