Port v Starboard

Rule: The sailor on ‘Starboard Tack’ has right of way over sailor on ‘Port Tack’.

Who makes the first move? The person on Starboard should hold their line, Port Tack sailor keeps clear@

Remember: RIGHT HAND is closet to the mast you’re on Starboard! Left hand closest to the mast GIVE WAY!

Issues: Distances shorten very quickly, so when you’re on Starboard make your intensions clear early. But shouting ‘Starboard’ 50-100ms away in a F4+ is like trying to tell everyone you’re having a party by shouting out the window – no one is going to hear you! Visual clear signs and movements are far safer and more effective. So make your intended course very clear early on and stick to it. No weaving or suddenly changing direction. So when you get in the classic ‘jousting’ situation where two boards are heading directly towards one another, if you’re on Starboard nod, look, hold your course and make a very clear indication as to which way you are heading. This gives the sailor on Port a better chance of avoiding you. If you’re the sailor on Port Tack, make sure you don’t cut directly in front at the last minute, best to nip downwind with plenty of space and time in hand. If you can’t turn downwind at speed – slow down, stop and keep clear!

Avoidance: It’s a little known fact, that even though you might be on Starboard Tack, in marine law, you still have a ‘duty’ to avoid a collision. You can’t just sail into someone and claim you were on Starboard, we all MUST avoid contact if we can!

Common Sense: If you’re heading for an unavoidable collision, always try to head upwind! This reduces speed and especially if both boards steer upwind in a head to head, it means the boards make contact and the sailors fall back into windward! If you both bear away, boards and bodies collide and that’s not great!