‘We had right of way’: British yacht owner on encounter with Russian warship

A small British yacht and a large Russian warship had a tense encounter off the Isle of Wight, sparking debate over maritime rules and Anglo-Russian relations.

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We actually had right of way.

The yacht, Bright Future, owned by Jane and Alan Kelvey, was on its way to France when the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich approached. The Kelveys, who have sailed the route before, insisted they had the right of way. "We actually had right of way," said Jane Kelvey, "But we weren't going to argue with a warship."

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But we weren't going to argue with a warship.

The incident, occurring just 20 nautical miles from the Isle of Wight, has been downplayed by the UK Ministry of Defence as a "nautical incident." However, the Kelveys feel this stance unfairly absolves Russia. "The British are trying to shut it down by agreeing with the Russian comments on it," Alan Kelvey stated, suggesting the government wished to avoid a diplomatic spat.

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The British are trying to shut it down by agreeing with the Russian comments on it.

This encounter highlights the current fragility of Anglo-Russian relations. The article notes that while the incident itself might seem farcical, the underlying tensions are serious. "We don't want world war three to start because of this," Jane Kelvey told The Guardian, underscoring the potential for minor events to escalate during these perilous times.

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We don't want world war three to start because of this.