Overtaking or crossing? The 22.5° boundary

You are making 16 knots on 000°. A slower motor yacht lies broad on your port bow at two and a half miles, steering about 015° at 8 knots. From her bridge you sit close to 22.5° abaft her starboard beam — right on the boundary between a crossing and an overtaking situation. The range is closing slowly; no immediate risk yet, but you must classify her now.

Independent preparatory study aligned to the MCA OOW (Yachts <3000 GT) oral examination syllabus. Not an MCA-approved course and confers no credit toward a Certificate of Competency.