Budget Marine partner David de Vries has just been made an Olympic Judge for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This will be his second time officiating at the Olympics, an excellent achievement given the stringent selection process that takes place for each Olympic event. Olympic International Judges are chosen from the best of the best International Judges from the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Member Nation Authorities (MNA) worldwide.
The role of a Judge is to ensure fair competition, determine disputes between competitors, assist in areas of race management and make decisions on the fairness of competition. Becoming a Judgeinvolves attending ISAF seminars, passing written examinations and serving at principal fleet racing events both inside and outside one’s own geographic territory, or MNA. Becoming an International Judge is much more difficult and is based on the individual’s performance judging at some of the world’s top international sailing events.
David de Vries has been through this arduous process for many years. Knowing the racing rules and their applications is just the start. The big challenge is to determine the sequence of events that led to the protest – the who, what, where, when factors that brought the protagonists to the position that caused the incident. Dave’s ability to focus clearly, contribute special skills and expertise and work well in a team are what made him such a strong member of the original management team that developed Budget Marine from a small business to the leading Caribbean chandlery Group. These are also the qualities that have made him a successful Olympic International Judge. We at Budget Marine congratulate him and wish him much succes!
