Give-way rules, practised on the water

On the water there are no traffic lights, only rules, and they must be second nature before things get tight. Here you see two vessels from above. You are the blue one. Decide who has to give way, then watch the correct manoeuvre. It is the exam sheet, practised in motion.

The order worth remembering

Roughly: power gives way to sail, sail to fishing, fishing to vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and not under command. The overtaking vessel always keeps clear. The stand-on vessel holds her course until it is clear the other is not acting; then she may, and must, act herself.

The give-way rules at a glance

The ten situations from the tool with their rule.

Two power-driven vessels meet head on.

Both alter course to starboard and pass port to port (COLREGs Rule 14).

Two power-driven vessels crossing, the other comes from starboard.

The vessel that has the other on her starboard side keeps out of the way, preferably by altering to starboard and passing astern (Rule 15).

Two power-driven vessels crossing, the other comes from port.

The other vessel has you on her starboard side and gives way. You keep course and speed (Rules 15 and 17).

You are under power, faster, coming up on a yacht from astern.

The overtaking vessel keeps out of the way, power or sail alike (Rule 13).

A faster power-driven vessel is coming up on you from astern.

The overtaking vessel keeps out of the way. You keep course and speed (Rule 13).

You are under power, a sailing vessel crosses from port.

A power-driven vessel keeps out of the way of a sailing vessel, except when overtaking or in a narrow channel (Rule 18).

Two sailing vessels crossing. You have the wind on your port side.

With the wind on the port side, keep out of the way of the vessel with the wind on the starboard side (Rule 12).

Two sailing vessels crossing. You have the wind on your starboard side.

The other yacht has the wind on her port side and gives way. You stand on (Rule 12).

Two sailing vessels, wind on the same side. You are to windward.

With the wind on the same side, the windward vessel keeps out of the way of the leeward one (Rule 12).

You are sailing; ahead a vessel is trawling.

A sailing vessel keeps out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing (Rule 18).

Simplified for learning. The collision regulations and local rules are what count.