International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea

You should not only pay attention to your own safety, but also obey the Rules of the Road during water sports activities. Some of the basic rules and common situations are as follows:

• When encountering another boat, pay attention to the tacks of both boats if they will cause a collision. If you cannot determine whether it is safe, just assume that there might be a collision.
• When two boats are on the same tack and continued sailing may lead to a possible collision, the windward boat should keep clear of the leeward boat.
• When two boats are on the opposite tacks and continued sailing may lead to a possible collision, the boat on the port tack should keep clear of the one on the starboard tack.
• When one boat is overtaking another, the faster boat must keep clear of the one being overtaken.
• Power boats should give way to boats driven by wind or manual force. The latter should give way to vessels out of control, vessels with limited control and fishing boats.
• The boat that has the priority for continued sailing should keep its course and speed. But be prepared to give way to avoid collision if another boat does not alter its course in time.
• If in doubt, always give way first for the sake of safety.

國際防止海上撞船規則

進行水上活動時，不但要注意個人安全，亦必須遵守航海的交通規則。以下是一些最基本的原則及常見情況：

• 與其他艇隻相遇時，應留意雙方的航向會否構成艇隻相撞。若未能判斷是否安全，應假設可能碰撞來處理。
• 當兩艘風帆採用相同航向，繼續航行可能引致相撞時，在上風的風帆應避開。
• 當兩艘風帆採用不同航向，繼續航行可能引致相撞時，採用左舷受風的風帆應避讓右舷受風的風帆。
• 當一艘風帆要超越前面另一艘風帆時，超前的風帆應避讓被超越的風帆。
• 機動船隻應讓路給風力或人力推動的艇隻；風力或人力推動的船隻應讓路給失控船隻、操縱能力受到限制的船隻及從事捕漁的船隻。
• 有優先權繼續向前航行的船隻，應保持她的航線及速度。但遇上別船未能及時改變航線時，便要採取避碰行動，避免碰撞。
• 如有懷疑時，不防自己先行採取避碰行動，以策安全。