"jeff" wrote in message
. ..
snip
.. However, I firmly believe
that powerboaters tend to subconsciously alter course to pass in front of
other boats rather than pass behind them. In fact, this will happpen to
me several times a day: a powerboat that is on course to pass well behind
me alters course and passes close ahead of me.

I don't think it's done subconsciously. They do it to other powerboats
because "they" don't want to be subjected to the other's wake. Certainly
they understand wake. With sailboats, either they forget that the sailboat
won't leave much wake, or it has become an ego thing. I once crossed paths
with a powerboat that was running the buoyed ship channel down a broad
river. Tacking up river, and using the whole river, I had well crossed the
channel when this AH left the channel to cross my bow rather than pass my
stern. He then returned to the channel.

I hesitate to use a broad brush, because I know some good guys that are
power boaters, and some jerks that sail, but the AH quotient seems to be
proportional to horsepower.