Closing on a boat ahead
Overtaking under sail. Developing level, about 3 min. International COLREGs / IRPCS. COLREGs Rule 13.
The situation
You are using sails only and gaining on a slower power-driven boat from directly astern. You have open water to starboard, enough wind to maintain your course and no other traffic in this exercise.
Does using sails change your overtaking responsibility?
- Keep clear to starboard: Create lateral separation while overtaking.
- Expect the powered boat to keep clear of your sails: Expect the slower vessel to move aside.
- Ease out just enough to slip past: A few degrees to starboard, passing close alongside.
Answers and explanations
Lookout: Establish the encounter type before applying responsibilities between different vessel types.
The sound answer
Keep clear to starboard
You are still the overtaking vessel. Rule 13 requires any overtaking vessel to keep clear until finally past and clear. The sailing vessel’s usual responsibilities relative to power do not reverse this duty.
Why the other options fall short
Expect the powered boat to keep clear of your sails
Your approach from astern makes you the overtaking vessel. Being under sail does not remove Rule 13’s continuing duty to keep clear.
Ease out just enough to slip past
A few degrees takes you past within a few boat lengths of her side, where any yaw or alteration by her leaves no margin. Keeping out of the way means a passing distance she would never need to think about.
Rule 13 · Overtaking
A vessel overtaking another keeps out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. That duty continues until she is finally past and clear, even if the bearing changes during the manoeuvre.