This is a question for the rules experts!
I was recently at a start of season Dinghy Instructors conference & we were pretending to be trainees on a Start to Race course, with an Instructor Coach showing us how to run the course. We were in a fleet of Toppers, OK for the youngest DI at 19 yrs old, 5' & 8st wet through, but a bit tight for the rest of us !!!! We didn't have time to get our rule books out, so here goes:-
I got into irons on one of the starts & backed my sail to get out of it, reversing into another boat in the process, having hailed him to say I was in reverse. I got disqualified under rule 21.3 - a boat moving astern by backing a sail shall keep clear of one that is not. As we were in the last minute before the gun this rule applied.
If I had NOT backed my sail, but remained in irons what rule would apply? There isn't a proper course at that point, Rule 12 - on the same tack, not overlapped? or IRPCS 3.f. - not under command, or IRPCS 13 - overtaking boat? Or some other rule?
I ask the question as it is particularly relevant to cats which get into irons more easily than monos & take longer to get out. The situation also occurs more often in cats on the race course. From a common sense point of view if I get in irons I always hail to let others know & I have never been asked to do a turn by another competitor in this situation, similarly I would always take avoiding action if I see a boat in irons & I would not ask for redress.
Come on usual suspects, tell me how obvious an answer it is!
P.S. The lone cat sailor showed the mono sailors how to do it on their home turf over the race series!!