For all of you racers out there:  
Just what is "proper course"?  
Assuming the use of the experimental rules (1996):  
It's before the start of the race.  2 boats are heading to 
the starting line just before the gun goes off.  
The windward boat can sail at 45 deg to the wind.  
The leeward boat, faster, can sail at 30 deg to the wind.  
The boats are fairly close to each other and the leeward boat 
claims room and is overtaking the windward boat.  
Does the windward boat have to give way, as doing so causes it 
to have to cause it's sails to go into a luff and lose its 
proper course to the line and lose speed?  
Yep, this will be an intersting and learing season for the rules 
at the yacht club this year!   
Thanks for the help!  (and, I trust, my written description of the 
above situation is accurately written, as my poor typing is 
far better than the ASCII diagrams that may be necessary...)  
... Racing rule 37:  Fake tillers not allowed to gain right of way
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