Rules of the Road

Sharing waterways

Recreational boaters should be prepared to share waterways with wildlife, swimmers, divers, other boaters and watercraft ranging from sailboats to float planes. As an operator, you must respect others on or near the water for them to respect your rights. Operators using courtesy and common sense will not create a hazard, threat, stress or be an irritant to others, to the environment or to wildlife.

Rules of the road

Following the rules of the road is an important part of recreational boating. Everyone is entitled to a safe, fun time on the water so learn the rules and boat by them.

Doing so is not just a matter of courtesy; it is the law, set out in the Collision Regulations. They apply to every vessel and operator on all navigable waters — from canoes to supertankers.

Operating Rules

Port: If a power-driven vessel approaches within this sector, maintain with caution, your course and speed.

Starboard: If any vessel approaches within this sector, keep out of its way.

(Note: This rule may not always apply if one or both vessels are sailboats.)

Stern: If any vessel approaches this sector, maintain with caution, your course and speed.

A blows one blast and alters course to starboard.

B blows one blast and alters course to starboard.

A keeps clear of and must avoid crossing ahead of B.

Any vessel overtaking another must keep clear.

A keeps clear of B

B keeps clear of D

C keeps clear of A and B

D keeps clear of A and C

A power-driven vessel keeps clear of a sailing vessel.

Right-of-way rules

Right-of-way rules help vessels that are sharing waterways avoid colliding with each other.

Some right-of-way rules for sailing vessels include:

a) When each sailing vessel has the wind on a different side, the vessel that has the wind on its port (left) side must keep out of the way of the other. In the illustration below, A keeps clear of B.

If a sailing vessel has the wind on its port side and the sailor cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on its port or starboard side, the first vessel must keep out of the way of the other.

b) When both sailing vessels have the wind on the same side, the vessel to windward* shall keep out of the way of the vessel to leeward. B keeps clear of A.

* The windward side is defined as the side opposite to that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.

Maintaining a proper lookout and avoiding a collision

Maintaining a constant lookout is common sense and the law. If you are sharing the water with large vessels remember they have limited visibility, manoeuvrability and take much longer to come to a stop. Be prepared to move out of the way of these vessels for these reasons.

Be aware and be considerate

Never buzz, try to spray swimmers, cut in front of or try to jump the wake of other vessels. Some of the worst boating accidents happen when speed or distance is misjudged. It only adds to the tragedy when the two parties involved are friends or relatives.

Vessels less than 20 m (65’7”) in length, including sailing vessels, must stay out of the way of larger vessels that can safely navigate only within the channel. A large vessel will remind you of the requirement to give way by giving five or more short blasts of its horn. This means the situation has escalated to an emergency and you must take all necessary steps to get out of the way.