Here is a question for those in the know

2 boats are racing (A & B) and they have left the start mark and are sailing to the turning mark

Boat A is ahead for most of the way but boat B catches her and overtakes her but takes a wider course around the mark whereas A turns closer to the mark and when they leave the mark A is ahead again

Both boats are on starboard tack and B starts to overtake A and is heading back to the starting mark which is the correct course but A believes that the course is around the bay mark before returning to the start mark and starts to head down towards the bay mark and closing up beside B and forcing B to alter course away from the start mark to prevent both of the boats coming together

B finally overtakes A and heads back towards the starting mark and A starts to head towards the bay mark

The crew on B ask A where he is heading and A says into the bay and the crew on B inform him that the correct course is back to the start mark

The question i have is when A and B were beside each other and A was pushing B down towards the bay mark instead of letting him sail the correct course back to the start mark which boat had the right of way

Regards Don