The basic rules of sailing are the right-of-way sailing rules. So, as a sailor, you have to be familiar with these rules. There are different right-of-way sailing instructions for sea vessels that you need to know.
You must familiarise yourself with these basic rules because they help avoid mishaps at sea. They are based on International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
While at sea, you must always maintain a proper lookout by sight as well as hearing to avoid colliding with other vessels especially when there is poor visibility at sea as a result of the weather.
A lot of collisions have happened at sea because of the breaking of this rule.
Also, because of the vastness of the sea, some sailors assume that it’s all theirs and so are not cautious of their speed. You must always maintain a safe speed so that you can remain in control of your boat no matter what happens.
Next is to use common sense when you are assessing the risk of collision with other boats near and around you. In doing this, be cautious of vessels near you, their position around you, their speed towards you, and when to start turning away from them to avoid a collision.
It’s important to also know that if two vessels are approaching each other and the wind is on a different side of each vessel, the vessel which has the wind on the left-hand side when you are facing the front must always give right of way to the other.
In the same vein, if two vessels are approaching each other and the wind is on the same side of each boat, the vessel which is to the direction of the wind must give the right of way to the vessel which is to the opposite direction of the wind.
When overtaking another vessel, you should always keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. Also keep out of the way of any boat that is not under command, restricted in its ability to maneuver, and engaged in fishing.
When you are passing through a narrow channel, keep as close to the outer edge as possible. Also, small vessels should try to stay out of the way of large vessels that may find it harder to slow or change direction.
If you are a sailor, novice or experienced, always keep these rules in mind. Doing them saves lives. Connect with us for more information that you need.