To Dave's last points, this is why we need to be using certified, and qualified (experienced) judges, especially for high-level events. I don't see too much of that at cat events, except for Hobie NAs (and Madcatter).
And, since we have to use people to do this, we're at the mercy of people getting it wrong sometimes. There are appeals procedures for this.
Obviously, the system can probably never be perfect, and like any court case, you can only make 50% of the participants happy...
Mike
Mike just nailed the solution... Qualified judges for our branch of the sport.
He's absolutely correct... one of the NA's I attended... did not even have a judge on call... much less on the water.
One of the outcomes of cat sailors running their own little regatta world is that we have not joined our regional sailing associations. No problem if we also bothered about getting judges trained up. But we haven't done that either.
It's always the same old rant... Why should I join CBYRA (my RSA) .... what do they do for me.
Well, The RSA is usually the group that takes on getting judges trained, assigning judges to an event, training RC PRO's. etc etc. They manage the appeals process up through USSA. All of these details that are important... when they are important.
Think about it... When was the last major event that you attend where they introduced the judge for the event.
The PRO, the Chief Judge, and the OA regatta chair are the three essential people that make an event Fabulous on the water, Fair through and through, and Fun on the beach.
If we settle for half assed solutions We will get what we deserve. Adding more process to a system that we do not abide by now seems silly.
It will not solve your redress issue, your OCS issue, your damaged sail and want an exchange issue.
Joh, Do you think that the PC should hear the entire fleets points of view on the imnpact of giving XXX redress on the OCS call that was made? How about a fleet vote on my damaged sail.... and on and on and on.
It's a corinthian sport. If you have an issue with a cheater... file a 69 and deal with it.
