In sailing, it is quite normal to rely on measurement of equipment under a class or rating rule. There are checks competitors, classes and clubs can do to confirm that the results are fair.

The first port of call on the journey of checking measurements is with the competitor themselves. Under any class or rating rule, ultimately it is their responsibility to check that their boat’s measurements are good. The boat owner needs to familiarise themselves with the entry requirements, the rules applicable, and if uncertain, get a measurer to check their own equipment and compliance with the given rule. Plan ahead with new sails or other equipment, any significant repairs or modifications, and allow for time leading into the event for measurement checks and possible recertification to be done.

If another competitor doesn’t think a boat’s equipment stacks up against the given class or rating rule, the only avenue is for them to protest. ‘Protest’ is not a dirty word either. Protesting is just a process, albeit with its technicalities, under the rules which all have agreed to use to sort out a problem, and the process is available to all competitors at any level of the sport. The Racing Rules of Sailing spell out that process and whilst its sometimes uncomfortable, it’s inarguably better to sort it out up front rather than have tensions continue at the bar after the presentation.

From the class association’s perspective, they can set policy around their major regattas. Good examples of this are in off the beach classes who often have a policy to have every boat measured at the regatta before racing starts, irrespective of whether the boat already has a measurement certificate. When seeking a host club, this is part of the discussion on people and facilities needed, and the process is factored into the regatta’s schedule. Credit to the Formula 18 and A Class catamarans, Lightweight Sharpies, Sabots and Optimists, among others, for leading the way with this policy and approach.

This is truly best practice as everyone hitting the front row of the first start knows that every sail, spar, fin and hull has been checked for its part in achieving a fair result. Having the policy also helps by relieving competitors from going through the uncomfortable and technical process of protesting.

The club itself also has a few options at their disposal. The race committee can make allowances to inspect and check class or rating rule compliance at any time. Simply adding these to the race documents makes it clear to entrants on the approach and procedures used. The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is a terrific example of this as seen in their Notice of Race under (9) for Measurement and Inspection.

The Racing Rules of Sailing, under rule 92 allow for the organising authority (usually the club, sometimes the class) to appoint a technical committee. The purpose of a technical committee is to conduct equipment inspection and measurements, pretty much the same as what off the beach classes do, but need not be a complete remeasurement. Good practice is to advise competitors of this in the race documents and on the official notice board. There really shouldn’t be any surprises with this being done, or how the technical committee goes about it. Also, it is helpful for the sport to get as much of this done as possible in advance of the first race so competitors can address problems, still race and enjoy themselves. When sheep stations are at stake, by all means check winners or take measurements from randomly selected boats during the event.

When conducting major events whether as a class or under rating rules like CBH, IRC and ORC, the organising authorities should make use of a technical committee to perform measurement checks. The RORC's Rating Office conducted a seminar speaking to this topic and explained that doing equipment inspections need not be onerous and ultimately builds competitor confidence across the fleet. A copy of the seminar’s presentation is here.

The IRC Rule does have a unique provision to receive requests for a Rating Review from a party with a valid interest. What is important to note here is that Rating Reviews are performed by the Rule and Rating Authorities (RORC and Australian Sailing), and may not lead to physical measurement checks. That is, the Rating Review plays a subtly different purpose which is to check a boat’s rating calculations, rather than rule compliance by a boat at an event. This is evidenced by the RORC Rating Office advocating the use of a technical committee at events.

The ORC takes a similar view and this can be seen actioned in their approach at the ORC European Championship being held in Malta in April 2023. At this event, all competitors need to register for pre-race equipment inspection, and boats are checked on-water and after racing. The term ‘sheep stations’ is synonymous with the vast expanses of outback Australia, but given the thoroughness of equipment inspection, we may have found our first sheep station in the Republic of Malta, a relatively small nation whose area is a tenth of the size of Adelaide alone. The ORC has produced an excellent technical question and answers document here which explains everything to the competitor and official alike. Another example of best practice from a leading organisation.

An approach that several major IRC or ORC events take is requiring recency of certain measurements. The ORC requires incline tests to be done within a certain date prior to the 2023 European Championship to ensure their currency. Other events have taken a policy that some data has to have been checked within X weeks of the event. This approach enables competitors to use a measurer local to them within the given timeframe, it reduces the facilities required by a technical committee at the event, and makes sure measurements and their accuracy aren’t lost in the mists of time.

Whilst it is always the boat that is responsible for complying with its class or rating certification and any boat can protest to proactively sort out problems, having pre-event inspections done in a systematic way by a technical committee makes most of the bar talk and tension go away and introduces integrity to the results. Checks done on-water or post-race can be protested by the technical committee, again relieving competitors from a technical process and the uncomfortable burden of having to protest people who are often their friends. Quite the service, one might say.

For information about class certificates and ratings, click here.
The Racing Rules of Sailing can be found here.

By Glen Stanaway https://www.sailing.org.au/about/ourstaff/