Michael,
The Hinkley had and used a mast top anchor light in the Chippewa Harbor anchorage a few years later, but I did not determine if that same light was aboard the day after the near collision with him. I was doing well to get the boat name and hailing port for the log book. But it being a Hinkley Gold Plater, it had to have come with some anchor light up topside, wouldn't you think? Maybe it was bad or something..or maybe it was more romantic to use the kerosene light...??
As I mentioned, radar showed a single target because the targets (2) were aligned fore and aft with each other, and only 150 ft apart, and then only 300 ft. off shore. So the shoreline got involved, as did a longer range on the radar than would be optimum, since we had already arrived at our destination effectively.
The lights being shone were also confusing to some extent, with the light from the little powerboat looking like the right distance for the radars target, yet the sailboats 'anchor' light seemed to be a dying fire on the beach..or that is how three of us saw it at 1am in the morn.
Point is that while it all made sense until I picked up on the loom of the nav lights, all was well. But once we saw the problem, we had maybe a few seconds to adjust course and then figure out what happened to fool us. There was no time for conjecture or debate even..just a big SH*T! Hard to Port! to warn the others that something was happening. I felt like a fool after that one, and mention it in the hopes that it will help others to remember that things are not always the way you see them, and that anything that another boater can do to make his boat apparent to you (no klieg lights though, please..)would likely benefit all parties concerned.
Larry
Michael Berry wrote: Ed Haley wrote: FWIW, I agree 100% with Larry.
I have an oil lamp that I use in my cockpit for ambiance and lighting purposes but it never replaces the need to keep a proper anchor light (at the top of the mast) on while at anchor or even at a mooring. I don't know how many times I've been told that it's not necessary to put on the anchor light because we were in a designated anchorage or mooring site but I put on the anchor light anyway. Why? The purpose of an anchor light should be viewed from the prespective of other boaters. The light is to be visible to them for safety reasons. It should be (as required) visible for 2 miles. The idea is to help other boaters from hitting you in the middle of the night preventing injury or damage. Why would anyone compromise safety? If someone hit your boat in the middle of the night and you had a kerosene lamp lit for an anchor light you would be liable in a lawsuit.
Don't get me wrong, I use an oil light all the time in the cockpit. It looks nice and warm on a cozy evening. But there's a proper anchor light lit on the top of the mast as well. Why wouldn't a sailor do otherwise? I just can't figure it out. Most have one but fail to turn it on. Amazing.
Ed Haley
s/v Mokita
CD330 #1
Kingston, ON
(about to be on the hard in Clayton, NY)
Larry, Ed and Joe,
I guess with all the legal liability at stake here with our pride and joys it would be best to err on the side of wisdom and safety.
I was a professional driver for 28 years plus and the last question if there was an accident, whether right or wrong in the eyes of the police, was "Did you do everything in your power to prevent the accident?" results on my record as a preventable or non-preventable.
Your story Larry of the near collision with the Hinkley is an interesting situation. Did he try to post an anchor light as perhaps that is all he had? An emergency anchor light?
What did radar really reveal?
Michael
demers@sgi.com