Right of Way Rules of the Road for Boating & Sailing

It might be a surprising fact for boaters to discover that no vessel has the right of way. Once that’s understood, we can begin to plan how to avoid collisions.

One of the key things to learn for new boaters is the so-called Rules of the Road. Most important is always avoiding a collision and knowing your Port side vs Starboard side of things to do this.

With boats coming at you from potentially every direction, figuring out which side of a boat you pass and how to avoid collisions is a little more complicated than when driving a car on fixed roads.  There’s a hierarchy determined by what kind of vessel you have (more below).

Simple collisions regulations, or COLREGS, will help anyone at sea, anywhere, avoid mishap.

The Rules of the Road can seem more confusing than they are because there are so many different organizations involved. In the US, the Rules differ depending on where you are—there are Inland Rules for rivers and lakes and International Rules for operating offshore. Rules are codified in US Coast Guard regulations and state laws, meaning there is a small variation from state to state.

Internationally, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) is a branch of the UN that works to standardize marine laws. The COLREGs, or Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, are the basis for nearly all other right-of-way rules worldwide. Since the collision regulations are more alike than different, it’s easy to pick up on their little differences for your local waters once you master the basics.

The Basics of Collision Avoidance

No matter where you are or what sort of vessel you operate, the purpose of the Rules of the Road is the same—to avoid collisions. To this end, the most important Rule is always to do whatever you can to avoid a collision! 

In the marine world, no one has the “right of way.” Instead, there are “stand on” and “give way” vessels. As the vessel operator, you must always know when you must give way and when you should stand on.

Be sure to review the difference between port and starboard. Both are defined from the point of view of the vessel’s driver when facing the bow, which is the front of the vessel. The left side of the boat is the port side, and the right side is the starboard side.

Sailboat vs. Motorboat: Understanding Priority

Some vessels always have priority over others. In other words, there’s a hierarchy. Generally, it means more maneuverable vessels must give way to less maneuverable ones. Here’s the order from least maneuverable (always stand on) to most maneuverable (always give way).

1. Vessels in distress or not under command
2. Vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver or restricted by their draft (i.e., commercial traffic in narrow channels)
3. Vessels engaged in fishing (commercial fishing boats towing nets, lines, or trawls—but not recreational fishing boats)
4. Sailing vessels
5. Power-driven vessels

So, it’s easy to see that motorboat responsibilities include giving way to nearly all other vessels. While a cargo ship and a center console boat are both power vessels, if the ship is in a channel and restricted by her draft, it is the stand-on vessel.

The stand-on vessel maintains course and speed, whereas the give-way vessel yields and adjusts. 

A PWC like a jet ski has the same responsibility as any motorboat in terms of the above hierarchy. The road rules will apply equally to these two motorcraft on the water when they meet.

Many less-experienced sailors often mistake a commercial vessel for a motorboat and expect it to give way. This leads to some harrowing near-misses. Observe in the video below a sailing vessel that maintains its course in the path of a commercial vessel in a fixed lane.

The unfortunate destruction of this beautiful vessel could have been avoided if the captain tacked to port and let the commercial vessel pass ahead as the rules demand.

Power boats must always give way to sailing vessels. One note, though: If a sailboat is operating its engine, it is considered a power vessel—even if it is motor sailing.

Special Scenarios and Exceptions

When two vessels in the same group are meeting, there are three scenarios to consider to decide if you are to give way or stay the course.

Crossing Situations

When two vessels cross paths, the stand-on vessel is the vessel to starboard (similar to cars in North America). The vessel to port shall alter course to pass behind the other vessel’s stern. Always avoid crossing the stand on the vessel’s bow.

Meeting Head On

When two vessels approach head-on, they shall give way to starboard. So, always turn away to the right.

Overtaking Rules

The vessel being overtaken is always the stand-on vessel. The overtaking vessel may pass on either side as long as they always give way and don’t interfere in the course of the stand-on vessel.

Sailing Vessels Meeting Sailing Vessels

When two sailing vessels are meeting, and the wind is on different sides, the vessel on the port tack gives way.

When two sailing vessels are meeting, and the wind is on the same side, the windward boat gives way.

Which tack a vessel is on is determined by the position of the mainsail. If a vessel on a port tack cannot determine which tack another vessel is on, it shall give way.

Best Practices and Safety Tips

For the COLREGs to work, all vessels must continuously maintain a proper lookout for other vessels and take immediate and obvious action when necessary.

Even if you’re the stand-on vessel, avoiding collision is your responsibility. You cannot count on other operators to maintain a proper lookout—or even be aware of the Rules of the Road. Unfortunately, there are a lot of “autopilot captains” out there. So it’s best to always be ready to take action to avoid a collision, no matter your position.

Speed is another important consideration in collision avoidance. All vessels are required to operate at a speed that allows them to avoid collisions and come to a stop if necessary. When determining the safe speed for your vessel, the rules require you to consider six variables.

• Visibility
• Traffic density
• How maneuverable your vessel is
• At night, the presence of background lights that makes it difficult to see other vessels
• The state of the wind, sea, and current, and the proximity of hazards
• Your vessel’s draft

While small vessels often operate based solely on visual contact, larger and commercial vessels routinely use some form of signaling to ensure that each vessel is aware of the other and to confirm their intentions. Traditionally, signaling has been done by sound devices, like whistles or horns.

However, it is far more common for vessels to communicate via VHF radio today. You can hail other vessels on VHF Channel 16 or call them directly on the standard bridge-to-bridge frequency, which is usually VHF Channel 13 for commercial vessels.

Read our guide to VHF radio, including rules about using them. It’s required to have a certificate to operate for casual use, but in emergency situations it’s good to have one.

In reduced visibility, vessels must produce sound signals to announce their position to other vessels and provide collision avoidance. Otherwise, nautical flags have been used when line of sight is available.

In this case, maintaining a proper lookout also includes listening for other vessels.

• Power vessels make one prolonged blast every two minutes ( — )
• Vessels sailing, fishing, not under command, limited in their ability to maneuver or towing make one prolonged followed by two short blasts every two minutes  ( — • • )

Other sound signals are covered in Rule 35, including vessels aground or at anchor.

Further Reading — The Best Skippers Are Always Learning

A great place to start mastering the Rules of the Road is through a state-approved safe boating course. In the US, many states now require safe boating courses for some individuals. You can find your state’s requirements and a link to the free safe boating course from the BoatUS Foundation.

You can read the full text of the US Coast Guard Rules of the Road online. Or, you can download a full copy of the Rules in PDF format. BoatUS also produces a nifty Navigation Rules study guide.

When you learn to sail or drive a boat, there’s a lot of new information to take in. But luckily, there are also a ton of resources out there to help you do it. And there’s nothing more fun than taking the helm of your own boat for a day on the water.

Use Your Reasoning and Get Out There

Though it might seem daunting, with all the rules and customs, it’s all quite intuitive when you’re out there. When common sense is the order of the day, armed with these rules of the road, there’s likely nothing except pleasure and adventure to be had in a boat.

So, get out there!