Day Shapes while Anchoring

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by David Mathis

Several of the COLREGS don't seem to fit, especially in inland congested areas with hundreds of small recreational boats moving different directions. Many regs need rewriting but we do our best and use common sense to get by. Now if we could only get those kayakers, who know that they have right of way over every other vessel, out of the center of the narrow channels . . .

Oh dear!

Just a prime example of not having a true understanding of the Colregs.

Confusion seems rampant when discussing the Colregs. Why is understanding something that is such an integral part of sailing so neglected?

The mind boggles...........................

[skipperpete]

Relics of the past,maybe but they rapidly become very much a part of the present when you get hit by another vessel and you’re not showing a day shape.... think ahead to the court case and insurance claim and consider the logic of “Pascals wager”

[CAVOK]

Slightly off the original thread, but what are the legalities of having red mast head lights when at anchor. It seems that many larger yachts now have them instead of the standard 360 degree white light. Is it a height thing or some other requirement.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by CAVOK

Slightly off the original thread, but what are the legalities of having red mast head lights when at anchor. It seems that many larger yachts now have them instead of the standard 360 degree white light. Is it a height thing or some other requirement.

A quick Google search shows that aircraft warning lights are required for structures 150m and taller. Though Queensland regs show 45m and even lower if adjacent to an airfield. That is now well within super yacht mast heights. Warning lights can be flashing or steady red.

Otherwise an all red light above an all green light at the top of the mast with deck level port, starboard and stern lights is an alternative navigation light for a sailing vessel, especially used for yachts >20m. Wouldn’t usually be switched to show just the masthead all round red though.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by skipperpete

Relics of the past,maybe but they rapidly become very much a part of the present when you get hit by another vessel and you’re not showing a day shape.... think ahead to the court case and insurance claim and consider the logic of “Pascals wager”

In your area, yes. In my area? No.

[lo2jones]

I hope someone has already pointed this out: Vessels under 20 meters in length are not required to show anchor light or day shape when anchored in a designated anchorage. Most of San Francisco Bay is a designated anchorage, for one example. Sure, when anchored next to a channel. But just to be correct, boats in an anchorage not showing lights or day shape are following the rules unless their vessel is over 65 ft.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by CAVOK

Slightly off the original thread, but what are the legalities of having red mast head lights when at anchor. It seems that many larger yachts now have them instead of the standard 360 degree white light. Is it a height thing or some other requirement.

The all-round red can either be aircraft warning or indicating the carriage of dangerous goods. They still show the all-round white in the fore part, and if over 50m another at the transom that is lower.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

Which is likely most pleasure craft in Canada...

The point was there isn't a broad exemption to the motoring cone in Canada. As with the anchor ball, most people started on small boats that didn't require them, so they never learned about them - then they moved up to larger boats and didn't upgrade their knowledge or mindset.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Ever ...

• Roll a stop sign.
• Speed 5 over, or even 10-20 over if that is the flow of traffic and perhaps when it just feels slow or we are late (which is irrelevant).
• U-turn where you should not.
• Park illegally if the lot or street is full.
• Drive in the rain or mist without your lights on (daytime).
• Drive with a lamp out (no waiting several days to get it fixed--fix it now)
• Use a cell phone poorly while driving. Includes looking at it at lights.
• Ignore the 15 mph sign near speed humps.

Yes, nearly everyone does these things either most of the time or whenever they seem needful. Everyone does at least one.

The only one I can say I do, is going over the posted limit, but that is to go the general speed of the traffic, so not actually "speeding" per se. I never do the other things.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by lo2jones

I hope someone has already pointed this out: Vessels under 20 meters in length are not required to show anchor light or day shape when anchored in a designated anchorage. Most of San Francisco Bay is a designated anchorage, for one example. Sure, when anchored next to a channel. But just to be correct, boats in an anchorage not showing lights or day shape are following the rules unless their vessel is over 65 ft.

Yes, the designated special anchorage area exception to showing lingers and day shapes in the US COLREGS Inland Rules has been pointed out. That’s actually a lot narrower than it seems that you understand - eg the only Special Anchorage Area for recreational boats in San Francisco Bay is Richardson Bay Anchorage https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-3.../section-110.1. The rest of the common anchoring areas are not special anchorage areas. And designated anchorages in San Francisco Bay are not ‘special anchorage areas’ - they are designated anchorages for commercial vessels. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-3...ection-110.224

Rule 30 in the International COLREGS and in the US Inland Rules specifies that anchor lights and day shapes ARE required to be shown when anchored, no exceptions for any boat over 7m in length. The only exception is in the US Inland Rules when anchoring in special anchorage areas, which are only found in the US for the purposes of rule 30.

[CAVOK]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

The all-round red can either be aircraft warning or indicating the carriage of dangerous goods. They still show the all-round white in the fore part, and if over 50m another at the transom that is lower.

Although mostly the yachts are larger I would doubt that their mast height would be in the aircraft obstacle category or that they would be carrying anything particularly dangerous (except the obvious fuel flares etc).
I just haven’t been able to find anything regarding red all around mast head lights being legal for a anchored yacht at night.
Don’t get me started at yachts carrying ONLY strobing white lights. Definitely not legal & totally confusing for someone entering a tight harbour at night.

[capt jgw]

Originally Posted by fxykty

A quick Google search shows that aircraft warning lights are required for structures 150m and taller. Though Queensland regs show 45m and even lower if adjacent to an airfield. That is now well within super yacht mast heights. Warning lights can be flashing or steady red.

Otherwise an all red light above an all green light at the top of the mast with deck level port, starboard and stern lights is an alternative navigation light for a sailing vessel, especially used for yachts >20m. Wouldn’t usually be switched to show just the masthead all round red though.

The red over green is irrelevant if the boat is anchored. There is no such thing as a Sailing Vessel at anchor or a Power Driven Vessel at anchor. A Sailing Vessel is sailing, and a Power Driven Vessel is being mechanically propelled. You can't be doing either and anchored at the same time. The only light signal for an anchored vessel is one or two white all round lights, and lighting the decks if over 100 m in length.

[Mike OReilly]

I can’t believe this thread persists. Hoist the shapes if it makes you feel better, or if you’re concerned about legal/insurance liabilities. This is especially true in areas where it is common practice. In areas where it’s not, few will notice or care.

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by fxykty

A quick Google search shows that aircraft warning lights are required for structures 150m and taller. Though Queensland regs show 45m and even lower if adjacent to an airfield. That is now well within super yacht mast heights. Warning lights can be flashing or steady red.

Otherwise an all red light above an all green light at the top of the mast with deck level port, starboard and stern lights is an alternative navigation light for a sailing vessel, especially used for yachts >20m. Wouldn’t usually be switched to show just the masthead all round red though.

Red over green, sailing machine.

[boatpoker]

Most boaters seem to treat the ColRegs like Stop Signs in The Dominican ... Merely a suggestion.