Why have a mast head flashing white?

[Neeves]

We were sailing across Bass Strait and running 1nm north of the traffic separation zone, ready to make a 90 degree turn across the lane when the lane itself made a turn round the southern most oil platforms. We were making an average of 10 knots. It was night, we were using a stern light and port and starboard. We were challenged by a large fuel carrier coming toward us, fully laden, that we were not carrying, or displaying the correct lights (he thought we should have a white engine light). I reminded him of colregs, he did not believe us. He actually changed his course, came out of the traffic separation lane, and approached us to within 200m, scary stuff (given that we did not know what his intentions were) and then put a spot light on us (except he could not get the spot aimed far enough aft). When we put our spot on our sails he sheepishly apologised - and we went on our way. It certainly livened up the evening and definitely increased our heart rates.

This was all the more odd, as we felt slightly intimidated, as he was carrying a full set of the correct nav lights, including his red DG light, but also had 2 monster spot lights focussed ahead and over his decks. The latter were not in colregs and as he approached made him look like one of those monster trucks you imagine in cheap American movies.

The idea of an all round strobe for fast moving sailing vessels has great appeal.

 

[cornell_b]

never heard of it here in florida, thought about it, but to best of my knowledge, not legal in USA.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I have a rotating orange beacon, a la council/breakdown vehicle, for use only in extremis, very effective.

So do I but I have not used it yet.

 

[wotayottie]

Do you really think that a deck officer does not understand what a north cardinal light is? Because that's what your showing him.

Does it matter. He's not going to drive directly at a north cardinal is he. And if the flashing gets his attention , who bothers about petty rules?

 

[Searush]

Does it matter. He's not going to drive directly at a north cardinal is he. And if the flashing gets his attention , who bothers about petty rules?

Unless you are anchored, he is not likely to confuse a moving target with a fixed hazard marking bouy.

Of course, if you are anchored South of the land, he may try to pass you overland. Err, well, probably not really if he has a lookout, or his radar, chart plotter or echo sounder on.

 

[Conachair]

Anyone sailed where anything goes?

Something deeply unsettling about being overtaken by flashing whites.

And reds, and greens...

A big bright white up top but I think strobing can be a bit naughty to others, only to be used if nothing else will do the job.

 

[sailor211]

Does it matter. He's not going to drive directly at a north cardinal is he. And if the flashing gets his attention , who bothers about petty rules?

I fitted the strobe for single handed transit. Have not needed to use it yet, but it is there so a big ship can confirm that they have identified me. Closets was sailing into Halifax and ships were lifting anchors and I was talking to them so we did not try and share the same water.

 

[Digger F]

Isn't there something about a very short double flash being more visible?

Completly agree with the fact that a double flash being more visible, especially on an sunny beach

 

[nigelmercier]

Do you really think that a deck officer does not understand what a north cardinal light is? ...

I've never seen a navigation light flash anything like a strobe.

Even a VQ, defined at more than 100 flashes per minute, but in practice about 2 per second; strobes are normally 5 to 15 flashes per second. So there you go, a new warning signal XQ defined as more than 300 flashes per minute could be implemented.

 

[Fascadale]

If you are going outside the ColRegs why masquerade as a N. Cardinal?

What about a flashing blue light? That would get them thinking.

I notice that more and more HGVs have very bright flashing LEDs on them. The kit should be fairly waterproof, and would probably survive marine use.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Agree with Ric, although they do apparantly contravene colregs they are much easier to spot in an anchorage than a fixed white. There is certainly a significant number of them in use as anchor lights where we sail. - Dodecanese Greece. I havent fitted one for fear of issues with my insurance company if I ever had a claim for incident at night.

Agreed... I do the same on my push bike.... much easier to see me as I mow you down...

 

[wadget]

Does it matter. He's not going to drive directly at a north cardinal is he. And if the flashing gets his attention , who bothers about petty rules?

I was more of the tone of the post that I was replying to.

Was as if they thought of ships as some sort of nussience which just run around trying to run yachts down, and that ships officers are stupid and will be confused by a flashing light and run away.

 

[MASH]

Simply staggering that some people seem to think they have the right to routinely display lights in contravention of international maritime law.

The arrogance of some people in thinking others can correctly devine whatever meaning they've just made up for their private light display is beyond belief. As said above a strobe is a N Cardinal. Jeeezus!!!

Please stick to riding your bike with illegal lights, but don't go to sea if you think like that. Stay at home where you belong.

 

[capnsensible]

Simply staggering that some people seem to think they have the right to routinely display lights in contravention of international maritime law.

The arrogance of some people in thinking others can correctly devine whatever meaning they've just made up for their private light display is beyond belief. As said above a strobe is a N Cardinal. Jeeezus!!!

Please stick to riding your bike with illegal lights, but don't go to sea if you think like that. Stay at home where you belong.

I gotta say I tend to agree with the sentiment. I sail a lot at night, its already interesting enough without some less than thoughtful person thinking a weirdo light makes them invincible.

Do these people put coloured flashy lights on their cars

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Strobes can trigger an epileptic seizure in those prone to them. That's why the TV always carries a warning before showing material with bright flashing lights. Seems like a good reason NOT to use strobe lighting to me. Even people who don't suffer from epilepsy can suffer strange effects from bright flashing lights.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Please stick to riding your bike with illegal lights, but don't go to sea if you think like that. Stay at home where you belong.

I think not...


The Highway Code
Rules for cyclists (Rules 59-82)


60

At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.

[Law RVLR regs 13, 18 & 24)]

 

[whipper_snapper]

Simply staggering that some people seem to think they have the right to routinely display lights in contravention of international maritime law.

The arrogance of some people in thinking others can correctly devine whatever meaning they've just made up for their private light display is beyond belief. As said above a strobe is a N Cardinal. Jeeezus!!!

Please stick to riding your bike with illegal lights, but don't go to sea if you think like that. Stay at home where you belong.

Well, I would not have been quite so blunt! But I agree with the sentiment. The idea of strobing your anchor light if you think you are parked somewhere risky, is a little surprising!

Why did we all spend those hours learning the lights and colregs, if anyone can do anything they like. The whole idea is a consistent, standard.

 

[mcframe]

Or a submarine.

I'm sure one of my old COLREGS books had the commentary that "Submarines may display their nav lights lower than other vessels" Well, duh! ;-)

 

[nigelmercier]

Simply staggering that some people seem to think they have the right to routinely display lights in contravention of international maritime law...

Does maritime law prevent the use of other lights to be used in addition to the standard lights? Serious question, not a retort.

In my posts I was suggesting that it is time the law was changed to embrace current technology, for example Xenon Strobes. A couple of seconds of a strobe light at 5-10Hz would certainly attract attention, and has the advantage that it would not be seriously detrimental to dark adaptation: only the pupillary light reflex would occur in this time.

Such a light would be very unlikely to trigger a seizure in a PSE sufferer, as the flashing lights would not be a significant part of their field of view. In addition, the most common range of trigger frequencies is 15-20Hz.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

In my posts I was suggesting that it is time the law was changed to embrace current technology, for example Xenon Strobes. A couple of seconds of a strobe light at 5-10Hz would certainly attract attention,

I entirely agree. I used to have a strobe on my boat and, on a handful of occasions, it was very helpful.
I only got rid of it so that I could install a tricolour but, if I get around to it, I'll happily fit the strobe again. They are very good indeed at making your presence known and, frankly, I'm not over concerned if they aren't strictly kosher.

Bloody good also when the fireworks finish at the end of regatta week and everyone has a silly five minutes! I've even heard illegal sound signals then.