Ok, here's the story. Not that anyone was on the edge of their seat
I wanted to get consensus from this board first.
I was boat A, sailing vessel under motor power.
Boat B was a fishing charter -cattle boat.
The incidents happened in reverse order. I posted in reverse so as to address them both separately.
None of the below would have mattered, normally. I avoid boats all the time. In this case I may have been miffed for a couple seconds, (had nothing else happened) but was more interested in my anticipation of dinner -Stoufer's lasagne tossed in the microwave when I hit the dock. Fantastic frozen entree. Anyway...
In regards to Rule 9, does not apply. As I stated originally, neither boat was encumbered. See pic of harbor. Big channel. Also those boats are reasonably nimble.
So I'm coming into the harbor at 5 knots - I maintained speed throughout the course (see hand-drawn map. No snickering at my artwork), and boat B passes and then royally cuts my port bow. Had to take evasive. Not butt clinching, but produced a frown. Had I been headed for the west channel, would have been emergency collision avoidance. Contact slightly possible.
So then we're abreast, with him gaining ahead. He then slows and takes a wide berth to port, presumably to avoid another boat which was exiting. So far to port in fact that he would have encountered exiting traffic had there been any.
I then had a better angle, and my boat overtook his. Then we're pacing with me ahead and to his starboard.
I check my port quarter. He had slowed and was pacing me aft, I presumed to give me space, so there was sufficient room. I turn to port, as should be expected in the main channel - see map and pic. In any case, I was stand on. I should anticipate the other to give way should he need to (he didn't need to). I would have given way, had there been a collision danger.
So... What does he do? Just what Shemandr said :-D He opens up that PA and starts berating me, while his crew and customers look on.
Says (paraphrase) how dare I cross his bow. And "you must be kidding me". Like I'm some kind of idiot.
So he squashes my entry, clearly violating the rules, then publicly chastises me 2 minutes later for doing what should be expected.
I lost it a little. Told him what a dumbass he was, and showed him the green vs red side of my boat. He could hear me on listen-back. Then he said I should slow down, as speed limit is 5mph. I was doing 5.75mph (5kt), pacing him.
Then we were on our separate ways.
The reason for this thread is that I started to feel guilty for cussing him. Very sailor-like, but not much class. I regret it. Also, he's a commercial captain, and I am a recreational sailor. I started to dread at the thought of my being the one who was wrong. So I chatted you guys up.
