According to a Dave Perry seminar I was at, there is a difference between a tactical rounding and a seamanlike rounding. A tactical rounding (prefered) is when a boat gets to round "nicely" and a seamanlike rounding is "just what you need" to round.

A Tactical rounding when you had rights before your rights at the 2 boat length circle. If you aquired your rights at 2 boat lengths you are allowed a seamanlike rounding only.

A tactical rounding allows you to go wide of the mark so you can come in tight for a nice rounding. The other boat just has to wait for you to do what you would like around that mark. In this situation there is NO "door that opens", ever.

Example of Tactical Rounding Rights at the gate: A starboard boat is going downwind and chooses to gybe within the 2 boat circle for a port rounding. A port boat that is going to round the same mark has to leave enough room to allow a tactical rounding of that starboard boat. Providing the starboard boat does not sail outside the 2 boat circle to make the rounding. Notice that the rights were always with the starboard boat from outside the 2 boat circle and continues while entering the 2 boat circle for "room at the mark".

Later,
Dan