On 20 Oct 2006 16:18:09 -0700, "max camirand"
wrote:

Do yourself a big favor and DO NOT opt for the tricolour mastead light
allowed under colregs Rule 25b, especially if you plan to go offshore.
The problem is with visibility to other ships. Sure, they're easier to
see because they're high up, but on a dark night, where a watchkeeper
on a cargo ship may be judging your distance by the light's height on
the horizon, he may think that you're far away while you're almost up
against him.

I disagree based on my own experiences sailing at night in the
proximity of commercial shipping.

Before we got the masthead tricolor commercial ships acted as though
we were totally invisible, and probably we were. After getting the
tricolor it became clear that we were not only being seen, but the big
guys were actually making course changes to avoid us.

By all means get the tricolor. Your first goal is to be seen by
others, then they can figure out the distance.