Boating Basics: On the Water

Navigation Rules

There are two terms that help explain these rules:

Stand-on vessel: The vessel that should maintain its course and speed

Give-way vessel: The vessel that must take early and substantial action to avoid collision by stopping, slowing down, or changing course

Meeting Head-On

Power vs. Power:
Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel. Both vessels should keep to the starboard (right).

Power vs. Sail:
The powerboat is the give-way vessel. The sailboat is the stand-on vessel.

Meeting Head-On Power vs Sail: Powerboat giving way to (going right of) the sailboat

Crossing Situations

Power vs. Power:
The vessel on the operator's port (left) side is the give-way vessel. The vessel on the operator's starboard (right) side is the stand-on vessel.

Power vs. Sail:
The powerboat is the give-way vessel. The sailboat is the stand-on vessel.

Crossing Situations Power vs Sail: Powerboat gives way to sailboat

Overtaking

Power vs. Power:
The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.

Power vs. Sail:
The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.

Overtaking Power vs Sail: Sailboat giving way while overtaking powerboat

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