Rule text#
Source
(a)When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows:
(i)When each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other.
(ii)When both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward.
(iii)If a vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or on the starboard side, she shall keep out of the way of the other.
(b)For the purpose of this Rule, the windward side shall be deemed to be 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.
Authoritative source#
Source links checked against the current public rule corpus on 2026-05-16.
- 33 CFR §83.12 — the section this text comes from, with its neighbours.
- International COLREGs Rule 12 verbatim text is published by the IMO and is authoritative for international waters.
Practice this rule#
One real exam question on this rule, cited to source. No sign-up.
For the purpose of Inland Rule 12, how is the windward side of a fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel defined?
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