Colour Blindness

[TiggerToo]

How do Daltonic mariners cope with the impossibility of seeing RED?

 

[tillergirl]

We sailed with a chum who is colour blind. We were going down the Gull Stream and I said 'aim for the red buoy'. He couldn't see it. I realised I could see the colour rather than the outline of the buoy. When I could see the outline of the buoy, he could see the buoy.

 

[tross]

Who said they can't see Red? Someone green with envy ?

 

[mainsail1]

I sail with someone who is green and red colour blind. During the day they have no problem as red looks grey and green looks a different grey but at night red lights look off white and green lights look nearly white so it can be tricky. It is a bit disconcerting at night and on more than one occasion I have pointed out a nav light that he thought was a white light ashore.

 

[mjcoon]

Years ago I had a skipper who was colour-blind, I suppose red/green. I was not aware it was a problem, but we didn't often sail at night. So far as I know he did not have one of the hand-held colour filter devices you can get to assist with distinguishing coloured lights.

Mike.

 

[mm42]

You struggle to get an ENG1 with strong colourblindness.

 

[johnalison]

I have a sailing friend who is R/G blind but I have never sailed with him. He is an expert naturalist and seems to be able to pick out tiny details on distant birds. I believe that colour-blind people were used to see through camouflage during the war.

It was all much easier in ye olden days when buoys were red or black.

 

[prv]

How do Daltonic mariners cope with the impossibility of seeing RED?

Professionally, they don’t. Colour vision is a requirement to get a medical certificate.

In daylight, distinguishing red lateral marks isn’t required since the different shape can be used instead.

At night, I guess GPS helps a lot. You only need to know exactly where the buoy is, the chartplotter shows you what it is.

For ships, you can judge orientation from the masthead lights. For smaller vessels, I guess you just keep a close eye on their motion and take care.

Pete

 

[duncan99210]

I’m somewhat red/green colour blind. It’s very difficult to explain how I perceive colours, as I’ve no idea how others see them.....
I able to see what the MOD called “signal” colours in that I can tell the difference between a red, green and white light, which is fine for night navigation as I can usually tell what colour a light is.
It‘s more of a problem in daylight. As an illustration, I cannot see holly berries in a tree against the foliage until I’m only a few metres away: then I can see their shape and perceive them as a different colour to the leaves. I see them as “red”, the same colour as blood but I‘ve no idea if my “red” is the same as your “red” (Philosophical discussion on this...). So, in good sunlight, I have no problem telling that a buoy is red or green but on an overcast day I won’t be able to tell if it’s red or green until it’s too late to make any difference. That’s why the shape of the buoy is important to me.
Otherwise, the Admiral can be relied upon to tell me which is which. Often. And loudly.

 

[johnalison]

I’m somewhat red/green colour blind. It’s very difficult to explain how I perceive colours, as I’ve no idea how others see them.....
I able to see what the MOD called “signal” colours in that I can tell the difference between a red, green and white light, which is fine for night navigation as I can usually tell what colour a light is.
It‘s more of a problem in daylight. As an illustration, I cannot see holly berries in a tree against the foliage until I’m only a few metres away: then I can see their shape and perceive them as a different colour to the leaves. I see them as “red”, the same colour as blood but I‘ve no idea if my “red” is the same as your “red” (Philosophical discussion on this...). So, in good sunlight, I have no problem telling that a buoy is red or green but on an overcast day I won’t be able to tell if it’s red or green until it’s too late to make any difference. That’s why the shape of the buoy is important to me.
Otherwise, the Admiral can be relied upon to tell me which is which. Often. And loudly.

It is a very interesting philosophical point indeed. On the whole, I think that we feel sensations in much the same way. I feel a bit like you in relation to taste. I think my taste is fairly normal, but it would be interesting to know what 'super tasters' taste. I did a very difficult colour test online a while ago and got 100% so I'm happy that I am normal, but in contrast to you, I would be fascinated to know what the world looks like to the colour blind.

 

[Ocean Safari]

How do Daltonic mariners cope with the impossibility of seeing RED?

Check this out. It works for me.

WWW.arolyth.se/bseekeyeng.html the unit is called Seekey

 

[mjcoon]

Check this out. It works for me.

WWW.arolyth.se/bseekeyeng.html the unit is called Seekey

That must be the device I had in mind in #5.

Mike.

 

[JohnGC]

One of our members has tried EnChroma.

EnChroma Eyewear for Color Blindness

EnChroma - Glasses for colour blindness correction.

John

 

[UK-WOOZY]

so colourblind people wouldnt be able to see my red uv strip, stack pack, sprayhood?

 

[duncan99210]

so colourblind people wouldnt be able to see my red uv strip, stack pack, sprayhood?

I’d be able to see it just fine but I’d as likely perceive it as muddy brown or dark green rather than a tasteful red. On that topic, dan buoy flags in yellow are much easier for me to spot against a dark sea than red or orange, which tend to fade into the same colour as the surrounding sea.