I still sail a lot both racing and cruising. Most boaters I know (or at least choose to associate with) enjoy spending time on the water regardless of how they get out there and hold no animosity against other boaters. I teach sailing at a well known school in Annapolis both in cruising and racing settings and we try to ensure that new sailors don't fall into the stereotypical "us vs them" debate. We are partnered with a yearly membership club that includes both sailing and power options.
There is a very significant differences between what is a reasonable amount of sea room between boats that are racing and boats that are not racing. Any racer who fails to recognize this is ignorant and impolite. Not only are racers active participants that choose to put their boats in close proximity to others but the Racing Rules of Sailing which is what governs 98% of domestic racing is not completely in line with the COLREGS. This goes for sailboats that aren't racing as well as sail and power boat interactions. Many cruising sailors have no interest in racing and have no interest in getting close to another sailboat. That said there are times in distance racing where a fully crewed sailboat may pass close by a moored vessel or fixed object, if you are out fishing and see a sailboat with people hiking out on the rail and sails are trimmed perfectly, they aren't going to hit you. If I'm racing approaching a moored vessel and the owner is aboard and looking sour, I'll go out of my way to tack around him on the other hand, on a Wednesday night in Annapolis harbor, the races end downtown and everyone should expect the fleet to come barreling (5 mph) through in a pack and taking the fastest possible course.
We emphasize the very significant difference between the myth of "right of way" and being a stand on vessel. Tacking in front of another vessel is not maintaining your course. There is tremendous value in having experience on both power boats and sailboats which improves your interactions on the water. For examples: sailors often assume that power boats are more maneuverable than they are and power boaters tend to assume that sail boats are virtually stationary. In my experience given the choice of passing in front or behind a sailboat when on 90 degree intersecting courses, the inexperienced power boat invariably will pass in front of the sailboat rather than passing behind the sailboat which would benefit both boats for two reasons: Because the sailboat is moving forward, the required course change for the power boat would be less rather than heading for the same direction the sailboat is going and the sailboat benefits from a wake to push them rather than a wake to the bow that can bring them to a halt is low winds. Another area where power boaters who have never sailed is anticipating when a sailboat will need to change the point of sail. A power boat may not realize that sailing dead down wind is usually miserable and that a sailboat will be heading up to avoid this or gybing and heading up on the other tack, running on a parallel course just to "windward" of a cruising sailboat is making their life less pleasant. Most trawlers are only going 1-2 knots faster than the sailboat and overtaking them may take a few minutes.It's typically better to pass on the same side as the sailboat's boom, this way if the wind shifts they can head up to avoid a gybe without getting closer to you.
One student I enjoyed teaching the most was a guy I knew of through my life in the charter fishing business. The animosity between fishermen and sailors is real but the company that was his day job was having a team building day at our school and he spend the day learning on a sporty and maneuverable sailboat. He really enjoyed the experience and it helped him understand and predict what a sailboat is going to do out on the water. In a similar fashion, I explain to new sailing students that don't fish, the methods the fishing boats employ and where to expect their lines to be when trolling or chumming jigging. Pass the fishing boat up-current to avoid snagging their lines or pass 100 yards behind a trolling boat, not because of right of way but to be a decent human being.
Sailors often fail to realize that trawlers are not as well mannered in heavy conditions as one might think. The take for granted how much a sail and keel steady the movement of the boat and a sailboat's rudder is proportionally much larger which gives better control going with the waves. If you have experience on small, planning power boats, they generally are more seaworth with increased size so it is pretty reasonable to expect a 40' semi displacement trawler to handle 4' seas just as well as a runabout in a light chop. This misconception doesn't often impact how the sail around trawlers but it may.
In my cruising classes, I have found some of the most studious sailors are the worst at maneuvering in traffic. They get hung up on stand on versus burdened vessel and forget common sense that if you just slow down a bit or alter course by 5 degrees early on, you will avoid another boat by several boat lengths versus holding your precise course and waiting to see if the other boat is going to alter course. Motoring around in a busy harbor or waiting for a drawbridge are among the most challenging situations for new boaters but a little practice, common sense and courtesy go along way.
:lol:
)? or are they all motorsailing all the time?
