The conditions relating to lodging a protest shall be as follows:
(a) A start decision by the Starter or the Referee (or their delegate) is not subject to protest.
(b) A protest or appeal directly challenging a Finish Judge’s decision cannot be accepted. However, upon request, and at their absolute discretion, officials may review their order of finish decisions before finalising a result.
(c) No protest shall be accepted against the actions of another competitor or team in the same event except where that competitor or team has suffered direct interference, e.g., if an official takes an action or no action against a competitor or team, another competitor or team cannot protest unless they are in the same race and there is direct interference involved.
(d) A protest against the conditions under which a race or an event is to be conducted must be made verbally to the Referee/Area Referee/Sectional Referee (as appropriate for the competition) prior to an event or race (as appropriate) commencing. The Referee/Area Referee/Sectional Referee or appointed official shall then inform the competitors in that event or race, prior to its start, of such a protest. A protest against the conditions under which an event or race is to be conducted cannot be accepted if it is made at any time other than prior to the event or race.
(e) A protest (other than a protest under clause 14.3.2(b)) against a competitor or a team or against a decision of an official (including the declaration of a result) must be lodged verbally with the Referee/Area Referee/Sectional Referee within 5 minutes of the completion of the event or the announcement of the result of the event.
Note 1: The Referee at their discretion may extend these time limits provided that results have not been declared as final.
Note 2: In beach flags events a protest against an elimination must be lodged within 5 minutes or before the next run through of an event begins (whichever occurs first). If a beach flag elimination protest occurs the Referee will immediately consider the protest without delay before proceeding with the event. There will be no appeal permitted on beach flag elimination protest decisions of the Referee.
Note 3: A Referee is also authorised to refer a beach flag elimination protest directly to an on-beach appeals committee representative for decision on the basis of the processes and timings detailed in Note 1. No paperwork is required nor is a fee payable if this occurs.
Note 4: A competitor is permitted to protest and/or appeal against a disqualification decision in beach flag events provided that correct processes are followed.
(f) A written protest must then be lodged with the Referee/Area Referee/Sectional Referee within 15 minutes of the verbal protest being lodged on the protest form provided by the authority. Alternatively, if the authority does not provide a protest form, a written protest on plain paper shall be acceptable.
(g) Where a protest is lodged, the result of the event shall be withheld or not finalised until the protest is decided. If a protest is upheld, placings and trophies (where relevant or required) shall be varied according to the amended result.
(h) The result of the protest shall be noted on the back of the event result card or result records and also on the protest form.