Rules of the Road

Rules of the Road Made Simple

By Captain Joan Gilmore

1. Determine where you and the other boat are in the Pecking Order.

Pecking Order – Highest on list has precedence

Not Under Command (disabled)

Working Boats – commercial fishing, towing, sheriff, etc.

Small Craft - kayaks, canoes (no auxiliary or sail power)

Sailboats under sail

Power Boats

Sea Planes

2. If you are equal, see below.

Sail vs. Sail, in order of dominance:

Overtaking boat gives way – supercedes ALL other rules.
Starboard tack over port tack. (Your tack is the opposite side of the boat as your boom. If sailing with jib alone, it is the opposite side of your jib.)
Leeward over windward. (If the wind reaches the other boat first, you are leeward.)

Power vs. Power, in order of dominance:

Overtaking boat gives way – supercedes ALL other rules.
Boat on right has right of way
If meeting, stay to the right. (You know you are meeting if you see both sides of the oncoming boat’s bow.)

How do you know if you are overtaking? Look at a picture of the arc of visibility of a boat’s stern light. It shows a 135 degree arc. If you see only this white stern light, and not the red or green colored side light, you are overtaking, and must give way.

Sound Signals

1 short – I am going to my right

2 short – I am going to my left

5+ short – Danger or doubt