I'm having a hard time figuring the relationships between the boats. do you mean the port tack boat was going to tack in front of you so you footed off until they tacked then hardened up when they slowed during the tack? I don't see anything illegal in that (if that is what you mean). But you could have just stayed on your course anyway because you had the right of way. If you were on starboard tack and they on port then you have the right of way no matter what --- unless you are within 2 boat lengths of the mark at which point I think you have to give room to the port boat. As for the layline- the leeward boat has the right away and can force you up to the point at which he is NOT above the lay line. He must maintain his "proper course" and can't point higher just to luff you up.
p.s. just thought of it some more and figured it out. You saw that he was going to tack so you went in front of him and gave him bad air. I don't see a problem with that.. you had the right of way.