No matter the reason you’re sailing at night, you need boat lights to ensure a safe journey home. Whether it’s because of unforeseen circumstances or by choice, getting home safely should be your number one priority. While sailboat sunset rides and nocturnal voyages are exciting, nothing is worth sacrificing your safety for.
Boat lights ensure that, while on a nighttime cruise, you can see and be seen clearly by other sailors, so you don’t run into other boats or get lost. Unlike roads and streets illuminated with lights all over, waterways are dark and devoid of lighting.
Water conditions can change quickly, so it’s important to be aware of potential hazards like tides. Other boats may also cross your path, so it’s essential to keep your boat lights on at night.
What boat lights are required at night
There are three types of lights you’ll need to sail at night: green, red, and white. The green light should be on the right (starboard), the red light on the left (port) side, while the white light is placed at front, rear and top of boat.
You should be able to see all these lights on a dark, clear night. If you’re in a smaller boat under 39.4 feet, they should be visible from one mile away. For boats bigger than that, they should appear two miles away.
You should always install these lights, no matter how big or small the boat you’re sailing in is. It doesn’t matter whether you intend to sail at night or not; these lights should be in excellent working order.
If you’re not careful, you could end up sailing in the dark or getting lost in a fog.
With boat lights on, you and your passengers can be confident that other boats will be able to see you. This will help prevent any collisions and ensure that everyone gets home safely.
Not only that, but different schools of thought believe light from the boat should be drastically reduced. To provide the best vantage point on your next cruise, you’ll need to understand what these lights mean and how they’re used.
The following are some facts about boat lights that may assist you in keeping safe on your next cruise.
What do these boat lights mean when you encounter a powered vessel while sailing at night
White Light Only
A vessel with its white light on at night is either anchored or being driven in front of you. You can overtake this boat by moving to the other side of the waterway.
Red and White Lights (Portside Lights)
If you see a vessel with both its white and red lights on, it means that you need to give way. In this situation, the other vessel has the right of way.
In this situation, you can put your engine on idle and let the other boat pass. In boating terms, this is referred to as a give-way boat.
Green and White Lights (Starboard side Lights)
If you ever find yourself in this situation, it means that you have the right of way and other vessels should give way to you. In nautical terms, your boat is considered the stand-on vessel. However, please keep in mind that sometimes other boats don’t yield for various reasons so always be prepared to take action if necessary.
Suppose the other boater doesn’t see your green light, or they might not be knowledgeable in boat light regulations. Even though you’re in the right, that’s no reason for you to remain calm and let them act.
If you and the other boat do not give way, you could end up crashing into each other. As a result, it’s critical to stay awake at all times in case the other boat is delayed in performing their duty.
What do these boat lights mean when you encounter an unpowered vessel while sailing at night
If you come upon an unpowered boat like a kayak or a canoe, the most common light you’ll see is a green light, followed by red. You won’t notice all of them because they aren’t powered. Regardless of the lights that you observe from these unpowered boats, you must give way.
This is because an unpowered vessel cannot move independently like your powered boat can.
Furthermore, even if the unpowered boat yields to your boat, it’s possible that they won’t do so until after you’ve passed them. The act of yielding to the unpowered vessel aids in the prevention of a collision.
What other boat lights do you need to sail at night
Docking Lights
Also called boat headlights, these should be positioned at the front of your vessel to help with visibility while sailing at night. With docking lights, other boats will be able to see yours; every boat owner is advised to have at least two sets.
Anchor light
The anchor light is a white, all-purpose light that ensures your boat is visible to other boats when it’s anchored. The anchor light serves the same purpose as a parking light among cars and is mostly fitted at the top of the boat.
What if a color blind person is sailing the other boat
It’s not a good idea for a color-blind person to sail any boat. This is because they can’t tell the difference between different boat lights, which could result in an accident without their knowledge.
Because you can’t pass a color-blind test, this is an extremely unlikely scenario.
However, if you’re color-blind and wish to cruise at night, it’s much better for everyone if you sit in the passenger seat. You may also always bring a buddy along to lead you when needed.
What if the boat lights stop working mid-sailing
Battling the elements is hard enough, so don’t make it harder on yourself by not being prepared. If your trusty vessel starts to succumb to the journey, having a backup plan–like a flashlight for when night falls–is crucial.
By shining this flashlight towards any approaching boats, you are transmitting the message that they need to slow down and offer assistance or yield. In addition to a flashlight, flares, other lights, or parachute lights could also be employed in such cases.
These are recognized as distress signals in waterways and can be useful when you need assistance.
However, you will be fined or punished if use these signals when there is no danger present.
What other safety precautions are necessary when sailing at night
Use a lookout
It’s critical to have someone on board with you to raise your chances of returning home safely. You’ll be more likely to notice anything ahead of time if one of your passengers serves as the lookout. When sailing at night, there are a lot more things that you need to worry about than other boats.
The other dangers on the water, including but not limited to crashed ships, icebergs, docks without lights, piers and jetties could create problems for you and your passengers if you don’t see them early enough. However, having a lookout will allow them to tell you in advance so that you can take a different route that is safer and more clear.
High beams
It’s crucial to have your high beams turned off when sailing at night. This is because they can give other sailors the wrong impression, as if you’re an anchored boat. Many high beams are also very bright, so it would be difficult for others to see where they’re going.
If a sailor is hit with bright high beams, they could become night blind, causing accidents like collisions or hitting shipwrecks.
Driving speed
It’s usually preferable to sail at a slower pace at night than during the day. Because visibility throughout the night is restricted, this is true. You might overlook a boat light or another barrier and cause an accident by sailing too fast.
Use a compass
A compass is an essential tool for safe navigation, as it allows you to easily determine your direction of travel regardless of weather conditions.
Conclusion
Sailing at night can be a daunting task for some people, but it doesn’t have to be if you follow all the proper guidelines. Making sure your boat lights are in good condition and knowing how to interpret them will give you the upper hand when sailing at night.
