الأنظمة والإرشادات
Navigation lights on cruising yachts
Colregs light arcs for sailboats under power and sail — LED retrofits, wiring, and pre-passage tests.
Overview
Navigation lights show your status to other vessels at night. Under Colregs, sailing yachts use red/green sidelights, stern light, and often a tri-colour at the masthead when under sail only.
Modes
| Mode | Lights |
|---|---|
| Under sail | Sidelights + stern (or tri-colour aloft) |
| Under engine | Sidelights + stern + masthead steaming light |
| Anchored | All-round white anchor light |
LED retrofits
- Check arc visibility — cheap LEDs may not meet Colregs cut-off angles
- Current draw is lower — verify flasher and switch ratings still appropriate
- Corrosion at mast connectors causes intermittent failures — test before every night passage
Read night harbour entries and Baltic weather planning.