Rule 19 question

This incident was on the start line at an Open Meeting. Wind from the SW; slight tide running E to W. RO has unusually set start line running EW so in line with the tide, presumably to reduce risk of tide carrying early starters over the line. Thus the Committee Boat (a 20 foot yacht) is at the clearly favoured end of the line.

As the fleet lines up seconds before the gun, L is on the front row, nearest to the Committee Boat. W is immediately on his stern. inevitably the front row are slightly early and start bearing away, including L. This enables W to slip into the space next to the Committee Boat, overlapping L to windward. All are depowered as much as possible and well off close hauled.

As the gun goes, L hardens up and pushes W into the Committee boat.

At the moment the overlap began there was ample room for W to pass between L and the Committee Boat as L was almost stopped and bearing away. (19.2.c) W has an inside overlap. To all intents and purposes the large Committee Boat is a substantial obstruction for small, almost immobile dinghies. So does Rule 19 or 18.2.b apply at this point?

Edited by NickM99 - 09 Sep 17 at 5:33pm

Good point Jim, missed that.

So if section C does not apply, then Rule 11 presumably does. However in this case W cannot keep clear of L as the Committee Boat is in the way. So has L failed to observe 16.1 and give W the opportunity to keep clear which would have required him not to harden up until W had cleared the committee boat and mooring line?

Presumably though if there were an option (ie the overlap was small enough) for W to slow and bear away behind L then she must take it?