Power-driven vessels must keep out of the way of any vessel that is not under command Non-powered craft including sailboats canoes paddle-boats sailboards and racing shells generally have the right-of-way over power-driven pleasure craft All motorized boats and sailboats under 20 m in length must steer clear of larger less maneuverable vessels.

Sailing vessel right of way. At that time sailing vessels were used to transport cargo ferry passengers harvest fish from the sea and carry the mail. If the leeward boat was on a starboard tack then the windward boat would be the give way boat no matter which tack the windward vessel was on port gives way to starboard or same tack windward gives way to leeward. Yachts should stay well clear of these vessels.

Sailboats under sail generally have right of way over most recreational powerboats because sailboats are assumed to have more restricted maneuverability than powerboats for example a sailboat cannot turn and sail straight into the wind to avoid a collision. Next to the bottom of the totem pole of right-of-ways and sailboat are not even sailing all the time so only when they are actually sailing and not overtaking anyone at all or dealing with any of the aforementioned situations. A When two sailing vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows.

In one situation the leeward boat is the stand on vessel and in the other situation the leeward boat is give way vessel. A sailboat that is sailing generally has the right of way over motorboats. As defined a sailing vessel is under sail only if.

Sailors refer to the boat with right-of-way as the stand-on vessel-the boat that must hold its course. I When each has the wind on a different side the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other. The vessel which has the wind on its port left side must give way.

Whenever a power-driven vessel and a sailing vessel approach one another the sailing vessel is always the stand-on vessel meaning it has the right of way. When things go wrong. The leeward boat has right-of-way and the windward boat has to keep clear or give way.

Ships tugboats with tows commercial ferries and fishing vessels have right of way over sailing vessels. The vessel which has the wind on its starboard right side has the right of way. The only situation where a sailing vessel will be a give-way vessel is when its overtaking a power-vessel.