Rule 25. Sailing vessels and vessels under oars

Sidelights and a sternlight only. No masthead light: that is the giveaway of a sailing vessel.

Set

Green to starboard, red to port, white sternlight.

Tell

A coloured sidelight with no white light above it: a sailing vessel. A power-driven vessel always carries a masthead light.

In fog

One prolonged and two short blasts every 2 minutes at most.

Gives way

To vessels not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre and engaged in fishing. Power-driven vessels give way to her.

The sidelights and sternlight may be combined in one lantern at or near the top of the mast.

Set

One lantern at the masthead: green sector to starboard, red to port, white astern.

Tell

All the lights in a single point high on the mast instead of spread along the hull.

Limit

With this lantern the optional red-over-green lights must not be shown.

Optionally, at or near the masthead, an all-round red above an all-round green.

Set

Sidelights, sternlight, plus red over green at the masthead.

Tell

Red over green: a sailing vessel. Do not confuse with white over red (pilot) or red over white (fishing).

Limit

Not to be shown together with the combined lantern of paragraph (b).

By the rules she is a power-driven vessel: the lights of rule 23, and by day a cone with the point down.

Set

Masthead, sidelights, sternlight. By day a cone point down, forward where best seen.

Why

Without the cone everyone reads her as a sailing vessel with right of way, while her duties are the opposite.

In fog

As a power-driven vessel: one prolonged blast, or two if stopped.

She may show the lights for sailing vessels. If she does not, she must keep an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light ready and show it in time to prevent collision.

Set

White torch or lantern, shown in good time.

Tell

A single low light close to the water: a rowing boat or a very small sailing vessel.

Practice

The light must be shown early, not when the vessel is already close.