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Rule 12

Sailing vessels

In sight of one another

Sail meets sail: port tack gives way; on the same tack, windward gives way; if unsure on port tack, keep clear.

Sailing vessels on opposite tacks, Rule 12(a)(i)Wind blows down the page. Two sailboats converge: the left boat has the wind on her port side (port tack, mainsail to starboard) and is marked GIVE WAY in amber, bearing away to pass astern. The right boat has the wind on her starboard side (starboard tack) and is marked STAND ON in green, holding her course.WINDPORT TACKGIVE WAY · wind on portSTARBOARD TACKSTAND ON · wind on starboard
Rule 12(a)(i) — sailing vessels on opposite tacks: the boat with the wind on her port side (port tack) keeps out of the way of the boat on starboard tack.
Sailing vessels on the same tack, Rule 12(a)(ii)Wind blows down the page. Two sailboats sail the same tack on converging courses. The upwind boat, closer to the wind, is marked WINDWARD, GIVE WAY in amber and bears away to pass astern of the other. The downwind boat is marked LEEWARD, STAND ON in green.WINDWINDWARDGIVE WAY · nearer the windLEEWARDSTAND ON · farther from wind
Rule 12(a)(ii) — sailing vessels on the same tack: the windward boat (nearer the wind) keeps out of the way of the leeward boat.

In plain language

When two sailing vessels approach with risk of collision, three checks settle it. Different tacks: the boat with the wind on her port side gives way. Same tack: the windward boat gives way to the leeward boat. And if you are on port tack and cannot tell which tack a windward boat is on, assume the worst and keep clear. The windward side is the side opposite the one the mainsail is carried on.

Easily confused with