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FREE Navigation Rules Online Sailing Course
Become a Safer Boater
Enroll in this FREE online Navigation Rules safety course to master the USCG "Rules of the Road" and navigational markers for sailing and operating a vessel under power. This comprehensive training covers everything from understanding various buoys and markers to identifying potential hazards and adhering to proper maritime rules. Whether you're a seasoned boater or just starting, this course is essential for enhancing boating safety and confidence on the water. Enroll now to take the first step toward becoming a knowledgeable and responsible boater.
Estimate Time: 3 hours
Price: FREE (normally $10.50)
What Students Say
✨AI generated from student reviewsStudents say Navigation Rules for Sailboats takes a complex, sometimes “dull” topic and makes it clear, engaging, and surprisingly fun. The course is repeatedly praised for its logical organization, plain-language explanations of COLREGS, and strong emphasis on real-world, sailboat-specific situations. Learners—from complete novices to USCG-licensed captains and long-time sailors—describe it as both an ideal introduction and an excellent refresher, noting that the challenging tests and trick questions really cement the rules. The visuals—3-D graphics, animations, photos, and interactive stand-on/give-way scenarios—are highlighted as especially helpful for understanding right-of-way and collision-avoidance priorities. Many reviewers say they finished the course feeling more confident and safer on the water, and several comment that it’s better and more comprehensive than other materials they’ve used. Overall, they call it a thorough, professional, easy-to-follow course and an essential, free resource every boater should take.
FREE Navigation Rules Online Sailing Course
Whether you are a seasoned boater or just starting out, this course is a must for anyone looking to enhance their boating safety and confidence on the water. So enroll now and take the first step towards becoming a knowledgeable and responsible boater.
In the Navigation Rules Online Sailing Course, you will learn:
- Why "Right of Way" is more properly called "Stand On"
- Essential knowledge regarding the Rules with other vessels
- How not to get squashed like a bug by big container ships
- Who gives way between power-driven vessels and sailboats
- When sailboats must give way to other vessels
- When Sailboats give way to each other
- Learn how to gain access to our free Virtual Reality gamified Navigation Rules learning program (requires Meta Quest headset)
We guarantee both your satisfaction AND Lifetime access to any sailing course you buy from us!
More about this Navigation Rules Course
- The FREE Navigation Rules sailing course teaches USCG rules of the road and nav markers
- Simple concepts for real understanding of essential navigation knowledge
- Realistic 3D illustrated situations with interactive animations
- Takes approximately 3 hours of total time to complete
- Browser and mobile screen size-friendly
- Available offline through the NauticEd Course Apps for iOS and Android
- FREE for 30 days - if you pass inside 30 days it is free forever.
- Return as many times as you like to review
- Take the online test as many times as you like
- Adds" Navigation Rules Passed" to your globally recognized Sailing Certificate and Resume
- Also available in:
(Select the language after you register for this course or at any time when taking the course) - View Navigation Rules Sailing Course excerpts
This is an ONLINE course
Today's Investment: FREE
Hesitating about taking this FREE sailing Course? Watch our Introduction video below
Not convinced yet that online sailing courses are cool? Visit our fully interactive and completely free Basic Sail Trim Sailing Course. You'll see why online e-learning is SO MUCH BETTER than a boring old Book.
NauticEd sailing courses use a multimedia approach to learning. Below is an animated video to demonstrate one of the Give Way rules. Did they do it right? Find out - by taking the NauticEd Rules of the Nautical Road FREE sailing class now!
The course is taken from Module 5.8 of the NauticEd Skipper Course.
Please tell your friends and crew to take this FREE online Navigation Rules. It's that important!
If you've still got questions about NauticEd, the courses, and/or the sailing certifications, visit our support system or contact us via email or phone we're happy to help.
Did we say this FREE Navigation Rules Course is FREE today?
By Grant Headifen
NauticEd Global Director of Education
View Navigation Rules for Sailboats Course excerpt
Student Reviews
Jeremy B.
2026, 24 Feb. 20:19
It is very thorough. Lots of good graphics. Background history was very useful. Until this course I never know where the term starboard came from nor the logic for the starboard tack to have the right of way.
Mihailo G.
2026, 21 Feb. 01:16
Made you think about staton and wind direction
Simon H.
2026, 17 Feb. 22:09
Worked problems from lots of different angles
Terence M.
2026, 12 Feb. 18:25
diagrams were clear
Ryan S.
2026, 12 Feb. 16:32
Everything...this course was great!
Mary P.
2026, 09 Feb. 22:48
Good examples to help you understand the rules that are written in challenging English
William E.
2026, 09 Feb. 17:54
Great explanations and examples
Rick O.
2026, 09 Feb. 05:11
Practical knowledge and visual examples
Greg J.
2026, 06 Feb. 16:59
Almost ready to go sailing with Grant!
Phillip 'Flip' R.
2026, 02 Feb. 16:28
Clear and comprehensive.
Debra M.
2026, 30 Jan. 02:31
The interactive models of actual sailing situations.
James ("Jamie") K.
2026, 29 Jan. 23:44
The course is visually and literally informative. I learned a lot!
List Price: $10.50 Price: $0.00 You Save: $10.50 (100%)
Excerpt from the course
Expand Excerpt from the courseAbove: Two sailboats battle it out in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand. You'll learn quickly who has to keep clear of the other.
Other sailing courses you might enjoy:
Catamaran Sailing Confidence
Free Basic Sail Trim Sailing Course
Sea talk testimonials
I'd like to point out that I have had no formal sailing training, other than what our club provided. NauticEd was my main source of "class room" training and it was great! Can't wait to go chartering again and I will insist that our crew, on the next trip, take some of your courses!