Navigation Lights
Navigation lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility (fog, rain, haze) at any time.
Light Configuration
| Light | Position | Arc |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Port bow | 0–112.5° |
| Green | Starboard bow | 0–112.5° |
| White | Stern | 135° aft |
| OR: Tricolour (masthead) | Masthead | Combines all three |
The masthead tricolour combines red, green, and white in one fitting. It is more visible from distance and draws less power than three separate lights. Use the tricolour when offshore under sail.
Never run tricolour and steaming light together
These are mutually exclusive. The tricolour indicates a sailing vessel. Adding the steaming light turns you into a power vessel in the eyes of other mariners — which is exactly wrong when sailing.
| Light | Position | Arc |
|---|---|---|
| Steaming light (white) | Foredeck | 225° forward |
| Red | Port bow | 0–112.5° |
| Green | Starboard bow | 0–112.5° |
| White | Stern | 135° aft |
When the engine is running you are legally a power-driven vessel and must give way to sailing vessels. Switch the tricolour off and use the steaming light.
By day when motor-sailing: hoist the black cone (point down) in the fore-triangle — legally required and expected in the Adriatic where Croatian authorities actively check.
| Light | Position | Arc |
|---|---|---|
| All-round white | Masthead | 360° |
Use the masthead anchor light — it is more visible and draws less current than the deck-level option. Always on in busy anchorages, even if other boats aren't showing one.
If anchored in or near a traffic separation scheme or shipping lane, also show a second all-round white at the stern if your length exceeds 50 m (Whistler is 13.9 m — masthead anchor light is sufficient).
Switching Lights
The main electrical panel (nav station) has switches for:
- Navigation lights (sidelights + steaming)
- Masthead tricolour
- Stern light
- Anchor light (all-round white)
Check lights are showing correctly by walking the boat after switching on — confirm port is red, starboard is green, stern is white.
Inland / Croatian Regulations
- Croatian Maritime Directorate actively enforces lights in marinas and anchorages
- The black cone is legally required by day when motor-sailing — keep one aboard
- Anchoring in designated swim zones is prohibited — check local notices
- Speed limit within 300 m of the coast: 10 kn
- Speed limit within 50 m of the coast: 3 kn (essentially no-wake)
Bulb / LED Types
Whistler has LED navigation lights (Aqua Signal series) throughout. LEDs rarely fail, but inspect all lights at the start of each season and keep spares aboard.
The masthead tricolour is the highest point on the boat — inspect it at each mast unstepping or use binoculars to confirm it is illuminated from the water.