Does your vessel have a masthead tricolour light?

[Amari]

Yea, you're right!
We were swinging at anchor 4 nights ago in Panormitis, Simi when a Force 6 blew up over night. One of the other 10 vessels dragged onto the bow of another (more modern) Wauquiez. Took the poor s*ds an hour to disentangle and re-anchor. At least their nav lights worked! Of course we did not drag thanks to our trusty ***** anchor

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder how many other owners on this forum have their yachts set up that way?

[/ QUOTE ]

Please Sir, I do. Creep!
Except that I have separate side lights rather than a bicolour.

Two way switch selects either tri or side and stern. Steaming light can only be switched on when the side lights are on.

 

[Carolwildbird]

me too.. (creep no 2)
Masthead tricolour, separate bow nav. lights and stern light, steaming light and deck light. Cannot put on deck level nav. lights at the same time as the tricolour.. and even more useful (for unfamiliar crew) is a nice diagram of the boat with lights shown lit on the switch panel...

 

[KellysEye]

We also have a full set of lights. We've also spent around seventy nights at sea and with exception of commercial ships the majority of boats we have seen have had the wrong lights.

IMO manufacturers selling boats without the correct lights are selling something 'not fit for purpose' and should be prosecuted. It should also be a criminal offence not to use the correct lights. If we can't work out what a vessel is and which way it is going it puts both of us in danger.

 

[sailorman]

[Motoring...bow bicolour and masthead all round white]

Not correst
over 7 m Bow+Stern + Steaming light @ least 1m above the side lights

 

[Sailfree]

Be aware that most yachts are not sold with a tricolour.

It has anoyed me no end that both a Tricolour & windhawk are optional extras!!

 

[2nd_apprentice]

I don't like tricolours because they can be difficult to spot. Side lights on deck level or a bicolour illuminate the vessel and the sea surface. Apart from that changing the bulb at sea could be fun. The only reason for fitting a tricolour was to save power. Not as important anymore with LED lights.

 

[alan_d]

Few people seem to be answering the question you actually asked (see title of post).

My 27 year-old craft was not fitted with a tricolour when new and none of her three owners has so far felt the need to fit one.

Before I get engulfed by people advising me to do so, I should point out that:
a) I mainly sail singlehanded and my insurance does not cover me for doing this at night.
b) Except for lengthy passages, where I sail there is little scope or need for night sailing; the nights in summer are very short and there are lots of unmarked rocks to hit if you cannot see where you are going.

Alan

 

[Refueler]

Personally I am against them. Others like them and I have had countless discussions with people of both persuasions. Despite all the so-called info about them - I still will not have one ...