On Thursday 15 October 2026, the RYA is offering a two-hour online workshop on scribing for protest committees, scheduled from 19:00 to 21:00 via Microsoft Teams. Scribing is the work of drafting a written decision while evidence is being heard. The organiser identifies it as one of the most demanding skills involved in judging sailing disputes, even though it often happens out of public view.
An overlooked skill behind fair racing
On Thursday 15 October 2026, the RYA is offering a two-hour online workshop on scribing for protest committees, scheduled from 19:00 to 21:00 via Microsoft Teams. Scribing is the work of drafting a written decision while evidence is being heard. The organiser identifies it as one of the most demanding skills involved in judging sailing disputes, even though it often happens out of public view.
Although the subject sounds administrative, written decisions matter to competitors. A timely, accurately recorded outcome helps sailors understand what was established, which rules were relevant and how the committee reached its conclusion. Clear reasoning can prevent confusion after an intense race and give the participants confidence in the process.
Following evidence while building a decision
The workshop explains how a judge or scribe can organise factual information as a hearing unfolds without deciding the case prematurely. Participants are given a worked example and an opportunity to write and compare their own draft decisions. The emphasis is on practising a real process rather than simply attending a lecture about sporting rules.
A protest may involve several boats, conflicting observations and rapidly changing positions around marks. Good notes separate the evidence offered by witnesses from the facts that a committee has actually found. Being concise does not mean leaving out details needed to understand how a rule applied. Participants can use the workshop to compare alternative ways of organising information.
Why small sailing clubs need the skill
Dinghy and keelboat clubs depend on volunteers to manage races and resolve occasional disputes. A local protest can be stressful when those involved know one another well. A predictable, transparent process helps the committee treat each party fairly while recognising that many sailors may not be familiar with formal hearings.
The online format allows volunteers to learn without travelling to a central venue, widening access for clubs whose members live far apart. However, one workshop is not a complete higher-level judging qualification. Participants should follow the RYA's relevant appointment pathway and use the current Racing Rules of Sailing when handling an actual case.
Preparing for the session
A participant will benefit from a reliable internet connection, a computer suited to drafting notes and ready access to the current racing rules. Reviewing the usual structure of a protest hearing may make the exercise easier to follow, although official entry requirements belong to the organiser and should be confirmed in advance.
The session is a focused example of how a relatively small improvement in volunteer skills can benefit a club. By developing clearer decisions, sailing judges help keep attention on safe, fair racing rather than avoidable procedural arguments. The scheduled time is the evening of 15 October, not an on-water practical course. Accurate scribing can also help judges avoid spending unnecessary time reconstructing evidence after a hearing has finished. Competitors are more likely to accept a difficult outcome when the reasoning is recorded carefully and the process appears consistent from one case to another.
Source
Royal Yachting Association