What is the most important overall lesson from crossing a busy channel used by fast ferries?

A. Once a larger vessel has passed safely, no further thought or care is needed

B. Busy channels should always be avoided completely rather than crossed carefully

C. Larger vessels are always required to avoid smaller ones, so no extra care is needed from a small boat's crew

D. Never assume a larger or faster vessel has seen you or will give way — keep a constant lookout, judge risk of collision early using bearing changes, take early and obvious avoiding action, and be ready for wash arriving after the vessel itself has passed

A. Speed up directly across its path to "beat it" to the other side

B. Keep a close, continuous watch on the ferry's bearing (the direction it appears from) to judge whether it is getting closer in a way that suggests risk of collision, and be ready to take early action — large fast vessels can close distance far quicker than they appear to from a small boat

C. Assume the ferry will always see and avoid a small sailing boat automatically

D. Stop watching the ferry once it has been seen and focus on something else

A. Size alone always decides who must give way, with no other rules applying

B. Right of way rules do not apply at all inside a harbour entrance

C. Not automatically by size alone, but in practice large vessels in a narrow or marked channel often cannot manoeuvre quickly or safely, and many channels have specific local rules requiring small craft to keep clear of larger commercial traffic — a small boat should always act early to stay well clear regardless of the strict right of way rule

D. A small sailing boat always automatically has right of way over any powered vessel in any situation