THE NAVIGATION RULES The purpose of the Navigation Rules is to avoid collisions. When two vessels meet, the Rules designate one vessel as stand-on and the other vessel as give-way. The stand-on vessel is required to maintain course and speed. The give- way vessel is required keep out of the way of the stand-on vessel and should make all changes to its course and/or speed early and obvious. It is safest to pass astern of a stand-on vessel.


NOTE: It is every vessel’s obligation to avoid collisions. If it becomes necessary,


The following three Rules govern how sailboats interact with each other and are listed in order in which they are to be applied.


1 Overtaken over Overtaking


When overtaking another vessel, you are the give- way vessel, and must change course to maneuver around the slower vessel ahead. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel and should hold its course. It doesn’t matter who is on which tack or who is to windward or leeward. Even when a sailboat is overtaking a powerboat, this rule still applies; the sailboat must keep clear of the powerboat.


overtaken vessel


leeward sailboat


WIND WIND


windward sailboat


overtaking vessel 3 Leeward over Windward


As sailboats on the same tack approach each other, the sailboat to leeward is the stand-on vessel and should hold its course. The sailboat to windward is the give-way vessel, and it should alter course to keep clear of the leeward sailboat. This Rule only applies if it is not an Overtaking or Opposite Tacks situation.


even the stand-on vessel may have to maneuver to avoid a collision.


INTRODUCTION TO 2 Opposite Tacks (Starboard over Port)


As sailboats on opposite tacks approach each other, the sailboat on starboard tack is the stand- on vessel and should hold its course. The sailboat on port tack is the give-way vessel and it should alter course to keep clear of the sailboat on starboard tack. It doesn’t matter who is windward or leeward.


starboard tack WIND


port tack


89


Table of Contents


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123