im also running 2.3 and have had the same kind experiences in my game..
the lure to the water trick actually does work.. to a point.. it might come down alot to the alien thinking it can overpower you, not sure how they have it programmed..
ive a number of times had multiple crash sites and or terror + crash sites on the go at one time with ufo still being tracked.
I tend to down as many as i can over water at this point just like Edi suggested, ill wait to launch my interceptor knowing roughly that the trajectory will land me over water if he continue's on the current path.. sometimes they come for you tho.. at this point you need to change home base of your interceptor to a base thats across a body of water.
send him home and the ufo will keep the chase, but only if your in a certain range, once you have him over the water, 180 and burn him.. i have lost a few interceptors due to fuel loss with this tactic tho..
im sure there a better solution, but this has worked for me
Good luck mate, and if you find a better way let me know