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Nav lights: rationale for three vertical red on mast

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 1:15 pm
by Shemaya
Looks like folks aren't really using this r2ak board much now… Here's a question in case anybody is looking.

The 2018 race is underway, with various boats still going through Seymour Narrows. There is a great Facebook video of a nighttime passage, and the sailboat, under oars, is showing three vertical red lights on the mast, in addition to the standard deck-level sailing lights.

As I understand it, three vertical red lights signifies "vessel constrained by draft." Not something I've ever seen on a recreational sailboat, this one under 30 feet. Does anybody here know anything about this? Is this a compromise light, in order to signify that something is not quite normal? To help tugboats not run into it? Is it strictly legal, in a wide, deep channel with a draft of five or 6 feet? I'd love to hear the story on this, if anybody knows. Maybe it's a PNW thing? My sailing has all been in New England…

Here's the Facebook clip: https://www.facebook.com/racetoalaska/v ... 7975292797

Thanks for any background!

Re: Nav lights: rationale for three vertical red on mast

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 4:25 pm
by wdscobie
IMO, if this is the boat starting about 2 minutes into the video, what you are seeing are the displays showing speed, wind, depth, wind direction etc. Not navigation lights (though seemingly bright enough to be confused for them at a close distance.)

Re: Nav lights: rationale for three vertical red on mast

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 4:46 pm
by Shemaya
Thanks for that, Dave. I had meant to come back to this, to say what I had heard from somebody on the R2AK Facebook page where I also asked. They said the same thing as you, that it's the electronics displays, with their red night lights. It does make one wonder what those look like from a distance in the night!

Thanks again,
Shemaya
Bolger Glasshouse Chebacco AUKLET
www.sailingauklet.com