common sense comes into this ? Maybe lack of ?
why would you tack in a navigation channel ?
the master of the ferry should have known better! in the sense of seeing a yacht in limbo ?

Inexperience Vs experience ?

when I was learning to sail in a Manly Junior many many decades ago my Father gave my sister and me some advice ?He said ' Stay away from Manly Ferries ,and don't go out the Heads'
I still stay away from Manly Ferries , but I do go out the Heads ! My sister just rides the Manly Ferry.

Yeah. Sorry!
My mistake!

I cant say i have much time for those ferry drivers, they remind me of tradies speeding in big utes. Many times when i was rescue boating junior fleets i saw them cut through a group of becalmed 10yo's knocking them everyway when slowing down or going around would have been civilised. Its like they need to prove they've got the biggest.
Its clear to me the ferry driver in the video made no attempt to avoid a collison. He could have slowed down way earlier and / or given the yacht a wide berth. Regardless of technical rules he had a seaworthy commandable vessel with excellent braking ability.

samsturdy said..
Doesn't Col Regs state you have to avoid a collision regardless of whether you have right of way or not ??.

It does and the cowboy ferry driver who wanted to prove a point broke them, failed to proceed at a safe speed including showing a lack of seamanship. After ramming them did he offer assistance? Did he check for injuies he caused? I would love to know.

Heres direct quote:

Rule 6 Safe speed
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

STCW 95 requires that the OOW 'must not hesitate to use the helm, engines and sound signalling apparatus'

Rule 6 Safe speed
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

STCW 95 requires that the OOW 'must not hesitate to use the helm, engines and sound signalling apparatus'

"Rule 8 Action to avoid collision(a) Any action to avoid collision shall be taken in accordance with the Rules of this Part and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.(b) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or by radar; a succession of small alterations of course and/or speed should be avoided.(c) If there is sufficient sea room, alteration of course alone may be the most effective action to avoid a close quarters situation provided that it is made in good time, is substantial and does not result in another close?quarters situation.(d) Action taken to avoid collision with another vessel shall be such as to result in passing at a safe distance. The effectiveness of the action shall be carefully checked until the other vessel is finally past and clear"

Lost a club championship once because I didnt ram a boat that was in the wrong and turned away instead. Most yacht sailors have a different mentality to ferry drivers obviously !

Yes MB for years. Gave up on the weekends though because it was too crowded and moved to Pittwater. Before that crewed on rescue stink boats for juniors and others. During that time I was often astonished by the recklessness of ferry drivers and their disregard for others presumably because the harbour has some rules that give them right of way.

I think this rule says it all. The ferry driver totally failed.

Rule 6 Safe speed
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

STCW 95 requires that the OOW 'must not hesitate to use the helm, engines and sound signalling apparatus'

Does anyone know if the ferry driver offered assistance to the vessel he rammed?