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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
Boyd B.
2026, 22 Jan. 05:47
improved my understanding of rules of the road outside the ones you see in regattas
Flora r.
2026, 20 Jan. 06:56
because I do not like water and have a great fear of it I never thought this was some thing I would ever do, take a course and plan a trip on the water this course has given me the confidence to get on a boat and sail with my children on the adventure of a life time at 83, if I can do this so can anyone else,
Brett T.
2026, 20 Jan. 01:04
very user friendly and engaging. Not super boring and easy read. Test was tough, but fair. Will be taking more courses
Tracy D.
2026, 18 Jan. 04:28
I like the emphasis on common sense (even if I don’t always have it). good use of tech.
Jack M.
2026, 18 Jan. 03:28
The examples were well illustrated and properly explained. I also had the book "Navigation Rules" written by Grant Headifen in 2015 and read that and found that to be superb! Will be looking for more NauticEd books, sometimes more convenient to read and go backward as a study guide. This material was organized and summarized much better than the USCG Rules of the Road and more enjoyable to read.
Christopher C.
2026, 17 Jan. 16:54
Good overview of rules of the road. Interesting scenarios with three boats as the COLREGs do not address three boats; they refer to two boats only.
Jonathan T.
2026, 13 Jan. 20:04
Es en tema retador y bastante amplio
Alexander G.
2026, 13 Jan. 19:47
What a great starter course. I thought I knew enough but it covered a few items I didn't understand fully.
Verena R.
2026, 12 Jan. 01:08
Informative and straightforward
Jeff W.
2026, 11 Jan. 21:07
I have learned a lot from this course and it will make me a better and safer boater.
David T.
2026, 10 Jan. 20:24
details and examples
Ted S.
2026, 03 Jan. 22:39
Many examples are given
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
Thanks for your quick reply. I like your approach based on sound theory and emphasis on the practical skills (my approach too in my area of work). Thanks for the link to the article and for the time you take to answer my questions. Be assured that I will recommend NauticEd far and wide (and also to our local sailing school).