Why have a mast head flashing white?

[BruceDanforth]

There's not really any point in having an international system for lights if a few paranoid know it alls are going to make up their own versions.

 

[alant]

I wonder whether some of the people on here have actually done any sailing?

First, in the average popular cruising anchorage, only about 25% of boats display any anchor light at all (even on completely moonless nights).

I would prefer not to have a drunken boat drive into me at night, so I maximise my visibility when appropriate. Continuous masthead anchor lights are easy to miss when a motor-boat drivers eyes are fixed straight ahead at water level at close range. Strobes are much easier to spot - hence I use my strobe if I think there is a risk of being hit by motorboat drivers. I do put my decklight on too if I think necessary. I am far less likely to be run into than most ofther boats illuminated in such a manner.

As Nigel Mercer points out - many boats have so many lights (particularly cruise liners) that it is impossible to see their navigation lights except when very close.

To those who claim that a flashing strobe might set off an epileptic seizure, or keep them awake at night - what drivel...

And to wind the day-skippers up further, whe well offshore I usually just sail with my anchor light on (all round white). My boat is only 9.5m long - not really significantly bigger than a 7m boat when in mid Ocean - so what is the problem. If another boat gets within 5 miles or so, I switch on my navigation lights. Because I am only running a bright white LED masthead light most of the time, I can run my radar to detect ships getting within range.


As anybody who has spent any time at sea at all will vouch, there is nothing more visible at distance than an all round white light, particularly at masthead. It will be spotted long before a tricolour. A small boat of 9.5m is no different to a small boat of 7m to a large ship - they are both effectively stationary objects.

Whilst understanding the issue, that there's little point in showing lights when there is no-one around to see 'em, doesn't your radar use much more power than simply leaving your nav lights on?

PS, How long is your anchor cable if your using an all around white in mid ocean?

 

[Fantasie 19]

Is the Highway Code, law then, or simply a sensible set of recommendations?

A good question - I've always assumed the former, but in this case lean towards "both"....

 

[KellysEye]

>epileptic fits.

Not just Epileptic fits, Jane gets Migraine in flashing lights.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

IRPCS part C rule 20 part B

"The rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out.".

On that basis a lot of shipping doesn't conform. We've all seen ships with so many lights that it's nigh on impossible to make out the nav lights. Funnily enough, despite that, we seem to manage to avoid sailing into them!

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Is the Highway Code, law then, or simply a sensible set of recommendations?

From the Highway code.........

Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence. An explanation of the abbreviations can be found in 'The road user and the law'.


Failure to comply with the other rules of the Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted. The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see 'The road user and the law') to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.

In the case mentioned earlier about bicycle lights, the law was changed and this is also reflected in the advice given in the HC

 

[MASH]

Well, I'm now convinced. Silly me for thinking rules were there so everyone understood what everyone else was doing when really they're there as a challenge to make up something new.

I'm going to put red lights in the front of my car because it will get more attention from oncoming drivers than the headlights did.

I'm going to put a blue flashing light on the roof because that really makes people get out of the way.

I'm going to rig lights for a motor vessel over 150ft long on my 30footer because people will think I'm big and dangerous. Anyway what's the difference between 30 and 150 feet? Piffle!

If I can't do that I'll rig permanently for constrained in ability to manoeuvre.

I'll anchor with no lights at all. No one will realise its an anchorage and try to enter in the dark.

I'll take up showing an anchor light in the middle of the ocean too, so everyone goes around me. Brilliant idea!

And do 10 Kts in a 3 Kt limit, again, what's the difference?

Three short blasts sounds so much more melodic than one so I'll do that in future too.

I might even take a 15 year old to France. There's only a year before its legal so whose counting. Anyway. does it matter?.

Might get another coupla wives too while I'm at it, marriage is hardly important these days and I can have as many girlfriends as I like...

Might help myself to that nice boat over there with a strobe on the masthead. The owner obviously doesn't care about the law so clearly won't mind me taking it. He hasn't got a leg to stand anyway on has he so he'd better not! (not unless he's a total hypoctite...)



My God. It is no wonder our world is in such a mess if it is populated with such arrogant, self opinionated/self important fools who think themselves above the law and have such contempt for their law abiding fellows. Sad, sad people.

(Only partly tongue in cheek...)

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Good rant.

If you make those changes to your car then I can guarantee that you will eventually be done by plod.

I rather doubt that anyone has been done for not having their nav lights exactly conforming to the regs. By the same token I doubt that any fisherman has ever been done for welding his fishing signal permanently in his rigging, or yachtie been done for not using a motoring cone (do you use one?) etc etc etc. There seems to be a much more relaxed view about these things in the boaty world....but it's good to see peeps getting so uptight about Col Regs.

 

[nimbusgb]

Excellent rant MASH!

Do you want to bring the Nazi's in on this thread yet or shall we let it ride a while? ......... Oops!