Proper running lights

[Tom23400]

Last week while sailing at night on Lake Michigan I noticed all theother sailboats (sailing) had there anchor light on as well as theRed , green and the white light on the transom. I thought under sailit was just: Red, Green and the white transom light. Has something changed?

 

[Benny17441]

The amount of traffic has changed.

The rules of the road still only designate the red. green and stern white but common sense prudence is working in trying to make the boat more visible to to fast moving power boat traffic. I'm seeing it more and more and the first time I was confused and did not know whether the boat was anchored or underway until I got closer but I sure did see it.

 

[duality]

it happens alot in chicago

i see it every time i night sail. there are a lot of time share boats here and i think most just dont know better. but a forward facing white light (anchor light or not) dictates that you are a motorboat. i had one sailor on my boat one night with 30 years of lake michigan experience and he said they do it to see the windex direction on their mast heads.ill see you out theremike

 

[alan]

They make windex lights...

...just for that purpose. There are plenty of ways to make a boat more visable without confusing everyone else and risking a fine, close call or worse. alan

 

[Brian M H23]

hmm

I would think that if a sailboat has its masthead light on, while sailing, it simply loses any rights it might have gotten from being a sailboat, and is treated as a motor sailor. However, if you are behind the boat, and see 2 white lights (one on the stern, one up high), then its time to be confused.