Woman dies after sailboat and motorboat collide off Newport

[piemma]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

I've almost been hit more than a few time by a hole sailboats while drifting. This IS sad, and I have no idea of the details but a lot of those f'ers always think they have the ROW... and the do not. When under power I ALWAYS give them a wide berth. I had one jackass bearing down on me while IN THE CABIN ON HIS PHONE until I laid on the horn

ONCE I had an issue with another powerboater.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Same here Joe. Fishing the N end of J-town and this nitwit in a big sail about 35 or 40" aims right at me. He can see I am drifting and he is not on sail power but using his motor. Screaming at me that HE has the ROW.

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by piemma

Same here Joe. Fishing the N end of J-town and this nitwit in a big sail about 35 or 40" aims right at me. He can see I am drifting and he is not on sail power but using his motor. Screaming at me that HE has the ROW.

If he was sailing and not using his motor and you where drifting is there any case he would have the right of way? That wouldn't seem right.

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by PaulS

If he was sailing and not using his motor and you where drifting is there any case he would have the right of way? That wouldn't seem right.

No. Once he turns on his motor, he is the same class vessel. (only case I could see is if this confrontation took place in very narrow channel, but the right of way would not be dictated by vessel type.)

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

No. Once he turns on his motor, he is the same class vessel. (only case I could see is if this confrontation took place in very narrow channel, but the right of way would not be dictated by vessel type.)

That is simply not true, Yes if he is under power then he is treated as a power boat, but that doesn't change any of the other rues of the road. So for example if you were drifting down on his port side he has the ROW and you have to alter your course to avoid him.

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

That is simply not true, Yes if he is under power then he is treated as a power boat, but that doesn't change any of the other rues of the road. So for example if you were drifting down on his port side he has the ROW and you have to alter your course to avoid him.

Yeah, I kind of mixed up the two questions/posts and was assuming sailboat under power. My caveat was that under power, his simply having a mast to use under sail is not the reason to award right of way. And all other rules of the road apply. (and drifting is different from having lost power....)

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by PaulS

If he was sailing and not using his motor and you where drifting is there any case he would have the right of way? That wouldn't seem right.

Yes, if you were drifting on a course that would cause a collision he would have the ROW.