Right of way question.

[Allan]

Recently I was in a situation that I could not figure out whether I was the stand on or give way boat. As I didn't know, I gybed away before it became a problem.
Myself and the other boat were both sailing with the wind around 120 degrees. He was on a starboard tack, I was on port. I believe, had we been in a race I would have been the give way vessel, if we had been motoring I would have been the stand on vessel. What is the situation when sailing in open water?
Allan

 

[Supine Being]

You were the give way vessel, assuming the other vessel was under sail and it wasn't overtaking you. Starboard tack takes priority over port tack - it's not just for racing.

 

[webcraft]

.

Rule 12 : Sailing Vessels

(a) when two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows:

(i) when each of them has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other;

(ii) When both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward;

(iii) if the vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or the starboard side, she shall keep out of the way of the other.

(b) For the purposes of this Rule the windward side shall be deemed to be the side opposite that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.


- W

 

[Sans Bateau]

You were the give way vessel, assuming the other vessel was under sail and it wasn't overtaking you. Starboard tack takes priority over port tack - it's not just for racing.

+1

 

[Simondjuk]

Yep, unless he was overtaking you (approaching from more than 22 1/2 degrees abaft your beam) he was stand on.

 

[jimi]

Yep, unless he was overtaking you (approaching from more than 22 1/2 degrees abaft your beam) he was stand on.

yup .. this can be a major source of confusion, the distinction between overtaking and crossing .. can't remember the exact angles but an arc of 67 degrees centred on the stern rings a vague bell.

 

[fireball]

Basically - would the other vessel see your white stern light (if it was on) - if so they are overtaking, otherwise they're crossing.

TBH - if someone is going faster than you, in roughly the same direction and you're on a collision course then you should be prepared to take action - be it furl the genoa to slow down, unfurl it to speed up, sheet the main in to slow down or change your course.

If you're going in the same direction then it's a race anyway ...

 

[Allan]

.

Rule 12 : Sailing Vessels

(a) when two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows:

(i) when each of them has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other;

(ii) When both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward;

(iii) if the vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or the starboard side, she shall keep out of the way of the other.

(b) For the purposes of this Rule the windward side shall be deemed to be the side opposite that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.


- W

Many thanks, can you tell me where you cut this from please?
Allan

 

[VicS]

Many thanks, can you tell me where you cut this from please?

Looks like rule 12 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea to me

you should know this and the other Rules in part B backwards ( Rules 4 to 19 the STEERING AND SAILING RULES )

SEE http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/msn_1781-2.pdf

.

 

[webcraft]

Many thanks, can you tell me where you cut this from please?
Allan

Lots of sources on the web. Easiest way to learn the ColRegs is



(Click to go to Amazon UK)

- W

 

[iain789]

Lots of sources on the web. Easiest way to learn the ColRegs is



(Click to go to Amazon UK)

- W

+1

I got issued with my first copy of this by the Royal Navy in 1972/3. I still have an up to date edition in the boat's library.

 

[mixmaster]

Is this a windup? Two boats broad reaching, one on starboard, one on port. Where is the ambiguity?

 

[Jamesuk]

Recently I was in a situation that I could not figure out whether I was the stand on or give way boat. As I didn't know, I gybed away before it became a problem.
Myself and the other boat were both sailing with the wind around 120 degrees. He was on a starboard tack, I was on port. I believe, had we been in a race I would have been the give way vessel, if we had been motoring I would have been the stand on vessel. What is the situation when sailing in open water?
Allan

Racing rules are similar

In short! You were correct in Gybing away.

Anytime you are unclear then always assume you must keep clear.

 

[prv]

Is this a windup? Two boats broad reaching, one on starboard, one on port. Where is the ambiguity?

OP apparently blissfully unaware of colregs

Pete

 

[Allan]

Is this a windup? Two boats broad reaching, one on starboard, one on port. Where is the ambiguity?

Certainly not a wind-up. I know under racing rules starboard has priority but under power it would be the other boat. I just was not sure if there was a difference whilst sailing but not racing.
Thanks for the replies.
Allan

 

[Allan]

OP apparently blissfully unaware of colregs

Pete

Not any more thanks.
Allan

 

[Poignard]

+1

I got issued with my first copy of this by the Royal Navy in 1972/3. I still have an up to date edition in the boat's library.

You did well.

All I got was a Naval Rating's Handbook which, amongst other useful nuggets of information, told me that if I needed to press my clothes, and didn't have an iron handy, I could get '. . . good results using the loom of an oar' (I am quoting from memory).

I also had a leaflet, signed by Lord Mountbatten, which included the advice that I must '. . . never help a woman downwards.'

 

[tidclacy]

On starboard tack close hauled and boat is coming towards you running with the wind and you cannot determine which tack he is on. Who should give way? If in doubt I would give way but what do the rules say?

 

[Sybarite]

On starboard tack close hauled and boat is coming towards you running with the wind and you cannot determine which tack he is on. Who should give way? If in doubt I would give way but what do the rules say?

Close-hauled on starboard has priority over all if the other vessel is not constrained by depth or proximity of land.

However given that, you must take avoiding action if he does not.

 

[prv]

On starboard tack close hauled and boat is coming towards you running with the wind and you cannot determine which tack he is on. Who should give way? If in doubt I would give way but what do the rules say?

Assuming no other oddities, then:

a) if he is on port then it's port vs starboard and he gives way
b) if he is on starboard then he is to windward and he gives way

So either way, you stand on.

Makes sense, because you're fighting to windward and don't want to lose any ground avoiding him, whereas he is free(er) to manoeuvre.

Pete