Lights & collision regs

[jimi]

Last night crossing the mid channel shipping lanes I had a close encounter with a very fast moving object. It was displaying the lights of a sailing vessel ie port & starboard but also a white strobe like light on the masthead. I could'nt think of anything in the collision regs that could tell me what it was. We thought it might be a very fast sailing cat after much head scratching & vallium. Anybody any ideas?

Jim

 

[Guest]

Whatever it was it was not following Rule 36 which says".....for the purpose of this Rule the use of high intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobe lights, shall be avoided." The purpose of the Rule is "Signals to attract attention."

 

[halcyon]

Hover craft ?, flashing yellow light ?

From my memory of Yachtmaster course, the reason they object to strobe lights.

Brian

 

[jac]

I seem to remember a product like that being advertised a few years. It was american (of course) and the advert went something along the lines of make sure you're seen with this flashing strobe up your mast. ( Only slightly snappier I think)

Lots of comment at the time about it being illegal but I guess someone bought it!

 

[peterb]

It's not just that. A continuously flashing white light indicates a North Cardinal buoy.

 

[peterb]

UFO?

Unidentified Floating Object?

Any idea how fast it was travelling?

 

[andy_wilson]

Fast Cat. ferry with flag near steaming light. nm

nm

 

[jimi]

Re: UFO?

Aye, the light was white not orange and quite high although the red and greens were low. The object seemed to be travelling at c 30 knots and was crossing the northen shipping lane mid channel between Cherbourg & IOW about 3AM. It appeare to pass within about 50 yds of us although as it was pitch black and blowing about 20 knots the distance could have been deceptive. There was absolutely no noise from it.

Jim

 

[Rob_Webb]

Re: UFO?

Don't know really - but I've experienced a couple of strange encounters in the channel at night and eventually put it down to shady activities by people who have their own agenda - and adhering to col regs isn't one of them! But then I suppose if your chap was up to mischief, he would probably not want to show himself at all, least of all with a strobe!

 

[Sinbad1]

I would suspect a Cat. with a strobe light to warn others of its whereabouts...but they shouldn't be showing it. More cruising boats are having these fitted to show at night on ocean passages when merchant ships may be not paying as much attention to the radar as normal.


Had a similar experience. Vessel was showing normal red/green as well as 'restricted in ability to manoevre' lights plus a white strobe/flash. It was pitch dark and this thing was racing around erratically at 25knots.

Any ideas
Answer at bottom of page.








It was a guard vessel for a dredger! Nearly wet myself until I figured it out.

 

[Guest]

Re: UFO?

Doubt it would have been a ferry - had one of those buzz us once on the way back from Cherbourg, and all the deck/cabin lights outshone the running lights.

How about a Submarine, I hear they have some kind of strobe when they are running surfaced? They are certainly quick enough, and can be quiet.

 

[alant]

Re: UFO?

Submarines show a yellow flashing light on surface!

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: UFO?

and destroyers keep clear of rocks

Wants woman with boat
Send photo of boat

 

[jimi]

I wonder if it was Maiden II, from the papers it seems it was out & about at the weekend.

Jim

 

[roger]

There are a lot of flashing lights out there. On our last cross channel trip I saw two (fishing boats I think because of their erratic courses) fishing boats with veryquick flashing yellow lights.
Not far from Borkum in 2000 I had a red flashing light keep station on me for two hours. I found theis very alarming. I did not think to call up the German Coastguard and make a complaint - pity.

 

[Mr Cassandra]

I thought it might be Maiden . She was caught speeding in the thames ,that evening I think. Cheers bob t

Bob T

 

[tome]

Mentioned your post last night to a chap who crews Maiden occasionally - he confirmed they have a white strobe light on the mast. As he puts it, it's not compliant with colregs but at the speeds they travel it's a great way of improving visibility even if it does confuse people.

 

[jmundayuk]

IT WAS NOT A STROBE BUT A FLAG OR SOMETHIG BLOWING ABOUT OBSCURING YOUR VIEW> IF IT WAS THAT CLOSE CERTAINLY A PRIVATE POWER BOAT>

 

[jimi]

I can assure you it was a strobe. I was convinced it was Maiden II as were my crew also very experienced sailors. TOME confirms that Maiden II has a strobe ergo case proven!

Jim

 

[Guest]

And that sounds about as logical as the cross Channel ferries which do not sound their foghorns in restricted visibility because it upsets the passengers!