Question 214 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is A) The sailboat, because it is under sail. Under both the International and Inland Navigation Rules, a sailing vessel is the "stand-on" vessel when meeting a power-driven vessel. This is because sailing vessels have less maneuverability compared to power-driven vessels, so the power-driven vessel must take action to avoid a collision. The rule applies regardless of the relative positions of the vessels, so the fact that the sailboat is on the power-driven vessel's port bow does not change the situation. The other options are incorrect because they do not properly apply the rules regarding stand-on and give-way vessels based on the type of vessel (sail vs. power).