It can be problematic, yes. If two vessels are approaching each other on a collision course, one is generally considered the give-way vessel, and the other is t

It can be problematic, yes. If two vessels are approaching each other on a collision course, one is generally considered the give-way vessel, and the other is the stand-on vessel. As the names imply, one is supposed to alter course to avoid a collision, and the other is supposed to maintain course (eg: specifically NOT alter course) so that the other vessel can adjust accordingly. Without getting overly complicated here, there is a whole structure to it, and it generally comes down to a combination of the locations of the vessels relative to each other (if another vessel is in a zone that roughly correlates to and area from straight-ahead/noon to 4 o'clock on YOUR boat then YOU are the give-way vessle) with precedence to the vessel with the least amount of maneuverability. The maneuverability bit is not granular like "your boat is smaller than mine and more easily steered" but more like "your boat is a tanker or a barge and maneuverability is measured in miles, not meters". So, a sailboat under wind power exclusively is less maneuverable than a power boat, but more maneuverable than a freighter. However sailboaters often seem to interpret this as "if my sails are up all other boats MUST give-way me to me", which is definitely incorrect.