The stage was set for Mrs. I. AM Wright and Mr. Lee Ward, with the Protest Committee poised and a key witness, Hans Solo, waiting in the wings.
Steve Watson from the RYA guided us through the proper process of running a protest—complete with a theatrical twist.
This session also provided a great opportunity to strengthen our ties with our friends from Wanlip Sailing Club.
The first step was to determine whether the protest was valid, followed by checking for any conflicts of interest within the protest committee. With everything in order, the proceedings began.
Mrs. I. AM Wright, the first protester, presented her account of the incident, using model boats and marks to create a visual representation. Once she finished, questioning began—first from the second protester, Mr. Lee Ward, followed by the protest committee.
Next, it was Mr. Lee Ward’s turn to share his version of events, also using the models for a visual demonstration. Again, questions were asked—first by Mrs. I. AM Wright, then by the committee.
Finally, the witness, Mr. Hans Solo, was called to give his account and answer any questions.
Both protesters then made their final statements before being dismissed, allowing the committee to deliberate.
The committee’s first task was to establish the facts—what could be confirmed as true? From there, they agreed on conclusions and determined which rules applied.
Once the decision was reached, the protesters were called back in to hear the final judgment.
A huge thank you to Steve Watson from the RYA for making this an engaging and entertaining way to learn how to run a protest.
