What light arrangement must sailboats show when underway at night?

What light arrangement must sailboats show when underway at night?

• A. Red and green sidelights and a stern light
• B. A towing light above the stern light
• C. One all-round white light
• D. A blue light

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that you must be visible to other vessels with the standard navigation lights that indicate both movement and direction. For a sailboat underway at night, that means showing red and green sidelights plus a white stern light. The red sidelight is on the port (left) side and the green sidelight on the starboard (right) side, and a white light at the stern shows you’re moving forward. This combination lets other vessels know which way you’re headed and that you’re under way. The other options don’t fit because a towing light above the stern is only used when you’re actually towing another vessel; a single all-round white light isn’t the required configuration for a sailing vessel under way; and a blue light isn’t part of standard sailing navigation lights.

The main idea is that you must be visible to other vessels with the standard navigation lights that indicate both movement and direction. For a sailboat underway at night, that means showing red and green sidelights plus a white stern light. The red sidelight is on the port (left) side and the green sidelight on the starboard (right) side, and a white light at the stern shows you’re moving forward. This combination lets other vessels know which way you’re headed and that you’re under way.

The other options don’t fit because a towing light above the stern is only used when you’re actually towing another vessel; a single all-round white light isn’t the required configuration for a sailing vessel under way; and a blue light isn’t part of standard sailing navigation lights.