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From BoatBlurb:
On a busy summer afternoon, there’s a moment every boater eventually faces: another vessel is approaching, neither of you is slowing down, and both operators are quietly wondering, who’s supposed to move?
It isn’t about politeness or size. It’s governed by a clear, and often misunderstood, set of rules. There has never been a better time to read up on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, also known as COLREGS.
At the core to understanding give-way vs. stand-on are three basic encounter types: crossing, overtaking, and head-on. Put another way, the core of boating navigation is about understanding who is the "give-way" vessel and who is the "stand-on" vessel.
In a crossing situation, the boat on your starboard (right) side has precedence. That means if another vessel is approaching from your right, you are the “give-way” vessel. You must alter course early and obviously. The biggest mistake boaters make here is hesitating or making small, unclear adjustments. If you are giving way, make it obvious.
Head-on situations are simpler in theory but are still frequently mishandled. When two boats approach directly, both should alter course to starboard, essentially passing port-to-port. Yet many operators either freeze or make last-second moves that create confusion.
You can find the full article here.
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