> isn’t it kind of a maritime rule or law that a smaller vessel always gives way to a larger one?

The more maneuverable vessel needs to give way.

No. According to international maritime law ships propelled by engines give way to ships under sail. There are no specific rules for sizes, so theoretically if a triple E class Maersk containership catches up to your dinghy powered by a 5 hp outboard it has to give way (because it approaches from behind).

In a restricted channel that isn't the case. If you see a triple E coming at you and you're in a dinghy, it will be in a channel and you will want to skedaddle; even the bow wave could swamp you. Usually it will have escorting tugs to shoo you away. But I've been in a sailboat and had Coast Guard machine guns pointed at me and ordered to leave the SF shipping channel because an LNG tanker was a mile or two away.

OTOH, I've been yelled at by Red and White tour boats who were hugging the shore for current relief. That's all nice but I did have right of way and maintained it.

> I've been in a sailboat and had Coast Guard machine guns pointed at me and ordered to leave the SF shipping channel

Why on earth is American law enforcement so braindead macho?

Does anybody think this is acceptable?.... To do something so stupidly dangerous as pointing a gun at somebody? Why do you tolerate this?

Here in Blightly, I guarantee such behaviour would lead to prosecution of those involved. (And I wouldn't be surprised if the yacht crew first moon the ignorant coastguard whilst quoting COLREGS).

https://www.imo.org/en/About/Conventions/Pages/COLREG.aspx

COLREGS, Rule 9, Narrow Channels, (b) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

The CG was correct if a bit rude.

Depending on how far out, you might've still been under the inland rules.

Not that my pedantry changes anything - sailboat still comes below "vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver" and you gotta give way all the same.

The Swedish rules I learned as a boy in a dingy included that leisure craft yield to commercial, regardless of propulsion.

Yep. As a boy in the UK, "Steam gives way to sail, but don't try it with the Isle of Wight ferry."

I take my boating leisure so seriously that I pay myself for every trip. Now move.

That's mostly true but there are limited circumstances where there sailboat would be the give way vessel.