I would like to add one thing to this discussion. There is also a book of appeals that sets a precedence for judges on the interpretation of some of the rules based on past cases. If you are really interested on the rules you may want to look at a copy.
The US Sailing Appeals book can be purchased from US Sailing
Store for $50.00. See item number 13045.
The Case Book, which is a set of definitive rule interpretations is available for download free from ISAF at
http://www.sailing.org/rrs2005/casebook2005.pdf. Unfortunately, there is no case that exactly matches the hypothetical situation we are discussing here. Case 92 comes reasonably close though. It concerns two boats on opposite tacks, where the starboard tack boat broke rules 16.1 and 16.2 and was disqualified. If you substitue rule 11 for rule 10, and "contact" for "capsize", and leave out the hunting part, then it matches.
Happy reading,
Eric
P.S. Oh, and by the way, the appeals cases are not "precedent", in the same way that English (and US) commonlaw is. Appeals cases do not have the force of rule the way that legal precedent has the force of law. A protest hearing is independent of the hearings that have gone before (but the rule interpretations above are useful nonetheless).
