While it is possible that a sailboat captain is out "messing with the motorboats", it is more likely they were just sailing. Having the right of way to plod along at 4-7 MPH on any possible course, is part of the lure of sailing. Most sailboats move at no-wake speeds in the best of conditions. The 150' rule never applies, because at no-wake speed, passing inches away from another boat is OK. Sailboat racers are quite good at doing this. Sailboat pilots fly by using the wind, adjusting as it changes and tacking when needed. Often, they tack in one direction just enough to make a marker on the other tack, hoping the judgement of the wind was correct. Other times, they tack because there is a wind shift or lull up ahead to avoid. Most of the time, a sailboat captain can ignore other boats, especially the ones going 4-8 times faster, who have much more control over course. However, there are ways for a sailboat captain to be courteous. They can steer to pass at 150 feet so the other boat doesn't have to slow down. They can tack early to avoid traffic. They can avoid channels except when navigation requires it. But, at the end of the day, the wind is in charge and the rules honor that. And yes, sometimes one too many close passages by captain boneheads may trigger legal revenge against anything with a motor, innocent or not. If a sailboat is messing with you, accept it as payback for the sins of your fossil fuel burning brethren.
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