On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:41:46 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

I was impressed with their seamanship. Biggest problem in the
bay is sailboats. They think they have the right of way over everything.

There was an interesting incident a number of years ago on SF Bay
involving a very well known sailor and sailmaker named Lowell North.
He cut about 50 ft in front of a freighter during a sailboat race. The
freighter skipper reported him and he was fined a large amount by USCG
for failing to stay clear (it was in a traffic lane). North argued
that 50 ft was more than enough for safe passage in front of the ship
and that as an experienced racing skipper he had his vessel totally
under control.

The Coast Guard was not impressed.