Overtaking

In plain language

Overtaking trumps everything in the in-sight rules: the overtaking vessel keeps clear, even if she is a sailing vessel passing a power-driven one. You are overtaking when you come up from more than 22.5° abaft the other vessel's beam — at night, the zone where you would see only her sternlight and neither sidelight. In doubt? Assume you are overtaking. And later bearing changes never convert you into a crossing vessel — you stay the give-way vessel until finally past and clear.

Easily confused with

• Rule 15 — Crossing situation

  Coming up from more than 22.5° abaft her beam is overtaking, not crossing — and a later bearing change never turns it into a crossing (Rule 13(d)).

• Rule 18 — Responsibilities between vessels

  Overtaking outranks the vessel-type hierarchy: even a sailing vessel overtaking a power-driven vessel keeps clear.