Rules of Sailing

Water bodies offer vast expanses of area for easy and carefree movement of sailing boats and vessels. However, important factors like wind direction, course, sea state, and strength of sailing vessels could pose serious problems. Further, in racing events, sailing boats aim for the same course and area of water, therefore it's even more important to know the rules of sailing. Boats that are 39.4 feet or longer should have a copy of rules and regulations as stipulated by Royal Yachting Association or RYA on board. Sailors taking charge of vessels smaller than stipulated size should have clear and definite knowledge of all basic sailing rules for maximum safety of all.

Remaining ignorant of such rules could cause you to be liable in case of any untoward incident. Sailing rules are based and devised on basic common sense and simple ideas that leave no idea of doubt in the minds of sailors about who should be given preference of way in case boats are coming too close. Race organizers and conducting authorities enforce these regulations very stringently. In all cases, give-way vessel should offer proper directions to stand-on vessel of its intentions. All intentions should be specific and deliberate. The stand-on vessel should be ready to change its course.

Any overtaking vessel gains right-of-way and this vessel should steer its path safely. Further, you should undertake all precautions and provide all directions of your intentions. A racing sailboat should steal wind from the course of another sailboat and proceed ahead. This indicates the margin of overtaking. Specific sailing vessels always earn right-of-way like a vessel that has broken down, vessels engaged in dredging or mine sweeping, commercial vessels, and power-driven vessels. In poor visibility conditions, no boat gets right to way. All boats should proceed slowly and keep safe distance from other boats. Buoys on seas are markers around threats of wrecks, shoals, and rocks. There are four types of buoys:

1. Lateral markers indicate edges of channels for vessels to steer along safely

2. Cardinal buoys specifically marked but generally yellow and black indicate dangers to points of the compass, North, South, East and West.

3. Dennis the Menace' buoys are red and black striped danger designs to indicate isolated danger

4. Red and white striped safe water buoy indicates safe water navigation. Sound signals are important means of communication between sailing boats and vessels. Specific USA Inland Rule 34 signals are indicate below, but International signals may vary:

1. A single short blast by you means you are turning starboard side and will leave other boat to port side.

2. Two short blasts by you means you are turning port side and will leave other boat to starboard side.

3. Three short blasts by you mean you are reversing your engines.

4. One long blast by you means you are now getting underway.

5. One long blast followed by one short blast by you means you are - requesting other boat to open the drawbridge.

6. Five short blasts by you means you are in danger and you are therefore requesting other boat to move out-of-the-way.

The other boat should respond by repeating your sound signals as a confirmation of having understood what you were trying to convey. If in any case, the response comes as five short blasts, it means original intended action is dangerous.