Part B · Section II
COLREGs Rule 12: Sailing vessels
Rule 12 says when two sailing vessels meet, the one on port tack gives way to the one on starboard tack, and if both are on the same tack, the windward boat keeps clear of the leeward boat.
What Rule 12 says
- When each has the wind on a different side, the vessel with the wind on the port side keeps out of the way.
- When both have the wind on the same side, the vessel to windward keeps out of the way of the vessel to leeward.
- If a vessel on port tack sees a vessel to windward and cannot tell which side that vessel has the wind, it keeps out of the way.
- The windward side is the side opposite to the one on which the mainsail is carried (on a square-rigger, the largest fore-and-aft sail).
This is a plain-English summary, not the official wording. For the exact text, see the IMO convention. In UK waters the rules are given legal force by the Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations.
What it means on a yacht
Your tack is named after the side the wind comes over, which is the opposite side to your boom. Boom out to starboard means you are on port tack and give way to starboard-tack boats.
Practise it
Test yourself on who gives way in the free COLREGs trainer, or print the rules of the road cheat sheets for the chart table.
Other rules in Part B
- Rule 4: Application of Section I
- Rule 5: Look-out
- Rule 6: Safe speed
- Rule 7: Risk of collision
- Rule 8: Action to avoid collision
- Rule 9: Narrow channels
- Rule 10: Traffic separation schemes
- Rule 11: Application of Section II
- Rule 13: Overtaking
- Rule 14: Head-on situation
- Rule 15: Crossing situation
- Rule 16: Action by give-way vessel
- Rule 17: Action by stand-on vessel
- Rule 18: Responsibilities between vessels
- Rule 19: Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility
Frequently asked questions
Who has right of way, port tack or starboard tack?
Starboard tack. A sailing vessel on port tack (wind over the port side, boom out to starboard) keeps out of the way of one on starboard tack.
What if both boats are on the same tack?
The windward boat keeps clear of the leeward boat.
Do the racing rules change Rule 12?
Between boats racing, the Racing Rules of Sailing apply instead. Towards everyone else, including other yachts not in the race, the COLREGs still apply.