Olympic Games 1996

24 JULY 1996 - 3
PROTEST HEARINGS AFTER DAY TWO OF COMPETITION

The Jury upheld a protest by Matt Hayes (AUS) that the French boat had infringed Racing Rule 37.1 which requires a windward yacht to keep clear of a leeward yacht when boats are on the same tack.

The French boat had finished sixth in race three and was placed fourth in the overall standings after three races of the Regatta.

The Jury refused a request by Ross Mac Donald (CAN) for a re-opening of the protest hearing from race one of the Two-person Keelboat (Star) in which the Canadian boat was disqualified from provisional first place. However, Canadian team officials are seeking video footage of the incident at the leeward mark during that race to support a further bid to re-open the hearing.

The Jury faced a list of eight protest arising from the opening two races of the Open Dinghy (Laser), resulting in the disqualification of three competitors, while several hearings were postponed.

Mark Lyttle (IRL) was disqualified from Race 1 under Rule B1-1.5 (720 degree penalty turns) following a protest by Tiko Croffot (FIJ). The Fijian sailor, who was forced to retire from the race because of an incident while Lyttle was making a 720 turn, was given a YMP (average place) of 48th in the race. Lyttle had been 16th in provisional overall standing after two races.

Eszes (HUN) was penalised under Rule 42.1 after a protest by IRL over a mark rounding incident. He had been 18th in provisional standing after two races.

Nick Adamson (US) was disqualified from race two of the Lasers, although he had earlier retired from the race. He was found to have infringed Rule 36 (port and starboard right-of-way) and Rule B.1 (alternative penalties) and also penalised under Rule 73.5 for failing to attend a protest hearing.