
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC2012]

 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
                  CHAPTER 34--INLAND NAVIGATIONAL RULES
 
                           SUBCHAPTER I--RULES
 
                   Part B--Steering and Sailing Rules
 
         subpart ii--conduct of vessels in sight of one another
 
Sec. 2012. Sailing vessels (Rule 12)


(a) Keeping out of the way

    When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to 
involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the 
other as follows:
        (i) when each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which 
    has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the 
    other;
        (ii) when both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which 
    is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to 
    leeward; and
        (iii) if a vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel 
    to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other 
    vessel has the wind on the port or on the starboard side, she shall 
    keep out of the way of the other.

(b) Windward side

    For the purpose of this Rule the windward side shall be deemed to be 
the side opposite to that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the 
case of a square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the 
largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.

(Pub. L. 96-591, Sec. 2, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3420.)

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of section 2 of Pub. L. 96-591 which 
enacted the Inland Navigational Rules which comprise this subchapter.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 2011, 2013, 2018 of this 
title.
