Rule 10 Meaning in Sailing

Rule 10 is a specific section of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) that governs the behavior of vessels in ‘Traffic Separation Schemes’ (TSS), which are like highways for large ships. It requires smaller boats to cross these lanes at right angles and avoid interfering with the passage of large commercial vessels following the lane. One clear example involves a sailing yacht crossing the English Channel at a 90-degree angle to the shipping lanes to minimize the time spent in the path of giant container ships. Violating Rule 10 is a serious legal offense and a major safety risk. It is designed to keep small, agile boats away from large, slow-moving ships in busy transit areas.