What lights when not under command?

Re: hang on ....

I would go to sea with you anytime, not some of the others
i feel. (but they are Raggies you know /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif).
Cast your mind back 24 hours, when i agreed with you re
lights. I have now lost interest, and lost the thread
 
Re: NUC or not

Ha

When you said hove to I assumed you had some sail up.

I guess ultimately NUC is to some extent the skipper's choice.

If you had a comfy situation in nasty weather and chose to stick to it rather than risk change of course which you consider may endanger the vessel than I guess you are NUC - you do not have the option to change course.

Interesting point though - I certainly dont carry lights for NUC although I could do the shapes. suppose in that situation I'd put everthing on as my only defence is being seen.
 
Re: NUC or not

"Interesting point though - I certainly dont carry lights for NUC although I could do the shapes. suppose in that situation I'd put everthing on as my only defence is being seen.

Thank you .... that makes 2 of us that don't have 2 red lights to hoist as NUC ... all I can assume is the rest are not owning up - or hastily trying to figure out how they jury rig a couple of red'uns !!
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: Lovely

" I take that to mean providing the engine is not running "

You take it wrongly

We've been down this debate so many times.

Try the argument for a diesel-electric propulsion system If the diesel is running to provide electric power but the electric motor is not powered to drive the boat - what then?
 
My apology ... me reading ....

Like many posts - can be read different to what author intends .....

Honest apology.
 
Re: NUC or not

Conclusions from the thread so far are clear on some matters.

1. Not under command is a skipper's decision; if he can't manouevre and get out of the way, he's not under command.

2. In this situation you must signal to other vessels that they must avoid you.

3. Most yachts will be unable to show the correct signal - two vertically disposed red lights (with no other navigation lights, but deck lights etc permissible).

So, the OP''s original question, what lights should you show?

One single all round white light, plus any other deck lights etc you may wish, but no other navigation lights. Why? cos a single white light will be interpreted either as a stern light, or as an anchor light (bit improbably deep though it may be). Either way the action by the approaching vessel is the same. Keep clear. Simple really. No need for arguments.

Adding any other navigation lights confuses the issue: you merely become a vessel under power.
 
To add to the debate the MCA insist when charter coding a boat over 12m that it has 2 red lights that will display 360deg for the NUC situation (to be shown with sternlight & navigation lights when underway - which I interpret as not being at anchor).

We overcame this by having them hoistable on a halyard and plug into a 12V socket. We never had these on our 36' or the 38' charter boats.

Its questions like this though that are good as it made me look up the correct lights and refresh my memory as like most I fortunately have never been NUC as SWMBO insists I must always do as I am told!

Should all yachts be required to have NUC lights as part of standard Nav equipment?
 
[ QUOTE ]
To add to the debate the MCA insist when charter coding a boat over 12m that it has 2 red lights that will display 360deg for the NUC situation (to be shown with sternlight & navigation lights when underway - which I interpret as not being at anchor).

[/ QUOTE ]

Side and sternlights are to be shown with NUC lights when "making way", not just when "under way".

Please note also that displaying NUC signals with anchor signals indicates you are aground.

Hoistable plug-ins - that's very clever. I'll adopt that plan. Cheers.
 
IRPCS use 12m as the yardstick ....

So MCA is following their lead .... and being IRPCS .... Charter Coding really is not important.

Two lights or any other similar / required signal on a hoist would be the practical sensible way to do it anyway ...
 
Re: NUC or not

[ QUOTE ]
1. Not under command is a skipper's decision; if he can't manouevre and get out of the way, he's not under command.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you understand it, but I'm worried that your wording may lead some to think that the skipper can arbitrarily decide his vessel is NUC. The key to the rule is that "exceptional circumstances" compel a skipper to make a judgment that he is unable to manoeuvre, so as to comply with the steering and sailing rules - and is therefore NUC.
 
Re: Stirring the pot

Given that definition - would a single hander be right to put up NUC lights and get his head down for a few hours sleep.

If he did this must he be hove to, or drifting or can he carry on making a course under autohelm.

Sometimes get the feeling these rules were not made for the likes of us.
 
Re: Stirring the pot

A single hander is (at times) a hazard to navigation. If he's asleep, his vessel is not under command, whatever it's doing.

If he's under sail, and can be seen, and on starboard tack, then in theory only vessels hindered in their ability to manouevre (fishermen and all that lot) need to know he's asleep.

His risk . . .
 
Re: Stirring the pot

A single-hander with his head down is already breaking rules, so why care about lights or shapes? Regardless - he is not NUC, as it's hardly an "exceptional circumstance" now is it?
 
Re: Stirring the pot

Maybe this would be a case where he should illuminate every light he has (navigation and otherwise). Then it would be entirely obvious that he's a hazard to navigation.
 
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