Avoiding contact and changing course
World Sailing · 2025–2028Every boat must avoid contact when reasonably possible, including causing contact between other boats or between a boat and an object to be avoided. A right-of-way boat may initially wait until it is clear that the other is not keeping clear or giving required room, but cannot then ignore a preventable collision.
The rule
Every boat must avoid contact when reasonably possible, including causing contact between other boats or between a boat and an object to be avoided. A right-of-way boat may initially wait until it is clear that the other is not keeping clear or giving required room, but cannot then ignore a preventable collision.
In practice
When acquiring right of way, initially give the other boat room to keep clear unless its own action created that change. When changing course, a right-of-way boat must also give room to keep clear. Exoneration depends on the applicable rule and circumstances; entitlement to room does not make every collision consequence disappear automatically.
Sources & approach ↗