How fast must all vessels travel on NSW waterways?
Based on: Safe speed
NSW Boat & PWC Licence Test · Navigation
NSW Boating Give Way Rules 2026: Who Has Right of Way
On New South Wales waterways every vessel must travel at a safe speed at all times, even where there is no posted speed limit, and both skippers share the responsibility to avoid a collision. When two powered vessels meet head on, each turns to starboard, the right, and passes at a safe distance. When they cross, you give way to the vessel on your right. A powered vessel must give way to a sailing vessel, unless it is being overtaken by that sailing vessel. Learn these give way rules and you have the core of the test.
Practice
Free practice questions
What minimum distance must a powered vessel keep from people in the water?
Based on: Safe distance from people
How far from their float or flag can divers and spearfishers be?
Based on: Divers distance from float
When two vessels approach each other, whose job is it to avoid a collision?
Based on: Giving way, overtaking and avoiding collisions
Do the give-way rules apply to a vessel that is drifting without being anchored?
Based on: Giving way
What must the give-way vessel do?
Based on: Giving way - actions
What should the stand-on vessel (the one with right of way) generally do?
Based on: Giving way - actions
Two powered vessels are meeting head on. What must each one do?
Based on: Powered vessels - head on
In a head-on meeting between two powerboats, which side does each turn to?
Based on: Powered vessels - head on
Two powered boats are crossing paths. Which one must give way?
Based on: Powered vessels - crossing
Safe speed and keeping a proper lookout
The first rule of navigation in New South Wales is that all vessels must travel at a safe speed at all times, even on stretches of water where there is no numbered speed limit. Safe speed is whatever lets you stop or turn in time for the conditions, the traffic and the visibility around you. Alongside safe speed sits the duty to keep a proper lookout, which means watching for other vessels, people in the water, moorings, floating hazards and anything else that could put you or others at risk. A powered vessel must keep a minimum distance of 60m from people in the water and from dive flags or floats. Divers and spearfishers can be up to 100m away from their float or flag, so you should take extra care whenever you are within 200m of one, because the person may be much further from the marker than you expect.
Give way and stand on: who does what
When two vessels approach each other, the skippers of both vessels share the responsibility to take action to avoid a collision. The rules also apply to vessels that are drifting or holding position without being anchored, so you cannot escape them just by taking your engine out of gear. The vessel that must give way is called the give way vessel, and it must alter course or slow down to let the other pass, making its actions clear and early so the other skipper can read its intentions. The other vessel is the stand on vessel, the one with right of way, and it must generally maintain its course and speed if it is safe to do so, while staying ready to act if the give way vessel does not do enough. Acting early and obviously is the theme the exam keeps returning to.
- Give way vessel: alter course or slow down clearly and early.
- Stand on vessel: maintain course and speed if safe, but stay ready to act.
- The rules also cover drifting vessels and vessels holding position without an anchor.
Head on, crossing and power gives way to sail
Three set piece situations come up again and again. First, when two powered vessels are meeting head on, each one must turn to its own starboard, the right, and pass the other at a safe distance, so both boats move to the same side and slide safely past. Second, when two powered vessels are crossing paths, you must give way to the vessel on your right, the starboard side, so if a powerboat is approaching your starboard side on a crossing course, you are the one who gives way. Third, as a general rule a powered vessel must give way to a sailing vessel, with one important exception: a powered vessel does not have to give way when the sailing vessel is overtaking it. A sailing vessel that is running its engine counts as a powered vessel and must follow the same give way rules, and sailboards and kiteboards are treated as sailing vessels. When two sailing vessels meet on different tacks, the vessel on a port tack gives way to the vessel on a starboard tack.
| Situation | Who gives way | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Two powered vessels meeting head on | Both | Each turns to starboard (right), pass at a safe distance |
| Two powered vessels crossing | The vessel that has the other on its right | Give way to the vessel on your starboard (right) side |
| Powered vessel meets sailing vessel | The powered vessel | Give way to sail, unless the sailing vessel is overtaking you |
| Sailing vessel using its engine | Follows powered vessel rules | Treated the same as a powered vessel |
| Two sailing vessels on different tacks | The vessel on a port tack | Give way to the vessel on a starboard tack |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who gives way when two power boats cross in NSW?
In New South Wales, when two powered vessels are crossing paths, you give way to the vessel on your right, the starboard side. So if a powerboat approaches your starboard side on a crossing course, you are the give way vessel and must alter course or slow down clearly and early to let it pass.
Does a power boat give way to a sailing boat in NSW?
In New South Wales a powered vessel must give way to a sailing vessel as a general rule. The one exception is when the powered vessel is being overtaken by the sailing vessel. A sailing vessel that is using its engine counts as a powered vessel and must follow the same give way rules.
What must the give way vessel do in NSW?
In New South Wales the give way vessel must alter course or slow down to let the other vessel pass, and it must make its actions clear and early. The stand on vessel, the one with right of way, should generally maintain its course and speed if safe, while staying ready to act if needed.
How far must a boat stay from people in the water in NSW?
In New South Wales a powered vessel must keep a minimum distance of 60m from people in the water and from dive flags or floats. Because divers and spearfishers can be up to 100m from their float or flag, you should take extra care whenever you are within 200m of one.