[paulk]

There are two determining factors involved: becoming overlapped within two boatlengths of the windward boat, and "while they remain overlapped within that distance." As Jeff suggests, if you BREAK the overlap by sailing clear ahead or clear astern, you''re free to head up. As your Santana 35 pointed out, unless you break the overlap, you''re limited. On the other hand, if you''re further than 2 boatlengths to leeward of W, you can also head up as much as you like (it''s not until you''re within 2 boatlengths of him again that you have to resume proper course.) The easiest thing to do is to try getting as far forward of him as you can and then head off, to break the overlap. Then you can take him up as far as you''d like. This is not a very fast way to sail a race, however, and you may both get passed while you take him to the moon. I''ve found that heading higher and therefore going faster enables me to pass boats to windward of me. Despite their shrieking for me to "return" to my proper course, the fact that I''m passing them indicates that the course I''m on IS my proper course, and W has no grounds for protest.