Section R - Other requirements

RS CALL R5

Rule E3.1, Control Area
Rule E3.9, Disabled Competitors
Rule E5.1(a) and (b), Observers
Rule E5.2, Rules for Observers and Umpires

The organization or fittings of the control area should not confer a visual advantage to any competitor or race official. The race committee may take measures to ensure that all competitors and race officials have an equal view of the race area.

Assumed Facts

The sailing instructions define the control area as ‘a raised rectangular platform’. The platform is surrounded by a guardrail that is approximately 1 metre high.

When the start line is on an extension of the diagonal of the control area, only one competitor at the apex angle between two sides of the rectangle has an unrestricted view of the start line. Other competitors lean over the guardrail, obstructing the view of other competitors lined up behind them.

The race committee rig a rope from one guardrail to the other, perpendicular to the start line. Competitors are instructed to stand behind the rope, with an unrestricted and equal view of the sailing area. The race committee sits in front of the rope, also with an unrestricted view of the sailing area.

Question 1

A disabled sailor is permitted by the race committee to sit in front of the rope, with his head slightly higher than the guardrail. Does this break rule E3.1?

Answer 1

No, the control area is defined as the whole of the rectangular platform. The restriction on competitor's movements within the control area is intended to reduce the visual advantage of one competitor over others. The disabled sailor is within the defined control area and, because he is sitting whilst other competitors are standing, has no visual advantage.

Under rule E3.9 the race committee may make reasonable arrangements to assist disabled competitors to compete on as equal terms as possible.

Question 2

A member of the race committee is designated as an observer under rule E5.1(a). He is sitting with the other members of the race committee in front of the rope. In addition to his other duties, he also hails the sail numbers of boats that make contact with a mark or another boat. Does this comply with rule E5.2?

Answer 2

Yes. The observer is within the designated control area. As he is seated, he does not have a visual advantage over the competitors.

Question 3

Would the answers to Questions 1 or 2 be different if the race committee organized the control area in a way that gave one or several competitors, or the race committee or the umpires, a visual advantage over other competitors?

Answer 3

Yes.

Rule E5.3 is specific as regards umpires and observers. Any device, including raised platforms or such-like, reserved for observers or umpires and giving them a visual advantage would not comply with rule E5.3.

However, raised platforms freely available to both competitors, observers and umpires that enable a clear view of the racing area unobstructed by those standing in front of them do not give a visual advantage.

A competitor who believes that the race committee's organization of the control area gives such a visual advantage to another or other competitor(s), or to the race committee, that their boat's score has been made significantly worse, may request redress under rule 62.1(a).

A competitor who knowingly introduces into the control area and uses an aid or device that gives him a visual advantage over other competitors may break rule 2.