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Sailing vessel underway

Sidelights and sternlight only, no masthead light. No white masthead light. Sidelights and a sternlight alone say: sailing vessel.

fog
60°

Drag across the scene to walk around the ship. Tap a light to see its name.

arcs = Rule 21 sectors

One prolonged and two short blasts at intervals of not more than 2 minutes (Rule 35c).

Lights (Rule 25)

LightColourSectorHeight above water
green sidelight (starboard) green sidelight, starboard, 112.5° 1.6 m
red sidelight (port) red sidelight, port, 112.5° 1.6 m
white sternlight white stern, 135° (around the stern) 1.5 m

Model: a 12 m vessel. Heights and positions follow COLREG Annex I (positioning of lights).

Fog signal

One prolonged and two short blasts at intervals of not more than 2 minutes (Rule 35c).

A short blast lasts about 1 second, a prolonged blast 4 to 6 seconds (Rule 32). The play button is in the trainer above.

What to watch for

A vessel under sail AND engine at the same time is a power-driven vessel (by day: a cone, apex down, forward; Rule 25e).

May additionally show two all-round lights in a vertical line at the masthead: red over green (not together with the combined lantern allowed under 20 m).

Quick answers

What lights does a sailing vessel underway show at night?

Sidelights and sternlight only, no masthead light. In full: green sidelight (starboard); red sidelight (port); white sternlight.

What is the fog signal of a sailing vessel underway?

One prolonged and two short blasts at intervals of not more than 2 minutes (Rule 35c).

Test yourself: lights quiz All 13 vessel types Open in the trainer