NO PROTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 15

NO PROTEST

JEANETTE INCIDENT ACTION BY THE UMPIRES STATEMENT BY EXECUTIVE POWERS UNDER THE RULES Tlio disqualification of the Auckland boat JeaneLte after she had finished first yesterday afternoon in tho second race of the world's 18-footor championship series was the result of action taken by the umpires as the result of their own observation of tho incident at tho Shoal Bay mark during the first round of the course.

It was stated by the umpires that in forcing a passage round tho mark, contrary to the provision of the rule, Jeanetto struck with her forestay tho St. Gcorgo's boom, about four feet from the end.

No protest regarding the incident was lodged by the Australians, according to a statement by tho manager of the visiting team, Mr. F. Empsoh, last night. v Auckland Officials "1 wish to state that any action that has been taken came from the initiative of the umpires, who were two New Zealand men," Mr. Empson said. "An incident did occur, but there was certainly no protest lodged by the Australians."

The executive, in reply to Mr. Empson's statement, pointed out that although no protest was lodged by tho New South Wales boat, there was no need for thorn to do so. Tho umpires were appointed solely to deal with such matters.

According to the rules tinder which tho world's championship races are sailed, umpires are appointed to follow and control tho races. These umpires are authorised to order any boat to withdraw from the course immediately a breach of the rules is committed. Eight of Appeal v

A boat ordered off the course has the right of appeal to the Sailing Committee upon payment of a fee of £5. These rules were submitted to a meeting of skippers last week and confirmed.

The umpires in this case, however, reported the matter at once to the assistant secretary, who was acting as recorder on their boat, and allowed Jeanette to continue in the race, leaving the matter until later for careful consideration. The umpires, being on the spot, are the only judges of what took place and when, and where the boats were relative to each other during the incident. The umpires were quite definite and unanimous, and lifter considering the case, disqualified the boats at fault. These boats have the right of appeal.