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On overtaking a powerboat

Forum - Rules of the Nautical Road - On overtaking a powerboat
Module Content - Sea Talks4
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Student
Perry Gruber
Portland, OR, USA
Crew Level I
Status: Sailor
Qualified days: 16
On overtaking a powerboat
Posted 2016, Apr 19 21:44
There are two pictures on this page with a power boat in it. One is a smaller motor boat being overtaken from behind by a sailboat with it sails up. The other is a sailboat with a powerboat (looks like a cabin cruiser) to port, apparently adrift in this example. However, there are no sails deployed on the sailboat. The sentence beneath this picture says the powerboat must give way, making the sailboat the Stand on boat. Why is this the case? Is it because the powerboat has the sailboat to starboard? Is it because the powerboat is adrift? Is the sailboat under power or adrift? This picture is confusing me because it seems the sail boat is also either under power or adrift. It’s certainly not overtaking the powerboat from the rear. Can anyone help with this one?
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Grant Headifen
Reply 2016, Apr 29 14:11
Powerboat rules apply. The power boat sees the power driven sailboat on its right (sees a red light) and thus must give way. Additional note: adrift is still under power regardless if the engines are on or off. Why is that? Well, how could the sailboat know if the engines on the powerboat are on or off. For consistency of the rules then, adrift IS underpower. Further note: the sailboat even tho stand-on still has the responsibility to not cause a close quarters situation. Thus, let's say the power boat could not start its engines, then there is no problem because of the sailboat's continued responsibility.
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Danielle Ternes
Washington, DC, USA
Crew Level 0
Status: Sailor
Qualified days: 0
Reply 2022, Jan 04 21:05
This section is confusing because this rule "The power boat sees the power driven sailboat on its right (sees a red light) and thus must give way." is not mentioned until the next section! It would be helpful to mention this in the lesson, or not use that specific example until the next section after that rule has been introduced.
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