Acquiring Right of Way
When a boat acquires right of way, it must at first give the other boat room to keep clear.
Right of way can change hands — by completing a tack onto starboard, or by establishing a leeward overlap from clear astern. The boat that just gained right of way must initially give the other boat room to keep clear, unless it gained right of way through the other boat's own actions. It cannot force an instant penalty.
Opens the animation on the boat-length grid — scrub it, edit it, or use it as a starting point. Free, no account needed.
How it interacts with other rules
- Rule 11 — On the Same Tack, Overlapped · limited by
Limits the new leeward boat's rights under rule 11 immediately after the overlap begins.
- Rule 13 — While Tacking · see also
A boat completing a tack onto starboard acquires right of way and is likewise bound by rule 15.
- Rule 16 — Changing Course · see also
Once established, any course change is further constrained by rule 16.