Sidelights : am I right or wrong?

[Ronald_M]

Sorry, but this is yet another "colregs" question.

It's daft, really - I've been sailing for 30 or so years and have always taken pride in having a good working knowledge of the rules. Until, that is, I entered into a friendly argument with a sailiing chum the other day.

He is adamant that sidelights, if not combined into a single lantern mounted at the bow or in a tricolour at the masthead, must be mounted either directly vertically below a steaming light or at points forward of this.

I maintain that it is permissible for sidelights to be positioned aft of the steaming light, even if the steaming light and sternlight are combined into one all-round white masthead light.

I can't see anything in the rules that would disallow this.

What does the jury think?

Ron.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I think your right. Essentially, what you're describing is steamer lighting, with P&S on the bridge wings and the steaming light on the foremast.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I think your right. ...

Really?

 

[Twister_Ken]

How's your 'friend'?

 

[VicS]

the rules concerning the horizontal positioning of lights are to be found in Annexe 1 :-

3. Horizontal positioning and spacing of lights
(a) When two masthead lights are prescribed for a power-driven vessel, the horizontal distance
between them shall not be less than one-half of the length of the vessel but need not be more than
100 metres. The forward light shall be placed not more than one-quarter of the length of the vessel
from the stem.
(b) On a power-driven vessel of 20 metres or more in length the sidelights shall not be placed in front
of the forward masthead lights. They shall be placed at or near the side of
the vessel.
(c) When the lights prescribed in Rule 27(b)(i) or Rule 28 are placed vertically between the forward
masthead light(s) and the after masthead light(s) these all-round lights shall be placed at a
horizontal distance of not less than 2 metres from the fore and aft centreline of the vessels in the
athwartship direction.
(d) When only one masthead light is prescribed for a power-driven vessel, this light shall be
exhibited forward of amidships; except that a vessel of less than 20 metres in length need not
exhibit this light forward of amidships but shall exhibit it as far forward as
is practicable.​

(Rule 27 & 28 refererred to are those for vessels restricted in ability to manoeuvre or constrained by draught)

So if the vessel is over 20mtres and only showing a single masthead light the side light should not be forward of it.

 

[andygc]

The best thing to do is to get a copy of the colregs and show him. You will note that the masthead light is to be exhibited "forward". It is the second, after, masthead light that can be omitted for vessels under 50 metres, not the forward one. That means that it is perfectly normal for the masthead light to be forward of the sidelights. There's plenty of yachts with sidelights mounted on the coachroof sides and small steamers such as Twister_Ken describes. Has your chum never sailed at sea at night?

The lights are defined in Rule 21. From that you will see that the combined port and starboard light doesn't have to be at the bow anyway, it just has to comply with the required arcs of visibility. There's nothing to stop the masthead light being in front of a combined sidelight apart from the practicalities of rigging the lights that way!

Here's Rule 23

Power-driven vessels underway

(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:

1. a masthead light forward;
2. a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such light but may do so;
3. sidelights;
4. a sternlight.

(b) An air-cushion vessel when operating in the non-displacement mode shall, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light.

(c)

1. A power-driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights;

2. a power-driven vessel of less than 7 metres in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights;

3. the masthead light or all-round white light on a power-driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length may be displaced from the fore and aft centreline of the vessel if centreline fitting is not practicable, provided that the sidelights are combined in one lantern which shall be carried on the fore and aft centreline of the vessel or located as nearly as practicable in the same fore and aft line as the masthead light or the all-round white light.

 

[Litotes]

It always seems to me to be a terrible waste of time to argue about issues that are not a matter of opinion and cannot be resolved by argument, but can easily be put to rest by reference to the relevant source.

 

[Ronald_M]

It always seems to me to be a terrible waste of time to argue about issues that are not a matter of opinion and cannot be resolved by argument, but can easily be put to rest by reference to the relevant source.

Well, obviously, neither my friend nor I have found it that easy to put to rest - hence our debate!

Clues to the matter are, of course, to be found in the Reg's, but I am not sure that there is sufficient clarity on the issue in so much as it relates to yachts under 12m LOA. That's why I posted the enquiry.

Ron.

 

[andygc]

Clues to the matter are, of course, to be found in the Reg's, but I am not sure that there is sufficient clarity on the issue in so much as it relates to yachts under 12m LOA.

Clues? I really don't think so - if the COLREGS don't say "the sidelights must be forward of or vertically in line with the masthead light" then the sidelights don't have to be forward of or vertically in line with the masthead light.

There really isn't anything to debate. If you are in a yacht under 12m under power you may choose to show:

Two masthead lights (subject to being at least half the length of the vessel apart), sidelights and stern light; or

One masthead light, side lights (separate or combined) and a stern light; or

An all-round white light and sidelights (separate or combined)

The sidelights can be anywhere you like on the sides of the boat to show the correct arc, or a combined side light which should be on the centreline, but not necessarily at the bow.

Simple?

 

[Ronald_M]

Simple?

Yes - it always has been to me.

Perhaps I'm just trying to be a bit too polite to my chum. Think I'll show him this thread - that should stop him!

He still owes me a pint as well.

Ron