On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 18:06:24 +0200, pete wrote:

Hi guys, I'm just about to buy the nav lights for my 34 sailboat and
need a bit of advice on tricolour lights.
I reckon that the higher the nav lights the better and although none
of my previous boats had masthead tri colour lights I want to fit
those on my new one.
BUT I'm a bit confused about the use of what is advertised as a
combined tri/mooring light. Under sail there is no problem, but if
under motor, according to the colregs boats of my size may display a
white all round combined masthead and sternlight.
OK staightforward enough, but if using an all round white light
directly under the port and starboard masthead lights, will the white
all round light not make it harder for other boats to see the coloured
lights?

I have looked at a few new boats and they don't have any other
steaming light fitted. Is this just sloppy practice by the
boatbuilders or am I getting my knickers in a twist for nothing?

Ah ha, thanks for the input guys, I wasn't ware that the masthead tri
light wasn't allowed under engine, my copy of the regs doesn't read
like that, but I had my fears confirmed about it all.

I am opting for the lower level lighting arrangement, my old boat was
like that with the separate steaming light halfway up the mast.

As it happens, I have been advised that inshore, higher level lights
can get confused with land lights, whereas the lower level lights look
to be on the water and therefore not on land.

I did hire a 9m sailboat a few months ago though, and this was a brand
new Beneteau, with no steaming light, just the all round anchor light
I described before. I wasn't happy about it as I was motor sailing in
poor weather, but I never met any other boats to confuse
so.................

Pete. (Next questions coming soon!!)