Questions pertaining to the photos:
Still having trouble sorting out who is who:
Blue spin - port tack next to mark - ?
Pink spin - port tack middle – Karl/Beth F18
Red spin - port tack outside - Timbo?
Orange spin - stb tack outside - ?
when we talk of "room", are we in consensus that regardless of skill, each F16 needed about 1.5 meters on each side of the hull to accommodate the hiking stick, trapeze, etc ("normal equipment")?
If the stb boat hit the 48' ring first (clear ahead) then none of this would have been an issue as it would have sailed on ahead of everyone, or would it have run out of clean air and stalled while the pinwheel overtook them?
I think that is the consensus
If the port boats hit the 48' ring first (clear ahead), then the stb boat was to keep clear from entry to exit?
Yes … but clear ahead? I think a starboard boat fetching the mark would have had an overlap for some time… and thus your last question is pertinent.
If the stb boat hit the ring first but overlapped by the port boat(s), who has "rights" then?
Starboard should have clean air all the way as the port boats will need to gybe and round the mark … starboard will have all the momentum to stay clear AND ahead.
If the reverse is true (port boats hit ring first but overlapped by stb boat)?
Starboard stays clear And give mark room … Note that all the other port boats had overlaps so Mark Room for all
