In this situation:

A. Leeward should have given room to Windward since they were less than two boat lengths from the race committee boat.

B. Leeward had rights, but was not allowed to sail above her proper course and force Windward to tack into a disadvantaged position.

C. Windward was attempting to “barge” and had no rights – setting herself up for a problematic start.

D. The race committee boat was considered an obstruction and Windward had rights to room to clear it in a seamanship like way.

See the answer below:
 
 
 
 

Answer:
  Rule 11 simply states that the windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat (see Rules Quiz #1).  There are, however, a number of exceptions to Rule 11 that are described in subsequent rules.   These exceptions include limitations to the leeward boat associated with marks defining the course, obstructions, and sailing above or below the leeward boat’s proper course.  We need to see if any of these exceptions apply to the case described above.
 First, we must determine if the race committee boat is considered to be a race mark or obstruction.  The rules governing marks and obstructions are defined in the various subparts of Rule 18.    Rule 18.1(a) guides this case:

18 PASSING MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
18.1 When this Rule Applies
Rule 18 applies at a mark or obstruction to be left on the same side when boats are about to pass it until they have passed it. However, it does not apply
(a) at a starting mark or its anchor line surrounded by navigable water from the time the boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them, or
(b) between boats on opposite tacks when they are on a beat to windward or when the proper course for one of them to pass the mark or obstruction is to tack.

 This rule makes clear that the race committee boat which defines the starting mark is excluded from the limitations in Rule 18.
 

We must also consider the limitations on Leeward relating to proper course that are described in Rule 17.   First, lets look at the definition of “proper course.”

Proper Course -- A course a boat would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.

Since Leeward forced Windward to tack before their starting signal, neither boat had a “proper course” and Rule 17 would not apply.

The correct answer is C.  Windward was “barging”, trying to force a favored position between Leeward and the committee boat.  Rule 18.1(a) is called the “Anti-barging rule” because it places a severe disadvantage on a boat trying to barge.  The need for this rule is clear when you consider the situation.  Everything being equal, a boat starting on starboard tack at the windward end of the line would have a significant advantage.  If this were favored, it would encourage boats to bunch up near the committee boat attempting to gain this position – increasing the chance of colliding with each other or the race committee boat.   Aside from the other problems, this would make it exceedingly difficult to recruit volunteers for race committee!!  In this situation, Windward suffered exactly as the rule makers intended.

 If you have a rules situation that you'd like to see covered in the quizzes, send an e-mail to mast_yc@geocities.com  There's a wealth of information on the racing rules at Art Engel's site  http://www.racingrules.org/   including a rules guide and some additional quizzes. A current rules book is included as part of membership in U.S. Sailing – check for membership information at  http://www.ussailing.org   The rules are posted on the International Sailing Federation Web site at http://www.sailing.org