So most times in a fleet, the best approach to the leeward mark (whichever way around) is to plan to gybe around it and force those on the opposite gybe to go around the outside. Of course they only have to give "room" and the gybing boat does have to get on with getting around the mark without taking any extra space than necessary.

I'm just not convinced that in a mixed fleet round a starboard hand leeward mark (or gate) the boats on starboard would know they had to give room. The old "port gives way to starboard" is a very strong instinct to overcome! Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

On the other hand, I may have been the last to realise what this rule means , and I haven't heard any stories of major leeward mark incidents like this so there's nothing to worry about!