According to sailboat rules of the road, which statement is true?

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When two sailing vessels are near each other, the vessel on the starboard (right) side has the right of way. That means the boat whose position places the other vessel on its port side must take action to keep clear, typically by altering course early to avoid a close-quarters situation. So the statement that the boat on the starboard side has the right of way over the boat on the port side is correct because it reflects this standard rule for crossing and meeting sailboats.

The idea is to use predictable, early moves to prevent collisions: the starboard vessel maintains course, and the port-side vessel yields. The notion that the vessel behind has priority isn’t how the rules work in crossing situations, and it's not automatic that a sailboat must yield to a powerboat—the outcome depends on each vessel’s position, course, and maneuverability under the rules.