In what situation is a sailing vessel considered the give-way vessel?

A sailing vessel is considered the give-way vessel when it is overtaking a power-driven vessel. Under navigation rules, the overtaking vessel, regardless of its type, is required to yield to the vessel being overtaken. This is primarily to ensure safety and prevent collisions, as the overtaking vessel may not be fully aware of the maneuvering limitations of the vessel it is approaching. This rule reflects the more significant maneuverability of power-driven vessels compared to sailing vessels, making it essential for the sailing vessel to take action to avoid a collision.

In situations where both vessels are under sail, the rules specify that the sailing vessel on a port tack must give way to the sailing vessel on a starboard tack, meaning they must be aware of which tack they are on to determine their responsibilities. When two sailing vessels are on a collision course, they must also adhere to specific rules that depend on their relative positions and sails orientation, meaning the determination of which is the give-way vessel can be more complex. Lastly, in a head-on meeting scenario, both vessels typically should alter course to starboard, but this does not designate one as the give-way vessel over the other as they each have mutual responsibilities to avoid a collision.