APPENDIX N - INTERNATIONAL JURIES
See rules 70.4 and 91(b). This appendix shall not be changed by sailing instructions or national prescriptions.
N1 COMPOSITION, APPOINTMENT AND ORGANIZATION
N1.1 An international jury shall be composed of experienced sailors
with excellent knowledge of the racing rules and extensive protest com-mittee
experience. It shall be independent of and have no members from the race committee,
and be appointed by the organizing
authority, subject to approval by the national authority if required (see rule
91(b)), or by the ISAF under rule 89.2(b).
N1.2 The jury shall consist of a chairman, a vice chairman
if desired,
and other members for a total of at least five. A majority shall be
International Judges. The jury may appoint a secretary, who shall not be a member
of the jury.
N1.3 No more than two members (three, in Groups M, N and Q)
shall be from the same national authority.
N1.4 (a) The chairman of a jury may appoint one or more panels
com-posed in compliance with rules N1.1, N1.2 and N1.3. This can be done even
if the full jury is not composed in compliance with these rules.
(b) The chairman of a jury of fewer than ten members may appoint two or three
panels of at least three members each, of which the majority shall be International
Judges. Members of each panel shall be from at least three different national
authorities except in Groups M, N and Q, where they shall be from at least two
different national authorities. If dissatisfied with a panel’s decision,
a party is entitled to a hearing by a panel composed in compliance with rules
N1.1, N1.2 and N1.3, except concerning the facts found, if requested within
the time limit specified in the sailing instructions.
N1.5 When a full jury, or a panel, has fewer than five members,
because of illness or emergency, and no qualified replacements are available,
it remains properly constituted if it consists of at least three members and
if at least two of them are International Judges. When there are three or four
members they shall be from at least three different
national authorities except in Groups M, N and Q, where they shall be from at
least two different national authorities.
N1.6 When the national authority’s approval is required
for the appoint¬¬ment of an international jury (see rule 91(b)), notice
of its approval shall be included in the sailing instructions or be posted on
the offi-cial notice board.
N1.7 If the jury or a panel acts while not properly constituted,
its decisions may be appealed.
N2 RESPONSIBILITIES
N2.1 An international jury is responsible for hearing and deciding
all
protests, requests for redress and other matters arising under the rules of
Part 5. When asked by the organizing authority or the race com-mittee, it shall
advise and assist them on any matter directly affecting the fairness of the
competition.
N2.2 Unless the organizing authority directs otherwise, the
jury shall
decide
(a) questions of eligibility, measurement or boat certificates; and
(b) whether to authorize the substitution of competitors, boats or equipment
when a rule requires such a decision.
N2.3 The jury shall also decide matters referred to it by the
organizing
authority or the race committee.
N3 PROCEDURES
N3.1 Decisions of the jury, or of a panel, shall be made by
a simple major-ity vote of all members. When there is an equal division of votes
cast, the chairman of the meeting may cast an additional vote.
N3.2 When it is considered desirable that some members not
participate in discussing and deciding a protest or request for redress, and
no quali-fied replacements are available, the jury or panel remains properly
constituted if at least three members remain and at least two of them are International
Judges.
N3.3 Members shall not be regarded as interested parties (see
rule 63.4) by reason of their nationality.
N3.4 If a panel fails to agree on a decision it may adjourn,
in which case the chairman shall refer the matter to a properly constituted
panel with as many members as possible, which may be the full jury.