Ever since reading the MAIB report into the disappearance of the yacht Ouzo, apparently swamped due to a close encounter with the P and O ferry Pride of Bilbao with the loss of three lives, I have become obsessed by navigation lights.
Walking along any marina pontoon, I can't help looking at the bow lights of every boat I pass. And a surprising proportion of them are serious cause for concern.
One of the findings of the report was that over time the plastic lenses of typical yacht navigation lights become more and more opaque, and less and less effective. The degeneration is cause by a combination of the heat from the lamps when in use, and ultra violet decay from exposure to sunlight.
The report suggested that poor condition of Ouzo's navigation lights - the Sailfish yacht was 27 years old and it was believed that they were original equipment - could help to explain why the officer of the watch on the ferry did not see her until the very last minute.
There has rightly been a great deal of concern in yachting circles since publication of the report about the ineffectiveness of radar reflectors - another issue highlighted by the MAIB report. But how many people have checked their navigation lights?
It would be almost understandable if the lens of the masthead tricolour was allowed to become opaque and faded - a case of out of sight, out of mind. But walking along those marina pontoons, you will see glaring examples of deck level lights that can only be functioning at a fraction of their original efficiency. Why don't the boats' owners notice? Don't they care about their own safety?
Have you looked at yours lately? If not, it's something that should certainly be added to the winter maintenance list. If the boat is more than a few years old, and the lenses look anything less than bright and clear, at the very least, the lenses should be replaced - and that includes the masthead tri and steaming light, as well as the deck level lights.
And while you're doing that, check that bulbs of the right wattage and voltage are fitted. If you've got a 10W lamp when it should be 25, it will not be bright enough. And if (as we found on our boat) a 24v lamp is put in where it should be 12v, it will also be surprisingly dim!
If your boat is a few years old, you may find that it is impossible to get replacement lenses for the existing lights. So the only answer will be to replace the complete fittings. And if you're doing that anyway, rather than automatically replacing like with like it's worth stopping to ask: “are they big enough?”
The internationally agreed requirement is that the red and green bow lights of yachts under 12 m must be visible from a mile away and for yachts from 12 to 50 m, from two miles away. The white stern light must be visible from two miles away for all yachts up to 50m. The steaming light must be visible from two miles away for yachts under 12 m, for three miles for yachts 12-20m and for five miles for yachts 20-50m.
That's not very far, when you consider the closing speed of a ship: a ferry travelling at 20 knots will cover a mile in three minutes: precious little time to see and respond to a small yacht even if its lights are working properly.
Simple self-preservation suggests fitting bigger lights than the minimum required.
The rules allow for the port and starboard lights to be combined in one centreline lantern in boats under 20m overall. A tricolour lantern at the masthead is also allowed for yachts under 20 m when under sail.
But how many of those combined lanterns actually pack enough power to be seen at the required distance? A lot of today's production yachts are delivered with extremely small and flimsy-looking lights.
The smaller the fitting, the sooner the lenses are going to deteriorate as a result of heat from the lamp inside. Don't leave it until there's a problem before you replace it. And do think seriously about fitting something bigger and better when you do!
Michael Hubble, 61, officer of the watch on the Pride of Bilbao at the time Ouzo disappeared, denied three counts of manslaughter due to gross negligence when he appeared at Winchester Crown Court in March. Mr Hubble, from Folkestone, Kent, is due to face trial on October 29th.
