Right of Way Rules Sailing | Grabner SAILING ACADEMY [Episode 05]

In this video we briefly explain the most important right-of-way rules for sailors.
*Activate English subtitles in the video settings!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
However, please always enquire about local peculiarities before sailing. This video does not provide legally binding, complete information on all regulations concerning sailing - only the most important basic rules are explained.
As in road traffic, there is a "general duty of care" in sailing. This states that the skipper must do everything possible to avoid the following:
- Endangering people
- cause damage to vessels, the shore or installations
- interfere with navigation or commercial fishing
- and pollute the water
Therefore, the duty to take avoidance action also applies to the following watercraft:
- Vessels of the public security service
- of the fire brigade and water rescue
- passenger ships and heavy moving vessels
- and commercial fishermen
Rowboats, motorboats and floating bodies such as surfers must in turn avoid the sailing vessels.
The following right-of-way rules apply to sailing vessels among themselves.
If your course crosses the course of another sailboat, observe which side the wind is coming from in relation to the direction of travel.
The right boat in the picture has the wind from the right side - the left boat in the picture has the wind from the left side. The first rule states that vessel with the wind from the left must give way.
It's best to remember the rule: Wind from right gives way to wind from left.
In sailing terms, this translates as: Port tack gives way to starboard tack!
Let's move on to the 2nd right-of-way rule:
If both sailboats have the wind from the same side, the rule windward gives way to leeward applies - this means that the boat on the side facing the wind must give way.
The last rule we want to cover here in this video is that the overtaking person must take avoiding action - and must do so on the side facing the wind.
In general, the following still applies to avoidance:
The person with the duty to take avoiding action must take it in good time, over a wide area and in a clear manner.
On the other hand, the vessel with the right of way must maintain its course to avoid confusion.
If the other person does not give way - that is, if a collision would otherwise be unavoidable - then the boat with the right of way must also give way - this is called a "last minute manoeuvre".
The GRABNER Sailing Academy Team wishes you lots of sailing fun!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0:00 Introduction
0:26 General duty of care
0:51 Duty to take avoidance action
1:20 Crossing courses: "wind from right gives way to wind from left
2:09 Identical courses: "leeward before windward".
2:53 Overtaking: "On windward side".
3:19 General rules
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sail-Catamaran Grabner HAPPY CAT:
www.grabner.co...
10 Advantages Grabner HAPPY CAT:
www.grabner.co...
All Episodes Grabner SAILING ACADEMY:
• Segelboot Begriffe | G...
#GrabnerHappyCat #SailingAcademy #GrabnerBoats