Where’s the referee?

by Jos M. Spijkerman, International Judge/Umpire
I would like to give you my insights into those issues in the Racing Rules for Sailing, that nine times out of ten are asked in one of my rules talks, I do for clubs, sailors and/or class organisations, during the winter season.

To answer this week’s questions, we will have to go into the rules that make the sport of sailing pretty much unique. Sailing is one of the few sports – perhaps only Golf is the other one – that is mostly done without someone “refereeing”. We don’t have a couple of persons, dressed in black and white, zipping around in little rubber boats, blowing whistles and penalizing boats. Or do we?

Look at what is written in one of the BASIC PRINCIPLES:

SPORTSMANSHIP AND THE RULES
Competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty, which may be to retire.

Right in the middle, as if it wants to hide, is the word “enforce”.

Competitors are expected to ENFORCE the rules. In other words, you yourselves are the referees when racing; you are the ones with the whistle. You do not need to get a black shirt, you don’t need an actual whistle (shouting “Protest” is good enough) but you are still the ones who control which infringements are called out.

My analogy is a little overstated, I know, but that is how you should approach it. When you are aggrieved by the actions of another boat, you must decide what you want to do. Either put up with it, and not complain that somebody should do something, or, as the basic principle is stating, enforce the rules and protest. Put up or shut up – that’s the phrase, isn’t it? – Read on

Editor’s note: Would this be a good reminder at Skippers Meeting, to help set the tone for the event, and assure everyone that the game would be played fairly and evenly? Do you think this would help?