Which statement describes the interaction between recreational sailboats and commercial vessels?

• A. Recreational boats should avoid commercial boats
• B. Sailboats always have right of way
• C. Commercial boats should avoid recreational boats
• D. Commercial boats always yield to sailboats

Answer: (A)

Big vessels have restricted maneuverability and limited visibility, so they can’t respond quickly if a smaller sailboat appears in their path. The safest and most practical approach is for recreational boats to stay clear of commercial traffic, giving them a wide berth and avoiding crossing in front of or alongside them whenever possible. This is the prudent practice because you can’t rely on a large vessel to yield or to see you in time. The other statements aren’t reliable rules—for example, right-of-way isn’t absolute for sailboats, and large vessels do not always yield to small ones. So the idea that recreational boats should avoid commercial boats best captures how these interactions are typically handled.