Had an interesting thing happen Friday night on Lake Travis, was stopped by a sheriff patrol boat. He told me that as a sailboat over 7 meters I was required to display red / green running lights, a stern light and a white all around light while under sail. I politely told him that I was showing proper lights for a sailboat, red / green and a stern light, no engine running so no steaming light and that my all around light was my anchor light. He told me I was wrong, so to avoid a confrontation I turned it on. I told him as a retired naval officer and OOD he needed to review his Col Regs. He left, we sailed on. He came back in 10 min. to tell me he had reviewed the regs and could see what I meant, but that Texas required different lights than the Coast Gaurd, so I could turn it out if I wanted to. I told no, I'd keep it on. What do you think, should I raise the issue so the department gets trained correctly??
- Status
It happens here too. A couple years ago I was rowing an 8' dingy across the anchorage and a sheriff boat came up to me and advised that I had no numbers on the side. I replied to him that they are not needed (great lakes) with this size and no motor, he didn't like that much, I told him the dingy wasn't mine it belonged to a friend at anchor, he towed me to the boat to warn the owner of the problem, my friend the owner replied to him the same as I did. He left us with a warning, as he left we could see him getting out his booklet, he then came back and appologised (sp) for his mistake. We were proud!!
Dean
Dean
Texas Lake sailor, yes, in a nice way report it so that 'Barney' gets his rules right.
I would also check the TX regs, I doubt you find anything about what he said!
Always a good idea to keep a copy of current regs on board to 'edjumacate' folks like that!
Jack
I would also check the TX regs, I doubt you find anything about what he said!
Always a good idea to keep a copy of current regs on board to 'edjumacate' folks like that!
Jack
I have an issue with this also
brazos river authority can be a pain also. My question is this. Is it illegal to run more lighting than required? for example
while motoring red port light green, starboard light, stern light, all around white light.
I have been blacking out the stern light while motoring so as not to cause confusion.
And I don't see the need of an anchor light 30 feet off the water in a small cove.
brazos river authority can be a pain also. My question is this. Is it illegal to run more lighting than required? for example
while motoring red port light green, starboard light, stern light, all around white light.
I have been blacking out the stern light while motoring so as not to cause confusion.
And I don't see the need of an anchor light 30 feet off the water in a small cove.
I went over this configuration with a game warden at travis and he was utterly lost about it. so thats what I do. I am thinking about stringing white christmas lights on my fore and backstay to look cool while anchoring but don't know if its legal. cruise ships have them.
extra lights
From my navy days I know that there are admiralty law cases where ships were judged to be partially at fault due to "confused nav picture" due to wrong lights. Having said that, we would always rig "holiday lights" when moored in overseas ports, but would make sure the required nav lights were also on.
From my navy days I know that there are admiralty law cases where ships were judged to be partially at fault due to "confused nav picture" due to wrong lights. Having said that, we would always rig "holiday lights" when moored in overseas ports, but would make sure the required nav lights were also on.
Too many lights
I was returning to Quantico on Saturday night around 1000 and it was pretty dark. Saw a green light and then a whole lot of white lights. I altered course to avoid collision (green light was steady bearing) and was thinking it was a barge (in the totally wrong part of the river and there was one on the other side) until it got closer and realized it was a sailboat with running lights, steaming light, anchor light, and front and back hatches open with all lights blazing inside. Guy crossed right in front of my patch like he never saw me and it was clear party mode was locked on.
Just prior to that (about 15 minutes) I came upon a green light, again on steady bearing, so I altered course and passed a low profile power boat with no other lights on just sitting there in the middle of the river.
Off of Quantico it has gotten pretty bad with all of the light clutter from the power plant, power poles crossing the river with all of their lights, and the base itself with the airport. Last fall I never saw a barge coming down river against the backdrop until I saw his searchlight sweep the river in front of him.
I was returning to Quantico on Saturday night around 1000 and it was pretty dark. Saw a green light and then a whole lot of white lights. I altered course to avoid collision (green light was steady bearing) and was thinking it was a barge (in the totally wrong part of the river and there was one on the other side) until it got closer and realized it was a sailboat with running lights, steaming light, anchor light, and front and back hatches open with all lights blazing inside. Guy crossed right in front of my patch like he never saw me and it was clear party mode was locked on.
Just prior to that (about 15 minutes) I came upon a green light, again on steady bearing, so I altered course and passed a low profile power boat with no other lights on just sitting there in the middle of the river.
Off of Quantico it has gotten pretty bad with all of the light clutter from the power plant, power poles crossing the river with all of their lights, and the base itself with the airport. Last fall I never saw a barge coming down river against the backdrop until I saw his searchlight sweep the river in front of him.
Updated Running Lights
Just heard from the Sgt that runs the lake patrol. He listened to my concerns. He reviewed the requirements and agreed that they were wrong!!!!!!! He thanked me for pointing it out and said that at a multiple agency meeting next week he will bring it up with all the groups that patrol the lake. He actually took it very well, he said he was willing to listen because I had stayed so calm about it and provided the documentation. There is a leason in there.
Just heard from the Sgt that runs the lake patrol. He listened to my concerns. He reviewed the requirements and agreed that they were wrong!!!!!!! He thanked me for pointing it out and said that at a multiple agency meeting next week he will bring it up with all the groups that patrol the lake. He actually took it very well, he said he was willing to listen because I had stayed so calm about it and provided the documentation. There is a leason in there.
I'm with you there. Except when the drunk incompetent idiot is a cop and the zealous DA charges the out of town noob with manslaughter and b.u.i.
http://iteamblog.abc7news.com/
Attachments
The State AG's office appears to be investigating why no charges were brought up against the deputy and the somewhat questionable procedures used in getting the blood for alcohol level testing that were used for the Deputy's blood sample...Also, the question of why the witnesses that "saw" the lights on on the sailboat were dismissed out of hand is being investigated.
This is probably wise... BTW, I have my navigation lights all independently switched, so I can turn off the stern light if I want to use the anchor light as an all-around white light when motoring/motorsailing off shore and want the greater visibility.
fwiw, when crossing to the bahamas w/ a buddy sailboat, we asked our buddy boat to turn on their anchor light, which helped a LOT to judge distance. (by the height of the mast).
we were having some problems w the VHF and the handheld only got out so far..
so now when we do a crossing, in open ocean we turn on the anchor light... because its seen. vs the red/green and low stern lights.\
-YMMV.
we were having some problems w the VHF and the handheld only got out so far..
so now when we do a crossing, in open ocean we turn on the anchor light... because its seen. vs the red/green and low stern lights.\
-YMMV.
If you're off shore and want visibility YOU REALLY SHOULD BE USING A MASTHEAD TRICOLOR, not deck level lights and an anchor light. If you're under sail, you have the wrong lights up in any case, which can confuse people... and that can cause legal issues in the case you're hit.
Correct Lights
Saildog,
without sounding harsh, I agree. The reason I raised the issue with the CofC in the dept. is that lights are specified, they are not personal choice. If everyone doesn't follow the rules then you don't know who's out there. Having driven ships for many years it is hard enough without somebody showing the wrong lights.
Saildog,
without sounding harsh, I agree. The reason I raised the issue with the CofC in the dept. is that lights are specified, they are not personal choice. If everyone doesn't follow the rules then you don't know who's out there. Having driven ships for many years it is hard enough without somebody showing the wrong lights.
well done.. 
If the local LEOs are mis-informed, it makes it tougher on all of us...
If the local LEOs are mis-informed, it makes it tougher on all of us...- Status