Rules Of The Road At Sea
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| Entering Circular Quay |
The sea is a wide open space where the lanes are not marked, but there is still a right place to be.
There are rules that apply to boats on the water, just like cars on the road. It's important to learn these rules to avoid collison and maintain your safety and the safety of others on the water.
View our Sea Yarn. A rhyme which is a fun and and easy way to help you and your family remember the rules of the road at sea.
Rules to remember when two boats meet
- When two boats are approaching each other, one has the right of way and it is called the stand on boat.
- The other boat is called the give way boat. The give way boat must make an early and obvious manoeuvre so there can be no confusion.
- The give way boat must pass astern of (behind) the stand on boat, while the stand on boat maintains the same course and speed.
- Every boat that is overtaking must give way. You are overtaking if you are approaching another boat anywhere in a 135 degree sector at its stern.
Channels and harbours
- Every boat must keep to the starboard (right) side of any channel
Sunny afternoon on the water - Inside a harbour (normally shown on the pilotage limit on the chart) you must keep out of the way of any ship over 500 tons (which is about 50 metres in length)
- Do not create a wake which causes unnecessary danger to other boats or people
- You must not anchor in a channel
- All small craft must keep out of the way of larger vessels which are restricted by the channel.
When power meets power
- You must give way to another boat on your starboard (right)
- If you meet head on, both boats must turn to starboard (right)
When power meets sail
- Power gives way to sail unless the sail boat is overtaking
- Sailing boats should avoid sailing in a narrow channel. They have to give way to power boats restricted by the channel.
When sail meets sail
- When the wind is coming from different sides, the boat with the wind on the port (left) side has to give way
- When both boats have the wind on the same side the windward (upwind) boat has to give way
When things go wrong
- If the give way boat does not appear to be giving way, the stand on boat must take action. The stand on boat should turn to starboard (right). If it turned to port it could turn in to the path of the give way boat.