Select Page

Who gives way to who at sea?

Even seasoned sailors sometimes get this wrong and in a crowded harbour this can easily lead to a collision or at best considerable embarrassment for a boat that mistakenly thinks it has right of way over another.

I recently went sailing with friends over a busy weekend on the South Coast of England. The conditions were perfect for sailing, a Force 4 breeze, full sunshine and everyone was out to enjoy themselves. While the conditions were perfect, Chichester Harbour was crowded with dinghy sailing races, keelboats, yachts, kayakers, paddle boarders, fishing vessels and countless motor boats of all sizes.

As we sailed towards the harbour entrance the crowding intensified and we kept a constant lookout in all directions. With a full genoa set, it was easy enough to keep a lookout to windward, but to leeward there is a significant blind spot for the person on the helm, so we decided to have a crew member at the bow to keep an all round lookout.

There was quite a bit of discussion about which vessels had right of way over others, so this has prompted me to produce a basic reminder of the give way hierarchy between sailing boats and power boats, plus explanations of what is meant by the give-way vessel, stand-on vessel and the overtaking rule.

The give-way hierarchy

  • Power boat gives way to sailing boat.
  • Sailing boat gives way to boat engaged in fishing.
  • Boat engaged in fishing gives way to vessel with restricted ability to manoeuvre.
  • Vessel with restricted ability to manoeuvre gives way to vessel not under command.
  • Note: A sailing boat which is motor sailing does not have priority over a power boat, even if it has sails hoisted. 

         

Sailing boat hierarchy

  • Port tack gives way to starboard tack.
  • If on the same tack, the windward boat gives way.
  • If it is unclear to a sailing boat on port tack which tack another sailing boat to windward is on, then the boat on port tack must give way.

Power boat hierarchy

  • If two power boats are heading towards each other, both boats should alter course to starboard, so their port sides will pass each other.
  • If two power boats are crossing paths and there is a risk of collision, then the vessel which has the other on its starboard side must give way. It must also avoid crossing ahead of the stand-on boat.
  • If a power boat meets another head on and is not quite sure if a collision is likely, then it should assume it does and alter course to starboard.

Give-way vessel

  • When two similar vessels are crossing, the one that has the other to its starboard side is the give-way vessel.
  • The ‘give-way’ boat is responsible for keeping clear and altering course where necessary to avoid a collision.
  • The give-way boat should make an obvious course direction in plenty of time, so the stand-on vessel is in no doubt it has taken avoiding action.

Stand-on vessel

  • If you are the stand-on boat, keep to your course and speed to make it easier for the give-way boat to manoeuvre out of your way.
  • If the give-way vessel does not take avoiding action, the stand-on vessel must be ready to turn quickly out of the way or stop as a last resort.

Overtaking

  • All vessels, whatever their size and type, must keep well clear of others when overtaking.
  • It is courteous to overtake a sailing boat on their leeward side, so as not to take their wind.
  • The vessel being overtaken must maintain its course and speed.
  • The overtaking vessel must be well clear of the other before it can resume its original course, allowing the overtaken vessel to maintain its course throughout the manoeuvre.

A vessel is said to be overtaking another if it is approaching more than 22.5º behind the other vessel’s beam. This overtaking sector covers an arc of 135º, which is the same as the arc of a stern light. At night, it is easy to tell if you are overtaking a vessel because you can see its stern light as you approach it.

During the day, it is not always as easy to be sure you are in the overtaking sector. Are you overtaking or alternatively are you crossing the other vessel’s path, in which case you could have right of way? If in doubt, it is always best to proceed with caution and keep well clear of the other vessel.

Summary

  • Keep a lookout at all times.
  • Remember to follow the give-way hierarchy. Vessels with priority over you have the right of way.
  • When altering course, make sure that the new course does not result in another close-quarters situation.
  • Be prepared to reduce speed if you are the give-way boat.

Finally, in a very crowded harbour situation it is wise for sailing boats with engines to furl their sails and proceed under engine until they are clear of the harbour entrance. This is not a rule as such in most harbours but it makes sense and is what we decided to do until we had left the harbour.

How diesel engines work

The basic principle of a diesel engine is less complex than that of a petrol engine. No spark plug or ignition system is needed, making the basic diesel engine a comparatively straightforward system that results in fewer faults and has lower maintenance costs than a petrol engine.

Seized fixings and fastenings

Maintaining a boat can be a rewarding experience but at times it can also be frustrating. A prime example of this is when you come across a seized fixing or fastening that refuses to budge. Read our tips on how to release and fix them:

ColRegs when sailing single handed

  Don’t neglect the Colregs when sailing single handed Sailing single-handed represents several challenges for skippers, not least how to...

Cleaning & polishing gelcoat topsides

The gelcoat topsides of a GRP boat can be pampered and restored to their former glory relatively easily when it is ashore. Gelcoat is only a very thin outer layer of the hull, often less than 1mm thick, so you should avoid cleaning it with highly abrasive cleaners, or an-ything that could potentially damage its surface.

Keel maintenance and Repair – Part 2

If you have ever witnessed a boat colliding with a rock or other submerged obstacle you will know that there is an almighty thump and the whole boat shakes and judders. While such hard groundings seldom result in catastrophic keel failure, something has to give and even the sturdiest keels can easily be damaged by such an impact.

2023 Rolex Fastnet Race – Part 2

Simon Jollands took part in the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race. This is the second of his articles on the race aboard Lancelot II, a Beneteau First 40.

Antifouling for leisure boats – Part 2

To prepare for antifouling, as soon as your boat has been lifted out and pressure washed, you need to check all the surfaces of the hull below the waterline, remove any remaining barnacles and check for blisters.

Jester Challenge 2022 – Sailing single handed from Plymouth UK to the Azores: Part 2 – Weather

Jester Challenge – A modern experiment in old-fashioned self-reliance, self sufficiency, and personal responsibility. This is the second of a 10-part post where solo sailor, Bernie Branfield, shares his first hand account of his single-handed, 2022 Jester Challenge, from Plymouth, UK to the Azores, in his 26′ Invicta Mk2, Louisa.

ColRegs Nav Lights & Shapes, Rules Of The Road and IALA Buoys Apps

ColRegs Nav Lights & Shapes, Rules Of The Road and IALA Buoys Apps Make Learning Rules on iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android...

The Boatyard Book – a boat owner’s guide to yacht maintenance, repair and refitting

The Boatyard Book is a fully illustrated 224 page practical reference manual that provides advice for boat owners on planning and carrying out annual maintenance, repairs, upgrades and refits of sailing yachts and motorboats, up to 20 metres in length.

Liferafts

Liferafts should be stowed where they are ready for immediate launching. All crew should know the location of the liferaft and know how to launch, inflate and board it. They should also know what equipment it contains.

Hourly Checks when sailing or motoring

  Hourly Checks Get into the habit of carrying out these checks and both yourself, your crew and your boat will be...

Jester Challenge 2022 – Sailing single handed from Plymouth UK to the Azores: Getting to the Start

Jester Challenge – A modern experiment in old-fashioned self-reliance, self sufficiency, and personal responsibility. This is the start of a 10-part post where solo sailor, Bernie Branfield, shares his first hand account of his single-handed, 2022 Jester Challenge, from Plymouth, UK to the Azores, in his 26′ Invicta Mk2, Louisa.

Medical Emergency at Sea

How to deal with a medical emergency afloat   If you are planning a boating trip, it is important to have at least one...

Wooden Hulls – Part 2

It is important to ensure the essential hull maintenance of a wooden boat is done, even if you are paying others to look after your boat for you. The priority is to prevent rot from taking hold. The protective layers of paint and varnish over wood are far more critical than on GRP boats, where the topsides are painted more for cosmetic reasons.

Safety at sea principles

Safety at sea is not as simple as just spending money adding shiny new emergency equipment such as liferafts, danbuoys, distress flares, EPIRBs and so on.

Capsize – understanding the risks

A skipper should know how their boat will cope with rough seas. By working within known limits and understanding the risks,...

Rewiring a boat – overcoming the challenges involved

Skippers need to have a basic knowledge of boat electrics, to avoid potential problems and to be able to solve them when they happen.

Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations

Safety equipment is an important part of boat preparation and it is advisable for all pleasure craft skippers to check their vessel is...

Pre-start engine checks

According to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) almost one third of emergency call outs at sea are caused by mechanical failure. Many engine breakdowns are avoidable. The best way to avoid a breakdown is to carry out pre-start checks before heading out to sea.

Boat interior varnishing

Most boat interiors have a combination of varnished and painted surfaces including solid wooden joinery, plywood laminates with thin hardwood veneers and glass reinforced plastic. When making your assessment of what you are going to do, bear in mind that the varnishing process consumes a lot of time, especially if the existing surfaces are in poor shape.

Always have an emergency grab bag to hand when at sea…

  Grab bag: In the event of having to abandon ship, it is recommended to have a designated waterproof bag to carry...

Rig check – how to prevent failure at sea

Regular rig checks prevent the risk of mast and rigging failure at sea. This includes regular rig inspections of the spars, ...

Tidal terms and definitions

Getting to grips with tidal terms and definitions can seem a little daunting, even to the most experienced sailors! Here we look at some of the key terms and definitions associated with the language of tides.

Points of Sailing

The course on which a boat is sailing can be described by its angle to the wind, not to be confused with its compass...