Subject: Ferry Speeds
From: "Jonathan Ganz"

On the ocean. In the bay, shipping traffic, tankers
and the like do have stand on status and must be given
ground.

Not really. They do have the right to expect you not to impede their passage,
but they are not necessarily "stand on", although because they are expecting
you not to impede their passage, they will appear to act that way.

I've seen a freighter change course to avoid
a sailboat on the ocean... we were the sailboat, but
we were getting ready to head up and avoid her. They
must have had the rare lookout. :-)

Generally, the last one to see a target, among the "bridge team", is the
lookout .... took awhile to understand the why of this.
At sea, never expect a ship to maneuver for you (right or wrong).
Two main reasons:
1. In any kind of seaway, you may not be seen (right or wrong)
2. Experience has taught many that if there is a good deal of small boat
traffic around, the best bet is to claim "rule of GT" and maintain course and
speed. You might **** one or two off, but you'll generally get through without
confusing/ upsetting the many (right or wrong) If it's a single boat and they
see it, you'll frequently see them maneuver, but generally at the last moment,
because, again, experience has shown where small boats are concerned, expect
the unexpected. (Hey! Let's take a close look at the big ship!!). (right or
wrong).

Shen