terry wrote:

Sailing mode: A trilight at top of mast visible (ignoring angle of
heel) comletely clear of sails can be seen in the appropriate
directions ...

I favor a tricolor, especially offshore, but at times a lower set of lights
for sailing can be helpful. Before the tricolor became popular, many people
did not take the time to "look up" and often missed sailboats nearby at
night, especially on bays and inshore waters. When I first fitted a
tricolor, I also rigged a DPDT switch for the sailing lights so
that "up" turned on the tricolor and "down" turned on the lower lights (r/g
at the bow and a white stern light). That way you could not make the error
of using both sets simultaneously.

Motoring. Trilight off. Operate a white anchor light physically above
the trilght and a red-green port-starboard lantern mounted at the
crosstrees about 6 to 7 feet below. White above red/green. sails will
be down.

I cannot be sure off the top of my head but there may be a requirement for
at least some fore-and-aft separation between the r/g and the "all-around"
white. It may be useful to check this in the regs. Certainly there is a
limitation on boat size with this setup.

Anchoring: If required, the single white light at top of mast.

The same comment above about tricolors may apply in your case to anchor
lights. Just about everyone uses a masthead anchor light at times, but in
harbor with dinghies buzzing around at night, there is a possibility that
some folks returning from festivities ashore may hit you because they once
again didn't "look up." One of those Davis low draw lights hanging low in
the rigging, either fore or aft, may be a good idea.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare

On Aug 26, 2:29 pm, "Armond Perretta"
wrote:
terry wrote:

Sailing mode: A trilight at top of mast visible (ignoring angle of
heel) completely clear of sails can be seen in the appropriate
directions ...

I favor a tricolor, especially offshore, but at times a lower set of lights
for sailing can be helpful. Before the tricolor became popular, many people
did not take the time to "look up" and often missed sailboats nearby at
night, especially on bays and inshore waters. When I first fitted a
tricolor, I also rigged a DPDT switch for the sailing lights so
that "up" turned on the tricolor and "down" turned on the lower lights (r/g
at the bow and a white stern light). That way you could not make the error
of using both sets simultaneously.

Motoring. Trilight off. Operate a white anchor light physically above
the trilght and a red-green port-starboard lantern mounted at the
crosstrees about 6 to 7 feet below. White above red/green. sails will
be down.

I cannot be sure off the top of my head but there may be a requirement for
at least some fore-and-aft separation between the r/g and the "all-around"
white. It may be useful to check this in the regs. Certainly there is a
limitation on boat size with this setup.

Anchoring: If required, the single white light at top of mast.

The same comment above about tricolors may apply in your case to anchor
lights. Just about everyone uses a masthead anchor light at times, but in
harbor with dinghies buzzing around at night, there is a possibility that
some folks returning from festivities ashore may hit you because they once
again didn't "look up." One of those Davis low draw lights hanging low in
the rigging, either fore or aft, may be a good idea.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegathttp://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare

Thanks for the additional comments. We have built and wired new fuse/
switch panel with 24 individual circuits so we could (to be ridiculous
and be seen) turn them all on at once!
Not mentioned previously was the intention to perhaps add a couple of
lights one on each side of the coach house where the port-starboard
lamps used to be, a couple of owners ago! These very low power lamps
could be used as you suggest but would mainly be intended to be able
to see a foothold on the side decks, going forward at night. Regarding
spacing; will check the Dept. of Transport Canada Regs. for boats
under 8 metres.

On Aug 26, 6:29 am, "Armond Perretta"
wrote:
terry wrote:
....
I cannot be sure off the top of my head but there may be a requirement for
at least some fore-and-aft separation between the r/g and the "all-around"
white. It may be useful to check this in the regs. Certainly there is a
limitation on boat size with this setup.

The size limit is 12 meters (~39 feet). I don't think there is any
horizontal placement requirement for the sidelights. The all-round
white probably needs to be forward of amidships. That shouldn't be a
problem on a typical rig. But, I agree that checking the regs is a
great idea. In the US the Coast Guard will answer questions on
regulations and they are the controlling authority. It might also be
nice to have a note from them to show surveyors, marina inspectors and
the like. For US sailors the regs live in 33 CFR 84 and should be
included as an annex in your copy of the rules.

I am in total agreement about the vis of lights high in the rig from
small boats or boats that are close. This problem can be worse with
some LED set-ups. At anchor lighting the deck is a good idea. We've
used garden lights on the corners of the boat though they tend to get
pretty dim by morning in the tropics. They may work better in higher
lat summers.

-- Tom.