Respect the tug

I've learned to respect tug boats. Not only because they're working vessels and therefore have right of way status over us. 

They aren't enormous vessels, but they have tons of power. Those screws move water with so much torque that two times I've been impressed and intimidated by them.

The first we passed astern of one that was turning a large container ship in the estuary's widest spot. It pushed our sailboat almost completely sideways around 15 feet in a blink of an eye, putting us closer to shore and the dry dock for the repair yard than I would've liked. 

The second was last weekend. We were sailing back down the estuary by the lee and wing on wing. That point of sail is already the trickiest, trying to maintain correct position of the wind to not accidentally jibe. Well going by a tub on the starboard side, I expected once again to be slid to the port laterally. But no. His prop wash pushed our bow first to port causing that dreaded jibe. Unprepared for it, I was glad our boom is above head level and that the wind was light so we didn't bust any gear. It was a little embarrassing since I didn't call the move. But we weren't any worse for the wear so I chalke it up to learning. 

Tugs need to be respected. And a little distance is a good idea.