The collision regulations settle who keeps clear and how. Ask in order: is there risk of collision, what is she, which rule fits?
1 · Lookout and risk
A steady bearing means risk of collision
How can I tell if another boat is on a collision course with me?
Take compass bearings of her: a steady bearing with the range closing means risk of collision, and in doubt, assume it. Near a big ship the risk can exist even while the bearing changes.
Keep a lookout by sight and hearing at all times, under the genoa too. AIS and radar help, but many small boats show on neither. Keep a safe speed: able to stop in the distance you can see, slower in traffic, near swimmers or against shore lights.
Take compass bearings of an approaching vessel. A steady bearing with the range closing is risk of collision; in doubt, assume it. Near a big ship it can exist even while the bearing changes. Act early: one bold alteration she can see at once, not several small ones. If you cannot turn, slow down or stop, and keep checking until she is past and clear.
2 · Sail meets sail
Tack first, then windward
When two sailing boats meet, which one has to give way?
The boat on port tack, with the wind on her port side, keeps clear of the one on starboard tack. On the same tack, the windward boat keeps clear.
Of two sailing vessels, the one on port tack, with the wind on her port side, keeps clear of the one on starboard tack. On the same tack the windward boat keeps clear. On a run, your tack is the side opposite your mainsail.
Opposite tacksyou are on port: keep clear
Same tackyou are to windward: keep clear
On port tack, if you cannot tell the tack of a boat to windward, keep clear. When you stand on, hold your course and speed.
3 · Overtaking, head-on, crossing
Three meetings and the stand-on vessel
Who gives way when two motorboats are crossing or meet head-on?
Crossing, the vessel with the other on her starboard side gives way and avoids passing ahead; head-on, both turn to starboard. An overtaking vessel, sail included, keeps clear until past.
Overtaking binds every vessel, sail included: coming up from more than 22.5° abaft her beam, where at night you would see only her sternlight, you keep clear until past. Two power-driven vessels head-on both turn to starboard. Crossing, the one with the other on her starboard side gives way and avoids passing ahead.
Overtakingyou keep clear
Head-onboth turn to starboard
She is to starboardyou give way
She is to portyou stand on
The stand-on vessel holds her course and speed. If the other does not act, sound five short blasts; you may then manoeuvre, but under power do not turn to port for a vessel on your port side. Once her action alone cannot prevent a collision, you must act. A big ship may not have seen you and cannot stop quickly.
Rule
In doubt whether you are overtaking or head-on? Assume you are.
4 · Who gives way to whom
Hampered vessels come first
Does a sailing yacht have right of way over a fishing boat?
No: sail and power both keep clear of a vessel engaged in fishing, restricted in her ability to manoeuvre or not under command. Otherwise, overtaking apart, a power-driven vessel keeps clear of a sailing vessel.
Overtaking apart, a power-driven vessel keeps clear of a sailing vessel. Both keep clear of a vessel engaged in fishing, restricted in her ability to manoeuvre or not under command, and avoid impeding one constrained by her draught.
Not under commandtwo balls
Restricted in ability to manoeuvreball, diamond, ball
Fishingtwo cones, points together
Constrained by draughtcylinder
Motor-sailingcone, point down
Agroundthree balls
With the engine in gear your yacht is power-driven, whatever sails are set. Trolling lines is not fishing. An extra white light on a fishing vessel points to her gear: pass the other side. Never pass between a tug and her tow. A vessel aground marks the shoal: stay away.
5 · Channels and traffic schemes
Never impede a ship in her channel
How should a yacht cross the shipping lanes of a traffic separation scheme?
In a traffic separation scheme, cross on a heading at right angles to the lanes, under engine if need be, and keep out of the separation zone.
In a narrow channel keep as near its starboard edge as is safe. A sailing vessel or a vessel under 20 m must not impede a ship that can only navigate inside the channel, nor cross ahead of her. That duty remains when risk of collision develops.
In a traffic separation scheme follow your lane with the traffic. Join or leave at its ends, or from the side at a small angle. Cross on a heading at right angles to the lanes, under engine if need be, and keep out of the separation zone. A yacht under 20 m may use the inshore zone, but must not impede a power-driven vessel in a lane. Expect converging ships where a scheme ends.
6 · Sound signals in sight
What a whistle tells you
What do one, two or three short blasts from a ship's horn mean?
From a power-driven vessel in sight, one short blast means she is altering course to starboard, two short to port, three short that her engines are going astern. Five or more short mean she doubts you are keeping clear.
A short blast lasts about a second, a prolonged one four to six. A power-driven vessel in sight of another signals each manoeuvre.
Signal
Meaning
1 short
I am altering course to starboard
2 short
I am altering course to port
3 short
My engines are going astern
5 or more short
I doubt you are keeping clear
1 prolonged
Nearing a blind bend; answered the same
2 prolonged, 1 short
I intend to overtake on your starboard side
2 prolonged, 2 short
I intend to overtake on your port side
Prolonged, short, prolonged, short
Agreed, overtake
7 · Restricted visibility
In fog nobody stands on
Who has right of way in fog when I can only see the other boat on radar?
Nobody stands on in restricted visibility: each vessel avoids a close-quarters situation. For a vessel seen on radar alone, do not turn to port if she is forward of your beam, nor towards her if she is abeam or abaft it.
Out of sight of each other nobody stands on: each vessel avoids a close-quarters situation. Slow down until you can stop within the visibility. For a vessel seen on radar alone, do not turn to port if she is forward of your beam, nor towards her if she is abeam or abaft it. A fog signal heard forward of the beam means bare steerage way, or stopping. Once she is in sight, the ordinary rules apply.
Fog signal, every 2 min or less
Vessel
1 prolonged
Power-driven, making way
2 prolonged
Power-driven, stopped
1 prolonged, 2 short
Under sail, fishing, towing or hampered
Rapid bell for 5 s, each minute
At anchor
Short, prolonged, short
At anchor, warning you off
3 strokes, rapid ringing, 3 strokes
Aground
Practice questions
Questions from this topic, as the app asks them. Open one to see the answer.
Midday passage
Motoring on autopilot at 6 knots
Ferries and fast boats on the route
Crew of four, all hungry
Crossing the Saronic Gulf at midday, the whole crew wants to eat lunch below. What does Rule 5 require?
A lookout is only required at night
A quick look round every 15 minutes will do
Someone keeps a lookout on deck at all times
The autopilot alarm is enough in daylight
Show the answer
C. Someone keeps a lookout on deck at all times
Rule 5: a proper lookout by sight and hearing at all times.
All 100 questions of this topic are in the app: practice by topic with the reason after every answer, your mistakes brought back, and a timed mock exam. Free, no sign-up, in the browser or in Telegram.
