When everyone thinks they have the right of way

Smaller boat should have a lookout posted and yielded to avoid collision.
 
Both are sailboats so both probably had that snooty sailboater navigation attitude that they always have the right of way. It looks like the larger boat was able to stop quickly, and the smaller was coming from the starboard side, so the larger one should have had been the give-way vessel. But I guess that will only matter to the insurance companies.
 
My take has always been, the golden rule. he who has the gold makes the rules. get the hell out of the way for the bigger boat. unless you want to spend time in a hospital and litigation. Just move and enjoy the rest of the day. To maintain course because you have the right of way is idiotic. never had a collision, so works for me.
 
My take has always been, the golden rule. he who has the gold makes the rules. get the hell out of the way for the bigger boat. unless you want to spend time in a hospital and litigation. Just move and enjoy the rest of the day. To maintain course because you have the right of way is idiotic. never had a collision, so works for me.
Sometimes common sense overrides rules
 
Both are sailboats so both probably had that snooty sailboater navigation attitude that they always have the right of way. It looks like the larger boat was able to stop quickly, and the smaller was coming from the starboard side, so the larger one should have had been the give-way vessel. But I guess that will only matter to the insurance companies.
I think there might be differences when it involves two sailboats.
 
I think there might be differences when it involves two sailboats.

Depends if the smaller boat was under power or sail. Looks to me as if he is motor sailing with just the main up. Does not look like there is enough wind for the smaller boat to be moving that quickly under just the main sail. If it was motor sailing, that is considered to be under power and the other vessel under saoil has ROW. Regardless, I would always yield to the bigger report....not worth it. Also, when to sailing vessels are under sail, ROW depends on what tack (port or starboard) you are on, at least that is what happens during races.
 
How did either Captain (and I use that term lightly) let those two boats get that close together?

We cannot tell if there was restricted navigation of the larger boat.

Yes, the rules define who is the stand-on and the give way. But there is also the rule that each captain has the responsibility to avoid a collision. Looked like both captains were aware of the pending collision and neither took evasive action.
 
I don’t see how the larger boat isn’t at fault, about anyway I look at it, except both captains have responsibility to avoid collision…

Hang em both from the the yard arm.
 
How did either Captain (and I use that term lightly) let those two boats get that close together?

We cannot tell if there was restricted navigation of the larger boat.

Yes, the rules define who is the stand-on and the give way. But there is also the rule that each captain has the responsibility to avoid a collision. Looked like both captains were aware of the pending collision and neither took evasive action.
I can’t count the number of times that I’ve seen a sail boat blowing by with no one at the helm. The last time, I yelled at him to take note of the piling just in time for him to run into it.

Zoom in, it looks like there is no one at the helm of the smaller boat. Which means that both captains will get held liable here.
 
Well, the bigger boat has the right-of-way .No vessel even those under sail have an absolute right of way.
You have a duty to avoid collision and if you think you do have the right of way ,that should be on your tombstone.
 
Whether it is vehicles or boats, rules apply up to a point but common sense would say:

“He that possesses the right of weight, shall prevail”

then again,

“The trouble with common sense…it’s not so common!”

Seadoos are a big problem imo…had one do a 180 after cutting across my bow about 80’ ahead of me, didn’t even check to look behind him.
 
Looked to me like sailboat vs ship. Sail has right-of-way due to lack of maneuverability vs motor boat. What? did nobody see the other from a distance?
 
So let me ask this? Will try to keep short as I can.
Last night watching Forensic Files at 2am, about one boat hit another on Cayuga Lake in upper NY. At night. Both 21 bowriders, one ran over the other at night. Hit boat driver killed instantly, passenger girl lost arm from the prop as the hitting boat went over the other. Forensics found the hitting boat arrested the driver. Driver and his buddy passenger said they knew they hit something but went around and couldn’t find anything in the dark moonless night.
driver got 4 years.
Now the punch line…
The hit boat was drifting with NO lights on, engine off, in a boating channel, on a dark moonless night. I think the guy got screwed getting 4 years in prison.
What say you?

4 years isn’t enough for taking some one’s life. If you can’t see, then why are you going fast enough to run over the top of another boat.
 
Not sure if its international law but in germany commercial shipping has a general right of way over pleasure crafts. Should the larger vessel be commercial the sailboat driver might have made an mistake thinking he is the course hold vessel .

Of course its generally unlawful for every vessel to force its right of way and every collision in daylight , good visibility and open water is as dumb aa it can be.
 
My take has always been, the golden rule. he who has the gold makes the rules. get the hell out of the way for the bigger boat. unless you want to spend time in a hospital and litigation. Just move and enjoy the rest of the day. To maintain course because you have the right of way is idiotic. never had a collision, so works for me.

This is so true. This video has been making its way around our yacht club. The consensus is that the larger vessel had the right of way. My response has been, doesn't the larger vessel always have the right of way. If you're going to get creamed, it doesn't matter whether you've technically got the right of way.
 

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