UPWIND / BEATINGBeginner

Port meets starboard on the beat

The situation

Both boats are beating to windward and their courses cross. Green has the wind on its starboard side; Red has it on the port side.

The question

Who must give way, and what are Red's options?

The ruling

Green (starboard tack) has right of way; Red (port tack) must keep clear under rule 10. Red can bear away and duck behind Green's stern, or tack onto starboard. But a tack earns nothing instantly: while tacking, rule 13 keeps Red as the give-way boat until she's on a close-hauled course, and rule 15 then requires her to give Green room to keep clear.

Key point

Port keeps clear of starboard. Duck the stern or tack early — a tack doesn't instantly hand you the rights.

Play this on the board

Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.

Rules cited

See the underlying rule: Rule 10On Opposite Tacks.