Overproof wrote:
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message

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.


Why didn't you just hail him on VHF and confirm ??......

I often do hail commercial vessels. In this case we were still quite a
distance off - I was rather surprised they altered course so soon.