You have a good understanding of the rules to the situation you have asked about. You need to add a couple considerations: First add rule 14 - Avoiding contact because even the right of way (ROW) boat can be penalized if contact causes damage or injury which is strictly interpreted. Second; after the starting signal, the leeward boat can luff only to her proper course. Normally that is to close-hulled but could be as high as head to wind if, for example, she had to sail that high to clear the mark at the end of the start line. Also, when proper courses conflict, the leeward boat has ROW so, for example, if an A class cat starts below you and points higher (normal), then you are in trouble in your sloop rigged cat and must keep clear.
BTW, rule 16.1 is why you must "close-out" or luff a barging boat BEFORE she gets to the committee boat. If you wait, then she no longer has room to respond to your luff and must be permitted room (it is not seamanlike to hit other boats). Racers commonly think that bargers have no rights at any time and that is simply not the case. Luff while they have an escape route or you will both be wrong.
F.Y.I., Here are some good internet sites for more rules info:
WEBSITES FOR RRS INFORMATION AND REFERENCE
International Sailing Federation website:
http://www.sailing.org/Select “Rules” at the top of the page. This page starts the RRS and at the bottom of this page you can choose “Racing Rules Q&A Service” which lists different questions and answers written from around the world about racing situations causing confusion; especially handy for race officials. You can also choose “Publications” to get the ISAF Cases – authoritative explanations and interpretations of actual racing protest situations and the decisions of the protest and appeals committees.
U.S. Sailing website:
http://www.ussailing.orgSelect “Racing” at the top of the page and then “Racing Rules” in the menu window.
U.S. Sailing racing course website:
http://www.racing.sailingcourse.com/index.html(Most realistic training simulations of basic rules situations - video style)
UK Sailmakers interactive rules quiz website: (Also available for sale on CD)
http://www.ukhalsey.com/RulesQuiz/index.asp (Probably the best site for rules quizzes)
Selected Dick Rose rules explanation columns from Sailing World magazine
http://www.sailingworld.com/sw_experts.jsp?typeID=402&catID=595COLREGS website:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules.htm(These rules apply when racing after sunset and before sunrise) Tybee 500 racers note!
SailNet Learning to Sail website:
http://www.sailnet.com/collections/learningtosail/rules/index.htm(Interactive place to learn the international and inland rules)
“Uncle Al’s” rules website:
http://www.angelfire.com/de2/WIT/Rules_in_Pics_index.html(Folksy manner - includes updated rules explanations and quizzes using real photos of sailboats racing)
