Woman dies after sailboat and motorboat collide off Newport

[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....)