Crossing the fleet on port
The situation
Beating up the first leg, Nora is on port tack and a long line of starboard-tack Optis is crossing ahead. She thinks she can just cross the first one.
The question
What's the safe, correct call when you're on port meeting a fleet on starboard?
The ruling
Starboard boats have right of way; Nora (port) must keep clear of every one of them (rule 10). 'Just crossing' the first boat is risky — if a starboard boat has to change course to avoid her, she's broken rule 10, and rule 14 still requires everyone to avoid contact. The reliable options are to duck behind a starboard boat's stern (often you lose less than you think) or to tack onto starboard into a gap — remembering rule 13 gives her no rights until she's back to close-hauled.
Port meeting a starboard fleet: when in doubt, duck or tack early. You must keep clear of every starboard boat.
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
See the underlying rule: Rule 10 — On Opposite Tacks.