Anchor lights

[ylop]

Did you read rest of the post ... next line he says BALL .... so obviously a silly error ... a slip .... nothing to get up about.

And people make silly errors between brain and keyboard all the time on here and other places. People point them out, and the normal response is to have a laugh at your own error not get massively defensive. If GHA has no sense of humour it’s not my fault.

 

[billyfish]

Unbelievable, anchor threads . So funny guys.

 

[West Coast]

Anyone actually had a bump in the night owing to poor illumination?

(Some people seem to have admitted poor illumination).

Not personally (although had a near miss). But did witness a bad hit one night circa 1984 in Bunessan on Isle of Mull. Winds were strong southerly so many boats had come in for shelter, the anchorage was busier than I have ever seen it. One largish wooden yacht came in at dusk, anchored to the east side of the main anchorage on a direct transit line to the pier. If they put up an anchor light, I certainly did not see it, anchored about 100M away. The crew then took to their dinghy and went ashore.

In the late evening, after dark, some fishing boats began to come in - these were 50' or so local boats athat often came in to tie alongside the pier to sort their catch before going back out again. They had the usual powerful deck floodlights on, so skipper's visibility ahead was certainly likely to be hindered. Nonetheless they were travelling at certainly around 6kn or more right up to the pier. One of these fishing boats hit the wooden boat midships and the noise of the impact could still be clearly heard over the strength of the wind. The fishing boat proceeded on to the pier and left about an hour later.

Next morning, the wooden yacht was still afloat, but with visible damage to her masts. The skipper, a youngish lad, was rowing around the adjacent anchored boats in some state of anguish asking if there had been any witnesses to the incident and if anyone could identify the fishing boat. His boat had suffered some significant hull damage (broken planks and frames).

Can still picture this even after all these years.

 

[shanemax]

I love night passages just for the fun of it and have on more than one occasion thought " that's a bright star on the horizon" only to find 10 minutes later its a yacht at anchor. I hang my light on my boom. I want it to be at normal visual height. Where I anchor I do not need to worry about the captain of a container ship seeing me. they would run aground a long way off, before they hit me. I usually anchor in 5-6 meters of water. I want that light to be at face height in the other persons eyes.

 

[[2574]]

It's very strange. Presently anchored in the Kyles of Bute with two other yachts. We were the only boat displaying an anchor light last night. This is an easy and well sheltered anchorage where other boats may well enter to anchor at night.

I could just make out the other two yachts, anchored about 200m distant, using binos at about 2300 yesterday, invisible to the naked eye.

I've read that some people think anchor lights spoil the ambience of a dark anchorage, is that it? Can't think why else one wouldn't display a light, it's beyond me.

 

[Refueler]

It's very strange. Presently anchored in the Kyles of Bute with two other yachts. We were the only boat displaying an anchor light last night. This is an easy and well sheltered anchorage where other boats may well enter to anchor at night.

I could just make out the other two yachts, anchored about 200m distant, using binos at about 2300 yesterday, invisible to the naked eye.

I've read that some people think anchor lights spoil the ambience of a dark anchorage, is that it? Can't think why else one wouldn't display a light, it's beyond me.

Even a candle is enough light to mark ... OK not practical I know ... but just saying. A light of some sort is better than no light.

 

[mattonthesea]

Anyone actually had a bump in the night owing to poor illumination?

(Some people seem to have admitted poor illumination).

No but I was very very close to bumping a boat in St Ives once. Crew on the anchor spotted the boat about five metres away!

 

[B27]

It's very strange. Presently anchored in the Kyles of Bute with two other yachts. We were the only boat displaying an anchor light last night. This is an easy and well sheltered anchorage where other boats may well enter to anchor at night.

I could just make out the other two yachts, anchored about 200m distant, using binos at about 2300 yesterday, invisible to the naked eye.

I've read that some people think anchor lights spoil the ambience of a dark anchorage, is that it? Can't think why else one wouldn't display a light, it's beyond me.

I can understand having no lights on and looking at the stars etc etc, but I think I'd turn the light on before turning in, or if I heard a boat approaching.

 

[Kettlewell]

I've seen a few anchor lights recently that were too bright--blinding actually! People seem to have installed these brilliant lights thinking they're being safe but in reality they are like the too-bright headlamps on cars on the motorway. On our boat we have two solar lights on the shrouds about 6 feet above deck level that both illuminate the decks and act as anchor lights. Having two lights makes our boat identifiable when we are returning after dark. They last all night long. Occasionally I also use the masthead anchor light when anchored someplace with no other boats around so that I am more visible from a great distance, but in the typical crowded anchorage lower lights are better.

 

[roaringgirl]

What does 2 all-round white lights at the same height indicate in the colregs?

 

[Kettlewell]

What does 2 all-round white lights at the same height indicate in the colregs?

Who knows or cares? In a crowded anchorage people are just looking for lights of any sort, and to make our boat safe I prefer them closer to deck level. I suppose I could declare one as the anchor light and the other as the optional deck illumination prescribed in the rules. Personally, I find all the masthead lights somewhat dangerous in a crowded anchorage. As I noted, some are even blinding today, but all of them are too high to aid someone winding their way between many anchored boats. Most boats will naturally have other lights on in the cockpit or on deck, so I look at the second anchor light as one of those. When anchored someplace well away from other boats and where there could possibly be some confusion I'll use the masthead all-around anchor light to maximize visibility from a distance.

 

[noelex]

The advantage of using a commercial masthead light is that it is a marine light that has been tested and certified to meet the required collision rule standards. Displaying this means you have met all your legal obligations. You are then free (and even encouraged) to display whatever other deck lighting you deem helpful.

 

[wonkywinch]

I've just retired from a career in the aviation industry. Most of my decision making in these situations is how it's going to look stood in front of a judge. I'm one of the few boats in the Solent that displays an anchor ball but I can be certain if someone crashed into me and spilled my G&T, I was legally correct at the time of the accident m'lud.

 

[Kettlewell]

Most of my decision making in these situations is how it's going to look stood in front of a judge.

My decision making starts with what is the safest way of operating, even if sometimes it doesn't meet the letter of the law, though I think my two lights do satisfy the requirements. Another example is running offshore using a masthead tricolor even if I have the engine on--it just makes us much more visible and safer. I'd rather not be run down in the first place!

 

[noelex]

My decision making starts with what is the safest way of operating, even if sometimes it doesn't meet the letter of the law,

Turning on a marine certified (usually mounted at the top of the mast) anchor light is not going to make you less safe.

This does not restrict your ability to display other deck lights.

 

[wonkywinch]

My decision making starts with what is the safest way of operating, even if sometimes it doesn't meet the letter of the law, though I think my two lights do satisfy the requirements. Another example is running offshore using a masthead tricolor even if I have the engine on--it just makes us much more visible and safer. I'd rather not be run down in the first place!

By "engine on", do you mean just running in neutral or being used to propel your boat? If the latter, then surely the tricolour will force other (powered) vessels to take action they might not have had to under Colregs?

I know people who switch every light on at night to improve their conspicuity without realising they simply confuse the majority who know and follow the rules that are there to keep them alive.

 

[Kettlewell]

Turning on a marine certified (usually mounted at the top of the mast) anchor light is not going to make you less safe.

True, but going back to the OP's complaint many are only showing a masthead light and nothing down low that make you safer.

Not a anchor thread but am I the only one a bit annoyed with anchor lights at the top of , ever increasing tall masts. Mine although not hung in the fore triangle. Is just under the boom therefore illuminating the deck and very visible from the deck of a passing vessel. It's hung there as the wire reaches back to the cabin. I know this might seem a bit picky but a crowded anchorage on a dark night one isn't looking 50 foot up.

 

[B27]

People love to get excited about this question, but TBH, it's a pretty rare anchorage where you don't see the other anchor lights and suss out the boats long before a masthead light needs 'looking up at'. If your mast is that tall you probably want a red light at the top to ward off aircraft.

Putting two lights low down, presumably in case one is blocked by the mast, worst case someone might think there's two boats there? How upset will they be that it's only one?

If you are sailing in big seas, or maybe a low layer of fog, an all-round white at the masthead, plus sidelights is an option?

 

[NormanS]

People love to get excited about this question, but TBH, it's a pretty rare anchorage where you don't see the other anchor lights and suss out the boats long before a masthead light needs 'looking up at'. If your mast is that tall you probably want a red light at the top to ward off aircraft.

Putting two lights low down, presumably in case one is blocked by the mast, worst case someone might think there's two boats there? How upset will they be that it's only one?

If you are sailing in big seas, or maybe a low layer of fog, an all-round white at the masthead, plus sidelights is an option?

Ha ha. If there's a "low layer of fog", who's going to see the masthead light?

 

[B27]

Ha ha. If there's a "low layer of fog", who's going to see the masthead light?

We were out at the beginning of month , visibility poor at sea level, not so bad 30ft up.

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