What are the time limits for lodging a protest at a surf carnival?

Protest steps and time limits under the Surf Sports Manual:

1. Conditions of a race: a protest against the conditions under which a race or event is to be conducted must be made verbally to the Referee, Area Referee or Sectional Referee before the event or race starts. It cannot be accepted at any other time.
2. Protest against a competitor, team or official's decision (including a declared result): must be lodged verbally with the Referee, Area Referee or Sectional Referee within 5 minutes of the end of the event or the announcement of the result. The Referee may extend this, provided results have not been declared final.
3. Written protest: must then be lodged within 15 minutes of the verbal protest, on the authority's protest form (or on plain paper if no form is provided).
4. Result held: while a protest is lodged, the result is withheld or not finalised until it is decided. If the protest is upheld, placings and trophies are varied to match.
5. Record: the outcome is noted on the back of the event result card or result records, and on the protest form.

Not protestable: a start decision by the Starter or the Referee (or their delegate); and a protest or appeal directly challenging a Finish Judge's decision cannot be accepted. A competitor cannot protest the actions of another competitor or team in the same event unless they suffered direct interference.

Beach flags: a protest against an elimination must be lodged within 5 minutes or before the next run-through begins, whichever comes first.

Source: SLSA Surf Sports Manual, 38th Edition, clause 14.3.2.