Sails not full

Hi all a quick query from a situation that arose at the weekend,

I was sailing along the start line, about a boat length under the line, on starboard with my sail almost empty so I was sailing slowly. Aiming to get to the port end of the line at about 10s to go tack and then start on a port tack flyer (worked by the way, got to the top mark first ).

A boat on port crossed in front of me forcing me to point up and then back down around his transom. I called starboard on him, but he said I had no rights because my sails were not full. Is that correct? I was moving, just very slowly with my sail very loosely sheeted.

What would have happened if I was stationary, do I have right of way over port tack boats?

Thanks for any help

He was sailing along the line, to windward of me, and then he bore away in front of me, which without me pointing up momentarily could have lead to a collision.

Not sure if we would have made contact, and that is mainly why I didn't protest, just wanting to understand when i have rights better.

Thanks for the clarification on this weekends incident. glad to know I would have won a protest, as it happens I got a good start despite that.

Just out of interest, would I have rights over a port tack boat if I was on starboard and stationary?

You have rights over port even if going astern as long as you didn't achieve sternway by backing a sail.  You can also back a sail to stop and still require a port boat to keep clear as long as they have the opportunity and you don't start moving astern.

Worth getting a good rules explanation book like Elvstrom,

Well explained Gordon :-) and dead right by my view. I have had someone try to protest me following a tack because they said my tack was not complete because my sail was not set. I pointed it that was irrelevant it was my course that mattered.

This was an experienced sailor (and a nice chap by all accounts) but he never keeps himself up to date on the current rules.