Matt,
My take on your comment about opposite tacks at a mark.

The Fundemental Rule says " When boats are on opposite tacks, a port tack boat SHALL keep clear of a starboard tack boat.

In this there is no ambiguity, it is simple cut and dried, The starboard tack boat does have rights (all of them), but iaw with international rules for All vessels it is still the responsibility of both to avoid a collision. Somewhere there is still in law about safe and prudent seamanship.

And I have as Chairman of a protest committee had to uphold this rule, it cost the guy a national championship for which he has not ever forgiven me for,

Again, my two bobs worth

David