Armond Perretta wrote:

We have had discussions here in the past about this type of thing. I
call
it "improvisational lighting" and I don't see any difference between
making
up the lighting rules as one goes along, and making up the crossing
or
overtaking rules as one goes along.

This kind of thing is largely why most commercial operators have such
low
opinions of recreational sailors.

This has always interested me. Clearly the rules state that you should
*only* show the correct lights.

However If I really thought that showing incorrect lights was the
*only* way to be seen I'd do it like a shot. I'd much rather confuse a
ship than scrape his barnacles off with my flesh.

Whether or not there could ever be such a case I don't know.