Case 9: In the photo below, Shadow (W286) and Free Range Chick'n are on a collision course.
1. Which boat has right-of-way?
2. Do the Rules permit W286 to sail higher if he gets a lift now?
3. Do the Rules permit W10139
(yellow) to sail higher if he gets a lift now?
4. Do the Rules permit W10139
(yellow) to sail lower if he gets a header now?

Answer:
1. The yellow boat is on starboard and has right of way under rule 10.
2. Yes. The beauty of life as the give-way boat is that all you have to worry about is keeping clear of right-of-way boats.
3. Probably. But under rule 16.1, Starboard must, in changing course, give Port room to keep clear.
4. Again, it's a question of rule 16.1. Here, Starboard would likely be OK to bear off, especially if 286 is correspondingly lifted. But if the boats were a bit closer to each other, and 286 was already bearing away to pass astern of 10139, then - as per rule 16.2 - Starboard is not allowed to make any course change that will require immediate extra avoiding action from Port.

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