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Powerboating Collision Rules Guide

This document provides an introduction to the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (IRPCS), which establish rules for right of way between vessels. The most important rule is to avoid collisions at all costs. It notes that racing rules only apply to boats engaged in a race, not other vessels. Key terms are defined, such as "stand on vessel" which has right of way and must hold course, and "give way vessel" which must alter course to avoid collision. Scenarios involving two powerboats meeting head on or not head on are described. A tip is provided to remember port and starboard lights, with red indicating to stop and green to proceed. It states that a sailing boat not using

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Lorraine Galvin
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182 views2 pages

Powerboating Collision Rules Guide

This document provides an introduction to the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (IRPCS), which establish rules for right of way between vessels. The most important rule is to avoid collisions at all costs. It notes that racing rules only apply to boats engaged in a race, not other vessels. Key terms are defined, such as "stand on vessel" which has right of way and must hold course, and "give way vessel" which must alter course to avoid collision. Scenarios involving two powerboats meeting head on or not head on are described. A tip is provided to remember port and starboard lights, with red indicating to stop and green to proceed. It states that a sailing boat not using

Uploaded by

Lorraine Galvin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School

West Pier, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin


Tel: +353 (0) 1 2844195
Email: sailing@inss.ie
Web: www.inss.ie

IRPCS – Introduction
International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea
Powerboating Version

IRPCS - Colregs

International Regulations for Preventions of Collisions at Sea (IRPCS), and sometimes known as
Colregs, are an internationally agreed set of rules to govern who has right of way and who has to give
way in potential conflicts between vessels.

The most important thing to remember:

AVOID COLLISIONS AT ALL COSTS

IMPORTANT NOTE

Racing Rules are different to IRPCS, and only govern interactions between vessels in an agreed race.
They DO NOT apply to vessels not involved in that race, therefore if a sailing boat taking part in a race
meets one that is not, IRPCS apply, even if the racing boat loses out. This is an important distinction
and must be remembered by skippers of racing boats.

Some Terminology

• Stand On Vessel – this is what the vessel that “has the right of way” is called. The Stand On
Vessel must hold their course and not make unexpected deviations.
• Give Way Vessel – this is what the vessel that “does not have the right of way is called”. The
Give Way Vessel must alter course/speed to avoid the collision

IRPCS that applies to Powerboats

Two powerboats meeting head on

Both boats are required to turn to the right, in such a manner that each boats port bow will pass the
other. Passing Port side to Port side can be seen as driving on the right hand side. In a head on
situation, both vessels are required to take action.
Two Powerboats that will collide, but are not “head on”

Boats must pass Port-to-Port. So in this instance, the vessel that already has one on its Port side (left
side), is the stand on vessel. The vessel with the other boat on its starboard side (right side) is the give
way vessel.

For example, boat B already has boat A on its port side, so holds course. Boat A must turn/slow down
so that it either has boat A on its port side, or allows boat B to pass in front of it.

Tip for Remembering

Imagine you’re in boat A, looking at Boat B, you can see its Port Light (which is red). A bit like a traffic
light, Red indicates you should stop. Equally, if you were in Boat B, you would see Boat A’s Starboard
light (which is green) so you can proceed.

Powerboat Versus Sailing Boat

As long as a sailing boat does not have their engine on, they have right of way over powerboats
engaged in recreational activity. The powerboat must take action to avoid.

Overtaking

The boat overtaking another must keep clear. This applies to sailing and powerboats.

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