Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

The Sailing Right of Way
Chapter 26: Handling Your Sailboat
The rules of the road for sailboats under sail are a little different than for powerboats. In
general, a sailboat under sail has the right of way over a powerboat, no matter what the
angle of approach between the two craft (unless
the sailboat is overtaking). This is because the
sailboat can’t maneuver as rapidly as the powerboat.
(When a sailboat is operating under
motor power, it’s considered a powerboat and
must obey the same rules as all powerboats.)
In fact, powerboats are supposed to stay well
clear of boats under sail. A large powerboat wake
hitting a small daysailer can literally “knock the
wind out of the sails” and cause the boat to lose
steerage, and maybe even broach or make a rapid
turn sideways to the sea, with some danger of
swamping.
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Look Out!
The passage of a large
ship to windward of your boat
can block your wind and make
your sails luff. The wake of a fastmoving
ship can also shake the
wind from your sails as the boat
hobby-horses back and forth.
Give these sea monsters plenty of
space!
Powerboaters who see a boat
flying a spinnaker can be
sure it’s sailing on a run or
a broad reach and will have
a hard time safely maneuvering
if they pass too close
on the bow.
(Photo credit: Endeavour
Yachts)