Boating New Zealand - July 2018

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if you only see the stern light, or if you’re crossing someone

if you see a green or red light. Also, depending on the lights

another boat is carrying, you’ll be able to work out if it’s a

power-driven vessel, a rowboat or a yacht.

Correctly-itted nav lights are essential, and diferent kinds

of vessels need diferent types of lights. A sailing vessel is only

required to display side lights (the red and green lights) and a

stern light (1, 2 & 4).

Power-driven vessels must also show a white masthead

light (3). But if you have a powerboat less than 12m in length,

an all-round white light can replace the stern and masthead

lights (3 & 4).

A power-driven vessel (e.g. dinghy) smaller than 7m whose

speed does not exceed seven knots can exhibit an all-round

white light.

BACKGROUND LIGHTS

Finding your way around a busy harbour at night usually adds

an additional layer of complexity to navigation.

here are often plenty of background land lights – red, green

and white – and it can be hard distinguishing channel markers

and other navigation lights from land-based lights.

Note, too, that a lashing light could be a navigation mark –

but it could also be a high-speed ferry.

Analysing the lights on a vessel not only help you to determine

its direction of travel, but also what type of vessel it is, its length,

and whether you – or it – are obliged to give way. BNZ

BOATINGNZ.CO.NZ

LEARN MORE To improve your night navigation skills, consider doing a

Coastguard Boating Education Boatmaster course.

Visit http://www.boatingeducation.org.nz for more information.