sailboats do not have right of way when overtaking

As I mentioned in a previous blog entry,  I'm currently studying for my captain's license. As such, I'm going over piles and piles handy nautical factoids that I think some of you might be interested in.  

There is a common but incorrect assumption that vessels under sail have right of way over anything else on the water. A prudent sailor knows that idea breaks down quickly when you're in the channel with an aircraft carrier or other vessel that is "constrained in its maneuverability".

The "Rules of the Road" (available here from the Coast Guard) dictate that another time a sailing vessel will not have the right of way is if she is overtaking another vessel, even a power boat doing 2 knots operated by a 22 year old blasting terrible music. If you're the overtaking vessel, you don't have right of way.

Specifically, Rule 13 states:

(a)     Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules, any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

(b)     A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with a another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam, that is, in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that at night she would be able to see only the sternlight of that vessel but neither of her sidelights.

(c)     When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another, she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly.

(d)     Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear.

So there you go. The next time you're sailing up on a slow moving fishing boat (or a kayaker), remember that they are the stand on vessel. What to do next? Stay tuned for a future post dealing with appropriate inland and international signaling during over taking scenarios.