Which statement is true regarding two sailing vessels with the wind forward of the beam on opposite sides?

Which statement is true regarding two sailing vessels with the wind forward of the beam on opposite sides?

• A. A sailing vessel with the wind forward of the beam on the starboard side shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel with the wind forward of the beam on the port side
• B. The vessel on the starboard tack has priority
• C. Neither vessel must keep out of the other
• D. The sailing vessel with the wind forward of the beam on the port side shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel with the wind forward of the beam on the starboard side

Answer: (D)

When two sailing vessels are on crossing courses with wind forward of the beam on opposite sides, the vessel on the starboard tack has the right of way. Wind forward of the beam means each vessel is sailing close to the wind, with the wind coming from its port side on one vessel and from its starboard side on the other. In this situation the vessel whose wind is coming from the starboard side (the starboard-tack vessel) is the stand-on vessel, while the vessel with wind on the port side (the port-tack vessel) must give way and keep out of the way. So the correct statement is that the sailing vessel with wind forward of the beam on the port side shall keep out of the way of the sailing vessel with wind forward of the beam on the starboard side. This matches the rule that you give way to the vessel on your starboard side. If they were on the same tack or not crossing, different rules would apply, but in this crossing scenario the port-tack vessel must yield.

When two sailing vessels are on crossing courses with wind forward of the beam on opposite sides, the vessel on the starboard tack has the right of way. Wind forward of the beam means each vessel is sailing close to the wind, with the wind coming from its port side on one vessel and from its starboard side on the other. In this situation the vessel whose wind is coming from the starboard side (the starboard-tack vessel) is the stand-on vessel, while the vessel with wind on the port side (the port-tack vessel) must give way and keep out of the way.

So the correct statement is that the sailing vessel with wind forward of the beam on the port side shall keep out of the way of the sailing vessel with wind forward of the beam on the starboard side. This matches the rule that you give way to the vessel on your starboard side. If they were on the same tack or not crossing, different rules would apply, but in this crossing scenario the port-tack vessel must yield.