Masthead lights and ColRegs Rule 25 (RYA advice)

[Telo]

How many cruising yachts, of less than 20 metres in length, carry all-round red and green lights at the top of the mast? We certainly don't but a lot of you must have them.

I raise this, because the Summer 2008 RYA Magazine, recommends this;

If you have enough battery power, do not rely on the tricolour alone; switch more navigation lights on (in accordance with Rule 25).

Should we buy all-round red and green lights?

The article also says "after all, we all run fridges, heating systems, the TV and a range of electronic goodies without a second thought." Do we?

[Silkie]

I allowed my RYA membership to elapse after the first year since they didn't seem to have much to do with my kind of sailing. I still get the RYA Scotland emails which only serve to confirm my initial impression.

[Rowana]

How many cruising yachts, of less than 20 metres in length, carry all-round red and green lights at the top of the mast? We certainly don't but a lot of you must have them.

I don't have them, and to be honest, I've never met anyone who does.

I'm frightened of the dark anyway, so I haven't got a problem

[Telo]

I don't have them, and to be honest, I've never met anyone who does.

Hi Jim. I'm wondering whether to do a poll here or in TOP (sorry Nick, but it's a numbers thing). I think the RYA advice is misleading for these reasons;
1 The quoted statement, "do not rely on the tricolour alone; switch more navigation lights on (in accordance with Rule 25", implies that the masthead tricolour light may be used in combination with other lights; and
2 Unless people check Rule 25, readers could assume from the quoted statement that it's OK to sail with tricolour and sidelights running.

Perhaps I'm misreading the rule, but it seems to me that the tricolur should not be used in combination with other lights, but that sidelights and sternlight may be used with all-round red and green lights at the masthead. And how many yachts carry them?

[Nick]

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You are reading the rule correctly. I found the wording very misleading - and of course having the running lights and tricolour on at the same time is not only wrong, it could lead to considerable confusion.

(Although when we lay ahull off Porto Santo in 40 knots on a filthy night I confess I did put all the lights on after seeing a largish ship wallowing past not too far away . . . we had running lights, tri and anchor on, as all I cared about was being seen, I didn't care what people thought we were or what they thought we were doing. The weather was too vile to stay on deck and anyway the megabeam had died. This was the one time when I wished we had a masthead strobe)

Noting to stop you doing a poll on both places if you so desire, or are you too busy? I think a little more dual posting would be a good idea anyway, as the overlap maybe isn't so big these days.

[moodysailor]

It could also lead you to a big fine. Apparently Belgium authorities recently fined a yacht E500 for having nav lights and a tricolour on at the same time!

I use normal nav lights (no masthead lights) and a carry a blinking great torch.

[Nick]

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Has anyone ever been fined for having a masthead strobe? That is definitely the thing IMO if is is visibility you are after, and of course it can't be mistaken for any combination of nav lights either.

[moodysailor]

Don't know but I arrived in Ostend with my motoring cone up, much to everyone's amusement. Had to brush the dust off it first

[sahona]

All the 'optional red-over-greens' I've ever seen were on large yachts -15m+, I have upped the wattage in the tric from 12 to 25 as a token gesture, and will probably not do more until forced to. Also changed the low-level stern light to the correct specification and fitted it where it could be seen - Have you seen your own boat at night with the dinghy up ?

[aquaplane]

I don't have any nav lights at all.

I only recently fitted a battery and all that runs is the VHF. I have a storm lantern for an interior light, and being under 6 meters it could also double up as an all round white light if I was caught out at night (not likely but possible). If pushed it could be an anchor light too.

I've seen enough discussions about charging batteries, and battery life, and all the hassle that goes with electrickery to stick to the storm lantern and candles. Anyone ever come across a wind up VHF?

[Olivepage]

"Anyone ever come across a wind up VHF?"

I would hate to get a finger in the spring of one of those

[Silkie]

Anyone ever come across a wind up VHF?

No, but I've come across plenty of wind-ups on the VHF.

[Windfinder]

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Has anyone ever been fined for having a masthead strobe? That is definitely the thing IMO if is is visibility you are after, and of course it can't be mistaken for any combination of nav lights either.

I'd have to agree.

The only problem would be somewhere busy if everyone had them.

[sahona]

Absolutely, it's already bad enough in a busy anchorage with all the strobes and garden lights - trying to find your boat through a haze of tinto tinted eyeballs ......never mind when they're under way - not the eyeballs, the boats, well both actually. Seriously, what about the epileptic sailors who may not even know of their problem until it's too late? .
Ban Flashers! (apart from the ones we all wear on night watch)