There are 38 maritime rules for boating. We'll go through the most commonly used ones that you as a beginner should know in order to know the "right of way" on the water.
For the record, it should be emphasized that the easiest way to get the maritime rules under your skin is by taking a training or course at a sailing school. When you're out sailing, use any situation where you are on a "collision course" with other boats - or see other boats on a collision course with each other - to talk about who has the right of way and why.
Always practice good seamanship and use common sense. If you find yourself in a situation where you don't feel 100% confident about the right of way, show a little humility by clearly showing a boat on a collision course that you intend to give way to it.
Now let's take a look at our selected 9 maritime rules:
Rule 5: Lookout
You need to always there must be at least one person on lookout while sailing. In addition to keeping an eye out for other vessels and potentially dangerous situations, this also involves listening for sound signals or hails from other boats.
Rule 6: Safe speed
This is all about the importance of sailing at an appropriate speed that ensures you have full control of your boat to steer around and avoid hazards. Powerboats should pay particular attention to the stern wave if sailing close to the shore, as there may be kayakers who could tip over with fatal consequences if they are untrained.
Rule 8: Avoid collisions
Although you have the right of way, you have a duty to actively act if required to avoid colliding with other boats.
We spoke to Patrick, who is an instructor at speedbaaden.dk, who elaborates:
"To see if there is a risk of collision, you need to take repeated bearings. If the angle changes, there is no risk of collision, and if it stays the same, there is a risk.
You can point over the compass or if there is an object in the background, you can see if it disappears behind the other boat. If so, the other boat will pass first. If more land appears in front of the boat, we pass first. If the object is always in front of the bow of the other ship, there is a risk of collision."
If you are in a situation where two boats meet on a direct course, keep to starboard in the same way you would keep to the right in traffic in a car or on a bike.
Rule 10: Traffic separation
Keep your distance from areas reserved for commercial traffic. Even if a tanker appears to be far away and moving slowly, they are traveling much faster than you expect. If you need to cross a traffic route, do so perpendicular to the route and always indicate that you are walking behind any commercial traffic.
Rule 13: Overtaking
Overtaking another boat traveling in the same direction must be done in a safe and considerate manner. It is always the slower boat that has the right of way. This rule also applies if a sailboat is overtaking a motorboat, as in this case it is the sailboat that has the right of way.
Keep an appropriate distance from the boat you are overtaking. You can pass it to the side that suits you best.
"When you are a catching ship and you are in the angle of the stern light of the other boat, you must always give way. So at night you must give way if you only see white light. If you can see sidelights, rules for ships on intersecting courses apply (see illustration below)"
Rule 15: Ships on intersecting courses
This set of rules determines who has the right of way and who must give way when two ships under power are on a collision course.Two boats under power crossing each other's course is covered by one of the rules that often causes misunderstandings, but here is a Tip 1 to remember: Imagine that the boats are two cars meeting at an intersection on a residential road and neither has an unconditional right of way. Then there are the same right of way rules on the water as there are for two cars on a road.
Or think of a traffic light; if you see the green lantern on the other boat, you see the starboard side and you have the right of way. But if you see the other boat's red light, you're on the port side and you must give way.
If visibility is poor, take these precautions: Avoid turning to port for sounds coming across ahead and avoid turning to the side where you hear a sound coming across astern.
When 2 boats are on a collision course and both boats sail under sail, there are two rules you need to be aware of:Tips to remember the windward/leeward rule. Here you can keep maneuverability in mind, as this rule dates back to when our warships sailed under sail. The windward boat has wind in all its sails and thus has the best maneuverability. It must therefore give way to the boat that is leeward of the other boat, losing wind in its sails and having less maneuverability.
Rule 16: Actions for the boat with the right of way
You must show your intention to give way to the other boat well in advance by clearly changing course. If possible, sail behind the boat you are giving way to.
Rule 17: Actions for the boat with the right of way
The boat that has the right of way has a duty to stay on course and at the same speed. However, there is still a duty to avoid collision. The boat to be given the right of way may be prevented from performing its right of way maneuver.
Rule 23: Engine gives way to sail
Power boats generally give way to sailboats. Remember that even if you have your sails up, your boat changes status from sailboat to motorboat the moment you start the engine on the sailboat.
There are a whole range of exceptions to rule 15 and rule 23, which can be studied at COLREG - Preventing collisions at sea (imo.org). Likewise, national maritime authorities may also have their own rules.
Be aware that when sailing near the coast or in harbors, sails and motorboats have the right of way over kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, underwater hunters, and those who practice ocean swimming, etc.If you don't know your rules of the road and you're involved in a collision, you might find yourself in court and asked to give a statement - and then you might wonder why people use that term for long complicated explanations that are often incomprehensible to others.
Have a safe trip, and may you never need any explanations at sea 😉
Written by
Mads SailZoo day 23. June 2023
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