Originally Posted by andrewscott
I know Starboard and Leerward have rights, but downwind has rights over upwind?
In the scenerio David describes, the boat going downwind is on starboard tack and the boat sailing upwind is on port tack. Because they are on opposite tacks, rule 10 applies and rule 11 does not. Some sailors mistakenly think that whenever they are sailing upwind, they are leeward boat and have right-of-way when in this case, they do not.

I hope that helps,
Eric