Protest Form
Hearing Details
- Chief Oshkosh represented by: Brad Lahr
- Salacia represented by: Dan Prochaska
- Witnesses: Rick Hughes, Steve Nelson
- No objection about interested party: Check
- Written protest or request identifies incident: Check
- “Protest” hailed at first reasonable opportunity: Check
- Red flag conspicuously displayed at first reasonable opportunity: Check (Remarks: There was some discussion about the timing and display location of the flag; committee determined to accept both and proceed.)
- Protest valid; hearing will continue: Check
Facts Found
- Salacia tacked first into zone by 1-2 boat lengths
- Salacia was on port tacking to starboard within the zone
- Chief Oshkosh was fetching the mark on a close-hauled tack
- Boats were both at six to seven knots boat speed
- Salacia tacked ahead of Chief Oshkosh inside the zone
- Four to five foot distance between the boats during Salacia’s tack
- Chief Oshkosh turned upwind during Salacia’s tack and then turned back down
- Nobody observed luffing in Chief Oshkosh’s sails during upwind turn
- Chief Oshkosh did not lose significant speed during the incident
Diagram of boat Chief Oshkosh is endorsed by committee: Check
Conclusions and rules that apply
Rule 18.3: Chief Oshkosh was forced to go above close-hauled. Boats were at six to seven knots boat speed (10-12 feet per second) and only between four and five feet apart. Evasive action on the part of Chief Oshkosh was reasonable. Salacia faulted Chief Oshkosh according to Rule 18.3.
Decision
Protested Boat Salacia is disqualified from race
Protest Committee: Felix Bierbaum, Aron Buchanan, John Provos, John Turbes
Chairman: Steve Nelson