Ok, I was going to let the dying horse come to pass, but now I just have to kick it some more since someone brought back into my "active threads" list.
It is quite reasonable to expect the RC to take a wind reading before a start (with a knot meter). It is also good practice to take many wind readings before starts and to record them. They didn't and that made the difference in the hearing. Pretty simple.
So I'd like you to point out to me where it says in the SI's specifically that the RC has to take wind readings
AND record them. I can't see how the PRO can be held to a standard that isn't put into the written rules.
Nobody has even bothered to explain to me why the protesting body wasn't asked to provide proof that there wasn't the minimum wind speed. I mean, if you're going to claim that there wasn't 5 knots, then bring proof! If the judge panel used at least two brain cells collectively, they'd realize that while the PRO doesn't really care either way that the race counts, the protesting teams had much to lose if the race stood, and therefore should be the ones to provide the indisputable evidence. Simple bias.
Next, this bit of garbage:
I was directing this post towards those who felt the protest was unsportsmanlike. Many of their comments make it sound like nothing was at stake, when in reality a championship was. I did not mean to say that everyone wasn't trying to win, but that some people may take winning more seriously than others, and this is not a bad thing. Seocndly, I was trying to get the point across that all the people who filed for redress did was follow the rules. And unfortunetly the rules make everything work from an after the fact perspective. You cannot file for redress until after the racing is over and the results are relatively known. This casts a shadow over the preceedings. I did not mean to be offensive and appologize if I was.
I feel it was unsportsmanlike. Just because you want to win more than the other guy doesn't mean you acheive it by any means possible. I know its become the de-facto modus operandi of competitive sailing to run to the room when you lose, but I thought beachcat sailors were a cut above that. I guess I'm mistaken. This thread serves will serve to remind me of this fact in the future.
To me, there is more than just a championship at stake here. Witnessing the actions of the teams and the committee only serves to vindicate my loathe for those who compete through litigation.
As for the protesting teams following the rules, I guess I missed this one:
Rule FU34.2 Any competitor who gets his butt beat on the race course can file for redress at the conclusion of said race even if they have no evidence to bring to the table. At the convention of the ruling committee, the highly-qualified PRO will be cornered, asked to provide data that he was never asked to take in the first place. If none is available, the race will be considered null and void. Said butt Beatees will therefore be vindicated in the eyes of all the online pleebians and not made to look like they just got schooled by a bunch of lake sailors.
Damn, I need to get the more up-to-date copy of the rulebook.
