Two sailing vessels on different tacks. Who keeps clear?
The one on the port tack (wind on her port side).
Rule 12 (a) (i).
Part of the convention When you can see each other
Three cases, checked in order:
- Different tacks: the vessel on the port tack (wind on her port side) keeps out of the way.
- Same tack: the vessel to windward keeps out of the way of the vessel to leeward.
- On the port tack, seeing a vessel to windward and unable to determine her tack: keep out of her way.
- The windward side is the side opposite to that on which the mainsail is carried, or, with a square rig, opposite to the side on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.
At sea it looks like this
You have the wind on your starboard side, she has it on her port side. She keeps clear. If both of you have it to starboard, the one higher up the wind keeps clear: bearing away is easier for her.
The rule says«When each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other.»
Check yourself
Two sailing vessels on the same tack. Who keeps clear?
The vessel to windward keeps clear of the vessel to leeward.
Rule 12 (a) (ii).
You are on port tack and cannot determine the tack of a vessel to windward. What then?
You keep out of her way.
Rule 12 (a) (iii).