Who’s got the right of way?

Situation: a power-driven vessel (the big ferry) and a sailing vessel (our Seascape 27) are in a crossing situation outside a narrow channel or waterway. The ferry is on our starboard side.

So: who’s got the right of way?

Right of way

Of course, the ferry!

Why?

1) The sailing vessel on port is obviously a power-driven vessel. His lookout determined this by looking and the sails (hoisted) and the upside-down triangle, that was not set.

or

2) The skipper of the ferry has the  larger vessel, driving ~ 30 knots and a schedule to keep. He is to busy to maintain a proper lookout.

Right of way

or

3) He slept through the class International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Part B – Steering and sailing, Section II (for vessels in sight of one another), Rule 18. Responsibilities between vessels. Otherwise he would have known that a power-driven vessel must give way to a sailing vessel.

Right of way

It was fun though, we turned into the wind to slow down to pass just a few meters aft of the ferry. Amazing view. Too bad we were too stunned to get the camera ready. Thanks to the crew of Charly, we got the pictures covering this moment.

Right of way