The banks are often quite far or too shallow to realistically be a concern. Even when dealing with sailing vessels whose rigging extends beyond the deck and is

The banks are often quite far or too shallow to realistically be a concern. Even when dealing with sailing vessels whose rigging extends beyond the deck and is subject to change position by the whim of the captain and wind. You’re very often not close enough to the other ship to matter. What makes it more fun is that sailing vessels have the right of way to all other vessels (with the exception of large barges and container ships) IIRC. This means an AI piloting a smaller craft would have to 1, recognize a sailing vessel, 2, recognize whether it is powered by wind or not and 3, yield the right of way.