In my opinion the boat with the crew in the water may get an advantage in the way that it´s able to fix a good starting position while the ohter boats are turning arround it. The fixed boat is an obstraction for the others under RRS 19. So it must not observe the other boats but the other boats have to observe the fixed boat.
The fixed boat has not to avoid contact or to keep clear from an other boat in leeward.

I can/may belive that the meaning of the RRS 45 is for example while or after capzising to clear the boat up. Therefore it must be possible to swim because otherwise capzising is a prohibited action.
The most of the rules are rules for fairness and safety regulations. And the question is: is it a fair action to fix a boat on the or near the starting line for a better position? I´m a little bit in a doubt.

Justin, it occurs to me that if F1 adopted redress, and a driver who was punted off the track by an illegal move got average points, race place at incident or whatever then at least one and possibly more Championships would have ended in different hands.
One may imagine that the knowledge that pushing an opponent off the track would give them points might have changed a  number of drving styles.

Doug ... I can't imagine why WS would have gotten their undies in a bundle if USS did an Rx.   It's clearly allowed without WS permission in 86.1(a) .. so I don't think reluctance due to what WS would have thought holds much water. 

No Flag does not = No Foul.
No Flag = No Protest.

If there has been a foul, there has been a foul.
If a Boat knows that they committed a foul, then they should take a penalty .  

I love this sport. No other sport has rules like ours.

Sounds like David implemented Rule 0.0  "Keep 'em coming back for more"