I make it a point to give all motor boats a wide berth while sailing. I have had too many close calls in the past both on the open ocean and in the harbor. My theory for this is a.) Most people that are driving motor boats are oblivious to what is going on around them. b.) Most motor boaters are oblivious to the rules of the road. c.) Most motor boaters are oblivious as to what a sailboat has to do to avoid them. To them a motorboat is a car that floats – a “no brainer”. On the other hand, I have met some motor boaters that are very considerate to sailboats - they are mostly the skippers of committee boats.

Good luck, and let us know what the outcome is. I would like to see who has final jurisdiction on the “who is at fault” discussion.