Seldom seen lights, ideas?

[Neeves]

They have to float when they move. If it was a jack-up rig undoubtedly the legs would be on the ocean floor iand the rig would not be floating. (There is one sunken on the ocean floor just kilometers from where I live)

You were not to know but an oil rig like the one you show has a draught too deep to allow them to enter Pittwater (and I'd already identified it was Southern Cloud). But I do like ideas 'out of the box' or lateral thinking - it shows a fertile and healthy mind.



Jonathan

 

[DanTribe]

When I did Yachtmaster theory years ago the teacher showed slides of light configurations then asked each of us to identify.
Most people got questions like; sailing vessel, motor boat, pilot vessel etc.
I got seaplane on surface towing a dredger, not under command.
I don't think he liked me much.

 

[Neeves]

This is the best I can do for Southern Cloud.

The previous pictures were taken with an iPhone, these are with an old fashioned Canon. The iPhone is exceptional at night, the Canon cannot compete - but you cannot hold an iPhone 'steady' enough by hand at full zoom whilst the Canon pictures are much better. Horses for courses.

She has drifted off the shore as the wind has moved more westerly.

We often anchor in the same location - but closer inshore. The beach, hidden to the left, behind a small promontory, is the hunting ground of a kangaroo that comes down to the beach at sunset where it scavenges - no real idea what for, maybe the salt on seagrass at the tide line. The location is all national park home to sea eagles and black cockatoos (as well as kangaroos) and 1m goanna, monitor lizards.



And with less use of zoom - you can better see why she would have chosen that location with current wind. Closer in - its hardly rough - you can see the white caps but it is obviously sheltered where Southen Cloud is anchored. On the picture above you can see the short tower that houses one of the starboard marks on the night photos with the deck/spreader lights. Winds have been gusting to 35 knots since I noticed her, 24 hours ago (and the yacht closer in, somewhere behind the near trees is still shredding one of its sails and keeping the neighbours awake).

The Tasman Sea is to the right 'opposite' the island (called Lion Island)



Home and Away is filmed in the area and Pittwater is a favourite location for the seaplanes operating off Sydney Harbour.

I've mentioned it previously

Crossing Bass Strait I was criticised (over VHF) for showing the wrong lights, It was midnight,I had a masthead tricolour and I was sailing down the edge of a TSS. I was making, and had been making an average of 10 knots and the skipper of a, approx 200' bulk fuel carrier with its decks awash said I should be showing a steaming light, he was motoring up the centre of the TSS. He did not believe me and as he approached he altered course to close with me, which scared me somewhat. He left it too late and could not turn his spotlight onto Josepheline as we thundered past each other about 200m apart - so I illuminated the sails and monster bow wave. I had an humbled skipper wish me fair winds.

If professional masters don't know the lights......(and 10 knots is not exceptional for yachts) ..... who would have known I'm not a fan of 'one off' tests

But or and - I was unaware about use of red on 30m masts at anchor. - (thank you Roger)

Jonathan