Originally posted by Mharr:

Most events only trigger when you're in range of specific items that the game registers as 'being in a base'. Hunted isn't one of those, all it requires is Bonemass being defeated.

This is why I never thought I would get an event out in the ocean.

Ah but now my brain has kicked into gear. The "You are being hunted" spawns on the player and you don't need to be at or close to a "base". Thanks your comment just made sense of why that specific event triggered while I was sailing.