Scoob,
You are quite correct .... I hadn't though the scenerio through completely to that point.
It is obvious the decision to "drive/dive" in there is up to "Starboard" ..... and if they are not confident of the room given them is sufficent ...
I've only been protested once ... it was years ago ... a group of us rounded "C" Mark the lead boat went wide and tacked over onto Starb ... the rest of us were overlapped on Port ... I was the inside boat and the (now) starboard boat hit my rudder as I passed/crossed in front of him .... in the "Room" I stated my case that the only option I had was for me to tack immidiately onto starboard and HIT the Port Tack boat to my left/port .... I was told by the judges ... Yes, that is what you had to do "... hit the other boat so you could protest them ...." That was NUTS ... I had to T-Bone another boat and most likely damage my boat just to prove I had nowheres to go ....
They changed the rules shortly after that .... you must give room and time to "Keep Clear" .... and even though you may have rights, "you must avoid collisions"
This rule change will give the starboard tack boat an "Option" ... other then driving in and colliding to provide the proof that there wasn't enough room ....
RACE SMART
Sail Flat, Sail Fast, Sail SAFE
Harry Murphey
I don't think this gives the starboard boat any more options - it's still the same "I may have room" as your coming into the mark and you all know that at Mach 10 with the kite up, there is very little time for a decision on an ~iffy~ situation. The rule is ~iffy~ and I'm not a fan.
In the mark rounding you cited, you don't have to hit the boat that is keeping you from coming up (you have to avoid contact at all costs) but you do have to protest him for not allowing you to yield right-of-way.
