London 2012

Plain sailing for Alan

Published 10 July 2012

Alan Baser, of the university's Accommodation and Hospitality Services, has been appointed as one of the national technical officials (NTO) for the London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition.

As the LOCOG-appointed NTO, Alan’s role is to work with the chief umpire to coordinate the activities of the umpire team. Alan is the only NTO for the umpire team and will also deputise for the NTO for the international jury. The NTO role is to ensure (in partnership with the chief umpire) that the technical aspects and rules of procedure of the competition are adhered to.

Alan is an international race official for the worldwide governing body for the sport of sailing – the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) – hence he was the obvious choice for this important Olympic role.

“I am an ISAF international judge and international umpire and regularly officiate at top-level events around the world,” explained Alan. “I am also very active within the UK with the national governing body of sailing – the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) – where I am chairman of the judging and umpiring committee.”

There are three main disciplines in sailing – team racing (requiring umpires), fleet racing (requiring judges, mainly) and match racing (requiring umpires).

Match racing is very close, aggressive, tactical and cerebrally stimulating one-on-one racing, often likened to boxing where, as a competitor, you try to land a metaphorical blow on your opposition and get them penalised by the umpires. These events are normally sailed in small keelboats up to around 35 feet in length. This discipline is in the Olympics for the women’s keelboat only – it’s the first and the last time that it will appear at the games.

Team racing is again very close, tactical and stimulating. However, although in a team of three boats against three boats, team racing won’t be making an appearance at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Nine out of the ten Olympic sailing events are fleet racing. Fleet racing is, as its name suggests, everyone against everyone. The first across the line wins. During the Olympics the largest fleet will be about 40, however there can be hundreds on one race-course.

Alan explained that fleet races are normally not directly umpired, so if a competitor believes that another boat may have broken a rule, a protest is lodged and the international jury will hold a hearing after racing is completed. The jury will take evidence and witness statements and will either uphold the protest and disqualify one or both boats or will dismiss the protest which ends the procedure. The only time fleet races are directly umpired is for the final medal races at the Olympic Games.

“The Olympic Games is considered the pinnacle for fleet racing of small boats. I am very excited and proud to be part of the London Olympics.”