-> On 08-10-96  13:22, Jackson Harding got back to Richard Wheet 
 RW> The instant that contact is made... one must protest....
 JH> Not so.  If the 720o turn alternate penalty is in force (and most
 JH> places now do so, at least in Australia and NZ) then the offending
 JH> vessel has until the end of the leg to complete the 720o turn.  If they
Seems like you are maybe using different rules or interpretted 
them differently.  The penalty turns must be as soon as possible, 
and away from any additional interference with other races.  
 JH> haven't by that time, then you have to protest.
 
On contact, even if the penalty turns are taken, a protest 
still, if not must, should be filed.  One of the reasons for 
this is for insurance reasons.  
Case in point:  
               A boat I was on caught the outboard of a competitor 
at the mark.  It nearly went to the bottom.  After the series (It 
happened on the first race of a 4 race set), the owner of the boat 
that we hit just requested to have the motor fixed or replaced.  
The other owner insisted that he get an insurance adjuster to 
check out for other damage.  As it turned out, there was over 
$1,000 damage to his stern that wasn't visible at first.  The 
filed protest was used by the insurance company to verify the 
claim and helped get it paid without hassle.  
 RW> protests can always be dropped but they must be done...
 JH> In a high level championship I agree with you.  On the whole
On non-contact infringements, I would agree.  
 JH> protesting against two other competitors who didn't protest after an
 JH> infringement in a club level race tends to make one a pariah.
This is true.  I know of too many "racers" that win their races 
in the Protest Room.  
... Life is a spinnaker wrap!
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