Matt, can you clarify (and I think this is the crux of Jake's question), based on the rules/definitions, what are the factors in position 3 that are used to determine who is the inside boat?

Based on your explanation so far, if the boats were shifted 2 or 3 boat lengths towards the center of the course (to the right) green would be the inside boat. If the boats were shifted a few boat lengths to the left, yellow would be the inside boat? That means, theoretically, by this rationale there must be a possible position where neither is the inside boat.

Another way of looking at it. If at position 3, green had been on port tack (opposite tacks, yellow still on starboard), would she not be considered the inside boat with yellow required to give her mark room?

sm