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MARITIME SAFETY RESEARCH

How well do you REALLY
know the rules of the road?

Published evidence suggests that even trained mariners may struggle with sound signal questions. Very little published research has specifically tested recreational sailors — until now.

4-5 minutes
13 scored questions
Instant results

Every response makes the findings more accurate. The more sailors who take this, the more useful the research becomes for the whole sailing community.

Before you begin:

  • Answer from memory — don't look anything up
  • Participation is voluntary — stop at any time
  • Responses are anonymous — email stored separately if provided
  • Results reported in aggregate only
  • Because responses are anonymous, individual submissions cannot be identified or deleted after completion
  • Data retained for 5 years from publication
  • GDPR-compliant data handling — privacy policy

Data controller: Galvanic Works S.L., Illes Balears, Spain. Contact: socials@galvanicworks.com

Disclosure: This research is conducted by Galvanic Works S.L., a maritime safety technology company that develops marine alerting products. The study is self-funded. The quiz instrument tests COLREGs knowledge independently of any product — no questions reference or promote Galvanic Works products.

By clicking "Start Quiz" you confirm you are 18+ and consent to participate.

Section 1 of 5

About You

A few quick questions so we can understand who is taking this quiz.

1
How many years have you been sailing?
Please select an answer
2
What type of sailing do you do? (select all that apply)
Please select at least one option
3
What is your highest sailing qualification?
Please select an answer
4
Where do you primarily sail? (select all that apply)
Please select at least one option
Section 2 of 5

Self-Assessment

Before we test your knowledge, how do you rate yourself?

5
How confident are you in your knowledge of the COLREGs?
Please select an answer
6
When did you last study or formally review the COLREGs?
Please select an answer
7
How often do you encounter situations where COLREG knowledge is needed?
Please select an answer
Section 3 of 5

Test Your Knowledge

13 questions. Your score will be revealed at the end.

Answer from memory. No looking things up. Select "I don't know" rather than guess -- honest answers make better research.
8
Rule 5 requires every vessel to maintain a proper lookout at all times. Which senses does the rule specify?
Please select an answer
9
Two sailing yachts are approaching each other. Yacht A has the wind on its port side, Yacht B on its starboard side. Who gives way?
Please select an answer
10
You are under sail. A large cargo ship is approaching on a crossing course in open water. Who is the stand-on vessel?
Please select an answer
11
Same scenario, but now you are in a narrow channel and the cargo ship can only safely navigate within the channel. Who gives way?
Please select an answer
12
At night, you see a green light and a white light but no red light. What does this tell you about the other vessel?
Please select an answer
13
You see three vertical lights: red, white, red. What type of vessel is displaying them?
Please select an answer
14
A sailing yacht under 20 metres is under sail only (no engine) at night. What lights is it required to show?
Please select an answer
15
You are motoring in clear conditions. A power-driven vessel is approaching from your starboard side on a crossing course. What should you do?
Please select an answer
16
You see a vessel displaying a single yellow flashing light. What type of vessel is it?
Please select an answer
17
In restricted visibility (fog), which of these factors should determine a "safe speed"? (select all that apply)
Please select at least one option
18
Two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on. What should both vessels do?
Please select an answer
19
You are the stand-on vessel, but the give-way vessel is not taking action to avoid collision. What should you do?
Please select an answer
S
A power-driven vessel under way in fog should sound which signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes?
Please select an answer
Section 4 of 5

Learning & Application

How you learned and how it plays out on the water.

20
Where did you learn the COLREGs? (select all that apply)
Please select at least one option
21
Which COLREG topics do you find most confusing? (select up to 3)
Please select at least one option (maximum 3)
22
Have you ever been in a close-quarters situation where you were unsure of the correct rule?
Please select an answer
23
What did you do in that situation?
Please select an answer
Section 5 of 5

After the Quiz

Almost done. Just a few final thoughts.

24
Having taken the quiz, how do you now feel about your COLREG knowledge?
Please select an answer
25
Would you take a free COLREG refresher course if one were available?
Please select an answer
26
Would you like to receive your detailed results and our COLREG research findings by email?
Please select an answer
0
out of 13
Confidence vs. Knowledge

Thank you for contributing to this research. Your answers — right or wrong — help us understand the real state of COLREG knowledge among recreational sailors. This is published research examining COLREG knowledge retention among recreational sailors. See galvanicworks.com/research for our latest findings.

Help us reach more sailors
The more responses, the more accurate the published findings. Share this with other sailors.

Continue contributing to the research

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