Nav lights...how hard can it be?

[lpdsn]

I was fortunate to be steering a Victoria 34 out of the Hamble and heading east for a few hours on Saturday. I think we had the engine on and full sail set for over an hour while the skipper tried to re-rope his reef points...

...I would have been quick to suggest showing the cone if I'd remembered it...

...but I wonder where in the rigging it ought to be hung, in order not to be wholly obscured from half the points of the compass?

Heading E from the Hamble do you not need headlights, tail lights and brake lights?

When I hoist the motoring cone, I confess I rarely do, I hoist it for'd of the forestay using the spinnaker halyard and the fitting for the cruising chute tack.

 

[RobF]

I disagree with both your points. It's not obvious that someone with main and genoa are motoring, nor is it always obvious in anchorages where many boats are spread over a large area, which ones are moving and which are anchored - unless the ball is used. I must admit to not having used the cone for many years but always use anchor ball.

In which case, it's anchor balls and motoring cones are equally (un)obvious So why do you do one, but not the other?

I should note that I am exactly the same - I tend to be pretty good with my anchor ball but rarely put the cone up. I suspect it's because:

• an anchor ball will be up for longer
• conditions at anchor are more settled and more conducive to sticking something in the foretriangle
• I'm already at the bow sorting out the anchor rode - so I may as well put the anchor ball up whilst I'm there

 

[Stemar]

Maybe so but a nice little get-out for the insurance company should an incident and claim arise I fancy.

They might try, but would have to prove that the lack of cone was relevant to the incident.

 

[KellysEye]

Crossing Biscay at night coming toward us was a ship with a red light on the port bow, a red light on the starboard bow and a large red light on the stern. I would have happily shot the captain.

 

[Iain C]

Guys...cones and balls deserve a separate thread really. Not hoisting a cone is common, and one would hope that the fact that you are going dead upwind at speed bolt upright under main alone into Portsmouth harbour makes it pretty obvious what's happening. I won't hoist one there, but I will do if truly "motorsailing", heeled, or in places like Chi harbour where there are a lot of dinghies around.

The point is that not hoisting a cone is rarely dangerous in it's own right, and it's a conscious decision not to hoist after assessing what is happening around me, in very much the same way as whether I wear foulies, a life jacket, a tether, or switch on my radar.

Incorrect lights at night IS dangerous, and in most cases simply down to the stupidity of the skipper, and seems to be on the increase sadly...