Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave R
The "can't safely do so part" is key. No one should cause an accident.
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I believe the primary rule on the water comes down to "avoid a collision". The other rules are to help accomplish the primary rule. The intent of the stand-on rule is to keep that vessel on a steady predictable course so that the other vessel can take action to avoid it. If both boats are attempting avoidance it is possible that their actions could cancel each other out and the collision could still be possible.
Given that the other operator is very possibly ignorant of the rules, the primary rule of collision avoidance by dropping to minimal speed takes precedence. I have had to do this several times a year because I have no clue what the other operator is doing. And... once in a while I have a brain skip and do something stupid myself. I try not to make it a habit and afterward I usually realize that I was the dope.
It's good that a collision was avoided and amusing that the clueless person was annoyed that you knew the rules and stuck to them.