Hearing Decision

The representative of 2015 (Mr Jefferey Richardson) objected to Mr Paul Pascoe being a member of the panel on the grounds of conflict of interest. His grounds were stated as "Pascoe is a friend of Ben Fels". The protestee and protestor left the room and the other two members of the panel conferred and made the decision that there was no conflict of interest under the rules. When advised of the decision, Mr Richardson advised that he would be making a complaint to Australian Sailing.

2015 hailed, flew a protest flag and the protest was submitted within the time limit. The protest was considered valid.

1. 2015 approached the weather mark on port tack.


2. 1998 approached the weather mark on starboard tack from slightly above the layline


3. 2015 tacked onto port slightly to leeward of the layline, completing her tack outside the zone and clear ahead of 1998


4. 2015 sailed towards the mark, sailing higher and slower than boats approaching from astern with the current assisting to lift her to the layline


5. 1998, sailing a lower and faster line, was on collision course with 2015


6. 1998 altered course to weather in an attempt to avoid contact with 2015, but her bowsprit scraped along the starboard side of 2015, amidships, for approximately 150mm.


7. Both boats continued to sail in the race and finished.


8. The wind was 12-15 knots, slight seas, there were no injuries, and no boats took penalty turns.

1. The damage was not considered serious.


2. 1998 failed to keep clear as the windward boat and broke RRS 11.


3. 1998 failed to avoid contact as required under RRS 14.


4. It was not reasonably possibly for 2015 to avoid contact and did not break RRS 14.