wrote

AFIK, "Stand By" didn't tack. The photos show her on stb for the entire
collision.

Yes, but you can't alter course into a right of way position when the other
vessel doesn't have time to respond. Given the size and response time of
MF, the smaller vessel could have been carrying it's burdened status from a
tack that occured well before the photos begin. It's a little different
when a vessel has to tack because of shore or obstruction. If the smaller
vessel was tacking off a shore, the MF should have anticipated that it would
need to do so. Such a situation is a good time to use the radio.

--
Roger Long