IRPCS Rules of the Road

[@CaptainSpock1701]

I'm a recreational boat fisherman. Up until now I have never ever been the stand on vessel. Because I am literally just going where I feel like, if I see another boat, no matter how far away, then I bugger off away from where they're going. No skin off my back and no paint off my boat! Fortunately I'm not in an overly busy sea but like I said. I'm there for the enjoyment and if I have to enjoy it for a little longer because I have to take a longer route then: "So be it!"

[@Blue-b2-k5s]

Great video, thank you from Japan.

[@Jo.King_]

Taking my Day Skipper course next month. Your videos have been so useful. Thanks

[@CitySailing]

Great to hear!

[@bigglyguy8429]

How did it go Rob?

[@blahdiblah2169]

16:16 doesn't make sense because A is a sailboat under power and hence a power vessel, which should give way to B who is under sail. Even if we ignore this, and pretend both vessels are under sail then A is on a port tack and is windward, while B is on a starboard tack and leeward. So A (according to those rules) should give way to B. But then there's the light dilemma, which seems at first like conflicting rules. So can you please explain this?

[@CitySailing]

Both are power vessels, B has a motoring cone up to show it is a power driven vessel.

[@blahdiblah2169]

@@CitySailing In that case, that makes sense. Thank you.

[@jonathanwebb9862]

This is great! Thanks for putting this out. Have shared it to some others

[@carlb9009]

Thanks for the very clear explanation. Nicely done ✅ I’ll have to watch it a few times to fully absorb it 🤔

[@CitySailing]

Thanks, please let your friends know.

[@holleroehdullioeh]

Thanks, Paul! this one was really helpful.

[@CitySailing]

Thank you, please subscribe as there are a lot more coming out, we have published 3 videos today.

[@yannlecuyer1757]

Each time I'm at sea I can't rely on my knowledge of rules about who should do what when and why. I found your video very good to understand and very clear. I have hopes on that I may remember this for next time...

[@ChrisBashforth]

Loving the City Sailing lessons. As a bit of a nerd have spotted - the overtaking rule is no. 13 at least in my copy of the rules.

[@CitySailing]

I will double-check the video when I can, I hope there will be the second part of the DS quiz going up tonight.

[@CitySailing]

Yup you are right, thanks I will amend, we have uploaded a section on the RYA Day Skipper General Exam Quiz in three parts

[@wilmakirkland7505]

So useful, many thanks

[@Royfile]

Another excellent upload. Great explanation of rules 👍🏻

[@CitySailing]

Thanks, there are many more tutorials, if you like them please post a google review for City Sailing

[@peterk4134]

Question on the last slide. The boat to give way should be the one under motor, the other has bad wind on the sail difficult to maneuver ?

[@pertoger]

In your very last example, two sailing boats, and the one you say have a right of way had no visible sails, som presumably it was self propelled. The other vessel, the one you said was the give-way one, Had a marker up and a wavy sail that seemed to show reduced manouverability, therfore a stand on vessel in my opinion. You could hail opponent on Ch 16 and come to an agreement, or both coud be give-way in case of doubt.

[@RCrudi]

Thanks, really clear and helpful.

[@CitySailing]

You're welcome! I should start charging for my clarity and helpfulness. Just kidding, glad I could assist!

[@vidadepuerto]

Thanks!

[@CitySailing]

No problem!

[@Tom-dt4ic]

Excellent presentation. I just don't understand the last example. Wouldn't the sailboat with its sails down which then makes it a powerboat, have to give way to the sailboat?

[@CitySailing]

They are both motor vessels, B can see A's port hand red light, so he has to give way. They are both motorboats. Thanks foir watching Paul

[@CitySailing]

If you think there is value please buy us a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/citysailing

[@oliverhansen2784]

@@CitySailing if B has the sails up, how do you identify it as a power vessel?

[@simonforbes2453]

The motoring cone day-shape indicates it is motor-sailing, @@oliverhansen2784

[@NGrimX]

It’s displaying a black cone which means it is also motoring (yes, with sails up). Video should mention this!

[@limosalimosa]

14:37, B is the windward boat BUT starboard / portside rule trumps windward / leeward rule?

[@CitySailing]

Port and starboard rules apply

[@colinstobbart599]

Passing I was told easy to remember two port face each other. So your port is facing their port.

[@ottifantiwaalkes9289]

At 2:50 It is that if a sailing vessel has the motor running sails up or not it becomes a motor vessel wether in gear or not. Hence the steaming light to indicate to other vessels that an engine is running sails up or not. A sailing vessel with a running engine must signal to all other vessels if the engine is running, in gear or not. Also this sailing vessel has to follow rules as if it were a motor boat. Again sails up or not and in gear or not. All other vessels see this sailboat as a motorboat.

[@romanpriest]

Rule 3(c): "The term 'sailing vessel' means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used." A running motor - if not in gear i.e. with a spinning propeller - is not a "propelling machinery being used". One should be able to have the motor running under sail to charge the batteries, to heat some water, or simply for safety reasons in bad weather without being rendered a "power-driven vessel".

[@ottifantiwaalkes9289]

@romanpriest if the engine is running you are a power vessel! You indicate to others that you could move under power and in a second if needed. Where did you get your info? Who cares if you like to make coffee or charge batteries.

[@romanpriest]

@@ottifantiwaalkes9289 ...from the source. Even in KVR, the german COLREG, the term is "Machinenantrieb", not "Machine". No "Antrieb", still sailing. What about an electrical engine, a mere switch, or small lever movement from propulsion. Is there a mandatory big mode/activation switch ? It rests with the skipper to properly indicate with cone/light the mode of propulsion. If the engine is stopped, it's not one second, it's five seconds to action (forcing it). That can hardly be the differentiator.

[@B_Ruphe]

Two vessels under sail... can it happen that the give-way vessel, feeling ungentlemanly, instead of giving way, quickly changes tack, to force the stand-on vessel to become the give-way vessel?

[@CitySailing]

You need to give an early and obvious alteration of course and both vessels ultimately have to give way.

[@simonjohn9525]

It's important to remember that it's "Vessels ENGAGED IN FISHING", not just fishing vessels. Sailing vessels must also remember that if they're being overtaken they must maintain their course and [as far as possible]their speed.

[@ragamuffinthepollywog]

I have just recently taken an interest in sailing so forgive me if this is a stupid question. In the last slide it looks as if boat A has no sails up which may mean it is under power. Power boats give way to sail boats? I'm a little confused.

[@TheAegisClaw]

B has no sails up either. I think youre mistaking the topping lift for a sail. Sp they are both powered vessels.

[@bigglyguy8429]

Hi Paul, suppose you are approaching head-on to a sailing boat with a spinnaker, cannot see their boom, but you are on a starboard tack? In real life I think I'd give a single toot of the horn and turn to starboard, but I'm curious as you only mentioned if we're on a port tack? Thanks! Edit: you answered a few moments later, even if we're on a starboard tack we give way to windward. :)

[@CitySailing]

If you are on port you are stand on, if they are on stbd they will be the windward vessel and you will also be stand on, if you are unaware of their intentions give 5 short blasts, if they do not take avoiding action you must give way.

[@bigglyguy8429]

@@CitySailing Thanks!

[@bustertom49]

At 12:20 Port tack gives way to Starboard tack....OK At 3:53 we're told that power driven vessels give way to sailing vessels... OK Now, at 16:05 we have B on Starboard tack and having to give way!!! Why so??? AAAHHHH The motoring cone that I didn't know about! There's always something that isn't touched on until it is, a little like the small print on a contract...

[@andydoran30]

Thankyou big help

[@Jack_Wood]

@citysailing I might be being pedantic here but in the final slide the A vessel looks like it has no sails raised, therefore I would assume that they are under mechanical power so would have to give way to B?

[@CitySailing]

Dear Jack In the final slide if A was sailing B would have to give way, if A was motoring (he is not showing his motoring cone) then B would also have to give way as he can see A's port side. Thank you for bringing this up for discussion and thank you for watching the videos. Cheers Paul

[@Jack_Wood]

@@CitySailing I'm confused still by this ha. I thought that the list of priorities meant that a motoring vessel had to give way to a sailing vessel, regardless of what way they are approaching each other? Or am I mistaken? (I'm quite new to all of this so just trying to understand, I didn't even know that there was a motoring cone)

[@CitySailing]

B would give way as he was motoring and A is sailing

[@Jack_Wood]

@@CitySailing On B the black Upside down cone towards the front halfway up the rigging is the motoring cone? I feel like I may have missed a few of your videos to notice that.

[@austinthornton3407]

I think the issue in the final scenario is that A is clearly under power and B could be mistaken for being under sail but we know is dual powered with motor and sail because of the motoring cone. Because both are under power, rule 15 (Crossing situation) applies so that B must give way because A is on its starboard side. But if B was sailing only, then A should give way. This is because powered boats give way to sail boats - reg 18. Reg 18 sets out the preceding regulations to which this hierarchy does not apply but this does not include reg 15. Therefore reg 18 takes precedence. I think the diagram intends to show the headsail furled and the main sail loose suggesting, along with the cone, that it is motor powered.

[@pointnemo72]

A mine sweeper?! Hell, if it's a mine sweeper, that's international code for turning around and getting as far away as possible 😂😂

[@CitySailing]

Thanks, I have often wondered!!!

[@pointnemo72]

@@CitySailing 😂 I'm just surprised you mentioned a mine sweeper. Maybe I don't know what kind of a mine sweeper you are referring to? In my mind a mine sweeper is a ship that's clearing military sea mines. So I would be very surprised to see such a ship active today. I know WWII mines can pop up every now and again, but I think most have been cleared by now.

[@thenauticalnomadmactire]

unpowered / row or paddle?

[@marksykes5434]

Mechanical propulsion eg an engine , row or paddle is not power driven 👍

[@andyjamesable]

Really useful and clear .. many thanks .. only a point of interest .. your analogy of a car on a main road having priority over a car joining the main road from the side should take avoidance even if they are a priority situation.. only works in countries where the French have not had influence and imposed their totally ludicrous ‘prioité à droit .. a véhicule joining a main road from the right has priority over cars already on the main road and can sally out with impunity .. a highly dangerous and totally illogical rule which unfortunately is practiced with gusto in Vietnam !!!!

[@CitySailing]

Blimey I will only sail in France from now on!

[@Royden58]

RIAM & NUC are not specified to give way to each other

[@williamstreet4304]

(Edit) Please see Ola-nw6yn's response below. This play was reviewed and the OP's decision is upheld. The call in the remainder of this comment has been overturned. -- Original content follows -- In the last example, I disagree. You use red/green lights to determine. Sailing vessels use windward/leeward. A is the windward vessel and must give way. B is the leeward vessel and may stand on. Windward/leeward stands above red/green.

[@Ola-nw6yn]

The last example is correct, just poorly illustrated. Both are the sailing under power vessels. If you look closely, you will notice their sails aren't up.

[@williamstreet4304]

@@Ola-nw6yn Thank you. I had missed the lack of sails. I agree with the explanation based on that.

[@michaelguthrie2344]

Difficult to want to finish this when you have rule 1 wrong. What you are referring to as rule 1 could be interpreted as rule2. Sorry as any info that encourages helmsmen to increase knowledge is helpful.

[@CitySailing]

Thanks for your comments, I have blurred out the Rule one reference when we are not explaining rule 1, we appreciate all comments and will rectify videos where we can. Cheers Paul

[@stevenr8606]

💡⚠️ No matter what, remember TONNAGE RULES 🙄

[@petergarland7995]

V good

[@CitySailing]

Thanks

[@stephenclearwater8874]

1min Avoid miss spelt