Jeff Morris wrote:
..

A year ago I was frustrated when a tug with a barge on a long wire
altered course for me, as required by the rules. I, however, was quite
willing to go behind him but was waiting for a minute to get a bit
closer. We were still a few miles apart when he changed course, which
probably cost him more fuel than I use in a year.

In open ocean conditions, a well run larger vessel will tend to alter
course sooner, rather than later (between 2-5 mi.) reason being that in
most cases they can make a smaller course change for the same results.

otn