navigation lights <12m yacht

Sorry Alastair.
This question is so basic .
If you are going sailing at night anywhere let me klnow because if you do not know what lights to show do you know what the lights mean when you see them?
 
Re: navigation lights <7m yacht

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at less than 7 mts my boat requires only a masthead trycolour when sailing, an all round masthead white for anchoring which doubles as steaming light

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Actually if under 7 metres you can get away with a minimum requirement of just flashing a torch or similar (rule 25di) when sailing. Ofcourse it would be prudent to go for more - Roach has just an all-round white on the mast, which replaces a masthead for motoring (can also be used for signalling and anchoring), but i will be fitting a bi-colour and stern light, for sailing - just to calm my nerves. My wooden mast is too small to add a tri-colour and it is worth pointing out that there are many smaller classic yachts (under 7m) around the coast with a similar arrangement and it's perfectly legal.

Under 7m you're not obliged to use an anchor ball either - but few people use one anyway.
 
Re: navigation lights <7m yacht

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Under 7m you're not obliged to use an anchor ball either - but few people use one anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]Beware if not showing the correct day or night signals even if you think they are not always used. Ball or cone are typical examples, and some people think that you don't need to show an anchor light in an anchorage /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

The problem comes if there is an incident and there is loss. Insurers employ specialists to reduce the amount they have to pay out - often they pay out then pass it over to another department to try to recover what they can. Now, suppose that someone (A) is not showing the right signal and someone else (B) hits them causing damage. B is going to argue till he's blue in the face that it is all A's fault (so would you, wouldn't you?). So A's deficiency which might have had nothing material to do with the accident (B had been below having a pee but who will ever know?) makes it appear that it is A's fault. If A isn't properly insured, he might be in big trouble.....he might lose his home, even, if the damages are high. So it is always worth trying to follow the rules and ignore those who don't think that they matter. You ignore the rules at your own peril.
 
I have a 32 footer and have the following lights.
Masthead tri-colour + all round white.
Pulpit mounted bi-colour (red/green)
Steaming light halfway up the mast.
Stern white.

If I'm sailing then 1 switch turns on the tri-colour.
If I'm anchored then 1 switch turns on the anchor light.
If I'm motoring then 1 switch turns on the bi-colour, steaming light and stern light.

If I happen to be motor-sailing and the steaming light is obscured by the genny, then I take that into consideration when approaching other vessels - but I'm operating within the rules because I have got it switched on even if it can't be seen - the rules don't cover that!

That does it for me!

Peter.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry Alastair.
This question is so basic .
If you are going sailing at night anywhere let me klnow because if you do not know what lights to show do you know what the lights mean when you see them?

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If it is so basic, how come so many people argued over it?

Whenever I have sailed at night, I've noticed that most commercial (fishing, ferries, cruisers) seem to pay no attention at all to regulations.

In particular, ferries often have so many illuminated windows and doors it is impossible to make out their navigation lights.
 
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If it is so basic, how come so many people argued over it?

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Did they? After a quick skim through the thread I can see 2 people who said there had been argument but I see no argument!

There are a number of options when complying with the rules, their merits may be debatable but their validity within colregs is not!
 
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Whenever I have sailed at night, I've noticed that most commercial (fishing, ferries, cruisers) seem to pay no attention at all to regulations.

In particular, ferries often have so many illuminated windows and doors it is impossible to make out their navigation lights.

[/ QUOTE ]I infer that you don't do a lot of night sailing. I have never seen a commercial with the wrong lights other than the common case of a fisherman or pilot navigating while not apparently fishing or piloting, yet leave their lights on, like the copper with the blue light to get back to his tea!

If a commercial skipper didn't show his lights he could lose his livelihood. You'll also find they have their radars on 24/24 and keep a proper bridge watch, contrary to yotlore.

Mind you, it can be difficult to single them out from deck and cabin lights, but it comes with practice.
 
I haven't done much night sailing. One passage from Den Helder to the Humber, one passage from London to the Humber.

In my limited experience, I have seen several vessels lit confusingly or wrongly.

I find it difficult to believe your statement about radar. It was, I believe, PBO when tested radar reflectors, radioed ships to ask if they were visible. More than one ship replied "hang on, while I switch it on".

Erm, and you've just yourself said "the common case".
 
However, what do I need when sailing, sail+power, power alone?

Can I get away with combined port/starboard + all-round white (where must it be mounted)?....
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There's only 3 situations: anchored; sailing; & motoring (including motorsailing) and 4 lights will cover it all.

One all-round masthead white light and one stern white light, together with the red & green. A two-way switch toggles between the stern & a/round masthead whites, and an on/off switch on the red/green in addition to the white.

The red & green can be combined on the pulpit or separately on the cabin sides - it's not crucial which way (legally).

On my 8m yacht, I switch on my nav. lights and toggle between the stern light or the masthead white, then I toggle the red & green on or off.

Masthead a/r white on and nothing else means anchored.
Masthead a/r white and red& green is motoring/motor-sailing.
Stern white and red&green means sailing.

No other lights essential, but a tricolour would save a bit of electricity and be a backup.
 
You find that they are showing their proper nav lights but are also showing white over red, green over red or red over white as well suggesting that they are either actually fishing or actively on duty piloting. Whereas, quite often the fishing boats have their gear in and are heading back to harbour or to another fishing area, so don't actually qualify as 'fishing' at that instant. Same with pilot vessels when heading back to port with the pilot on board. I'm not sure that it is an offence as such to do that but it would be an offence for them not to show proper nav. lights. Most ships have double bulbs and a high proportion leave them on 24/24, i.e. in daylight.

As for the radar, ships carry more than one type, one of which might be off - and I can't comment on the PBO test. It is daft to radio a ship to ask such a silly question, can't think what they were playing at. Many ships don't have a fully bilingual crew and it could be a real pain to get someone to the radio to take that call.
 
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Actually if under 7 metres you can get away with a minimum requirement of just flashing a torch or similar (rule 25di) when sailing. Ofcourse it would be prudent to go for more -

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Indeed but not prudent. I don't have a copy of Rules of Road with me, however when referring to not fitting full navigation light for <7m it does state 'if not practicable to do so'. I would imaging if after a collision at night it would be difficult on a small sailing yacht to show how its not practicable. I think the rule is really only meant to apply to small tenders, rowing boats, canoes etc.
 
Does anyone have one of those red over green masthead lights (ie not a tricolour) restricted to sailing boats you see in exam questions and flash cards but apparently nowhere else? I've never even seen one on a chandlery shelf. Have a look in the PBO small boats edition. It's there.
 
They are not a 'single item' that will be found on a chandlers shelf. If you look in some chandlers and at the web sites of the light manufacturers you will find 'all round red' and and 'all round green' lights available. If you mount them very close together they can get confusing to make out from a distance. They need to be mounted with a suitable vertical separation so that you can see they are 'over' each other.

Like those found at: nav lights

(I think the separation figure may be in the annex to the IRPCS, but I can't remember and am being too lazy to look it up.)
 
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