COLREGS states "A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an
all-round white light where it can best be seen..." as an anchor light.
Problems have arisen with this.
Most sailboats have their anchor light on the tip of the mast. The
disadvantage to this is the height. When underway one usually concentrates
ones attention at or near the horizon where a problem is most likely to lie and
not up in the sky. The other problem with this location is that the anchor
light may be lost among the stars.
The other option for most is to hang the anchor light from the boom. While
this location is in the normal sightline of an approaching vessel operator this
has the disadvantage of being obscured by the mast and other objects low on the
boat at some aspects.
And this location has been known to attract unwanted attention from cops,
complete with flashing lights, screaming sirens, and a truculent attitude, who
have a different opinion than the Skipper has about "where it can best be
seen", as Fred Fraim reported on this List about one night he spent in the
Great State of Georgia (where living on a boat is contrary to state law).
In Melbourne FL one cruiser was attacked by a cop for having his anchor light
on the tip of his mast, and the same night, by a different cop for having it
hanging from him boom.
I suppose the answer is two lights, one on the masthead, another down low, and
thanks to folks like our own Ken James doing that today is easier and more
practical than ever.
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
Lying Julington Creek
30 07.695N 081 38.484W
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