In Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson's lively tale of secret maps and stolen doubloons, a conscience plagued pirate throws himself on his knees and seeks forgiveness through solemn, if belated, prayer. Stevenson explains how Dick found himself in this predicament: "He had been well brought up, had Dick, before he came to sea and fell among bad companions", -- who may well be those who fail to observe the "rules".

All boaties should be familiar with the Navigation Rules, widely known as "the rules of the road" and detailed in the Qld. Small Ships Manual. They specify how all vessels -- boats and ships -- must manoeuvre, and what signals they must make in order to avoid collisions. Skippers of auxiliary sailboats, for example, may think they always have right of way over powerboats, even when their engines are on. Not so. Sailboats under sail are required by law to give way to some powerboats, and when their engines are on and in gear, under the rules, sailboats become powerboats.

Sailors may also be ignorant of how powerboats handle. For every power boater unaware that a sailboat makes leeway and turns slowly, there's a sailor who doesn't know how easily a powerboat at low speed can be pushed around by the wind. We always expect other boats to be as manoeuvrable as ours, and sometimes they're not. That's why the Navigation Rules lay out specific priorities when different types of vessels are near each other. The logic is simple and can be summarized this way:

Boats under sail power normally have the right of way over powerboats, but must give way to large vessels in constricted channels.

More manoeuvrable boats give way to less manoeuvrable ones. In wide open, deep water, a powerboat gives way to a sailboat, and any moving boat gives way to a stopped boat (for instance, one that has fishing lines out). But in a narrow channel or traffic separation zone, smaller boats (under sail or power) give way to ships, ferry boats, and other large vessels that have little room to manoeuvre. The challenge is to recognize the scenario.

Here's another rule with its own sound logic:- Any boat overtaking another boat must give way to the leader. If you can easily see the other boat's stern, it means that you're overtaking and also that her crew may not easily see you. You may pass, but you must keep your distance. This rule applies even to sailboats overtaking a powerboat.

When similar boats are near each other, the rules assign priorities according to arbitrary rules, including:

When sailboats under sail are near each other, a boat on port tack must give way to one on starboard, and a windward boat must give way to a leeward one.

Those rules sound simple, but in the heat of the action even the best of us can momentarily misread a situation.

When boats under power cross, the one on the right IS right. The other boat must cross her wake, not her bow.

Another example of an established rule governing similar boats is the crossing rule for powerboats (which, again, include sailboats under power). We are frequently tempted to cut across another boat's bow in channels and harbors, for example, to reach the slip. The rule that helps makes that action seamanlike can be summarized this way:

The boat on the right IS right. When boats under power are crossing, the stand-on vessel (the one that does not alter course) is the one on the other vessel's starboard side and the give-way vessel is the one on the other boat's port side. The give-way vessel must cross astern of the other, not ahead.

Communications must be clear. You cannot assume that the skipper of the other boat can read your mind. One way to communicate is with clear action. The give-way vessel must make an early and substantial course alteration--say, 20 degrees. An old rule of thumb is "show her your side." A small course change may be easily interpreted as a steering error. Another way to communicate between boats is over a VHF radio, which in crowded waters should be kept on, tuned to the local channel, and carefully monitored.

Finally, there are two informal, but helpful rules of thumb (not rules of the road) that have saved many skippers from embarrassment or worse:

The clear visibility rule: If you don't think the crew of the other vessel is able to see you, give way regardless of who is technically correct.

The gross tonnage rule: Give way to vessels much larger than yours, for the same reason.

Both these guidelines reflect a cautious, realistic, and determined effort to be the good companion that you'd like the other bloke to be.

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