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The Topmast Trophy

How the MROA runs the class annual team-racing event - Summer 2005
We resurrected this team-racing event in 2004 and it was a great success. We decided to try the two-boat format with points adjusted so that the team with last boat loses. If you haven’t tried this it is really good fun.

We have two top RYA judges to be our on the water judges and to give us a briefing about how it all works – don’t miss the briefing – this isn’t the usual stuff. If you don’t feel confident to join in come and watch – it is good spectator sport.
Entries are from clubs (i.e. both helms have to be members of the same club) and we may need to limit entries – so if you really want come get your entry in quick.

Search fixtures list for this years event


The following is part of a guide that Bill Brockbank gives out at the briefing - a protest means asking the umpire to decide by waving a red flag.


Step #1: A protest exists when
1. There’s a prompt hail of “Protest!”
2. There’s a reasonably prompt red flag
3. Intent is apparent to both opponent and umpire

Step #2: If you admit then
1. You may raise an arm (palm open and upwards) and shout “Spinning”
2. This protects you against an imposed penalty if you broke an ‘exonerate-able’ rule.
It stops the umpire from intervening too early.
3. You must then spin. To not do so breaks Fair Sailing (penalty: FR2 and the original breach)

Step #3: A call to umpire happens when
1. There’s been a valid protest and
2. The sailors have failed to resolve it and
3. A protesting boat promptly waves a yellow and
4. The yellow is seen by their umpire.

This may not be the closest umpire. In addition to red or green, umpires may wave
1. Yellow (observed races only) = “Not sure, protest ashore if you wish”
2. Black = Discuss later (keep sailing), or damage inspection
3. Two reds = both boats infringed
4. Further red = one or more additional turns
5. No flag = Guilty boat span or is getting ready to spin or an invalid protest.
6. Green may also mean the umpires disagree.


1. A fair protest means both boats think they are right? “Why isn’t my opponent exonerating?
Did she (and the umpire) see something I didn’t?”? Around 40% of calls still go against the protestor.
2. We can penalise either, neither, both, or a third party.
3. On the same tack, just being too close is an infringement.
4. In a ‘domino’ incident you might get rights later, but if you wrongly caused it, spin.
5. Calling on the umpire means what we saw are the facts found. We can’t ‘take evidence’
What we saw, happened.
What we didn’t see, didn’t happen.? Think what the umpire saw.? If there’s doubt, say why you are protesting.
Expect less precision in observed races.
6. A penalty is “to sail clear […] then spin”
A tack or gybe which is part of the infringement can’t count towards the turn(s)
7. A penalty is 360° or 720°, not 270° or 630°
8. Spin at the finish even if you lost.
OCS, DSQ or countback may affect race or league results.
9. Post race: Telling us your story misses the point. We, and your opponent, all saw it differently.
Listen and learn.
10. We hear very little over the engine noise. Get loud & clear; visible (arm signals); or close.
11. When not racing, if you sail between an umpire and their race you may break RRS 22.1