Sailing at night

Does anyone? I'm contemplating taking the boat out on the river to watch the 4th of July fireworks. My reading of FL law is that if I tape some light sticks to the top of the mast and carry a flashlight I'm legal. Total round trip from ramp to viewing place and back is about 1/2 mile. There will be lots of other boats around.

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The ox is slow but the earth is patient

That's the problem. Most of those are likely to be drunken power boaters, who will try to leave quickly when it's over. People have been killed on the Ohio River when thrown from small boats caught in the maelstrom of power boat chop after fireworks shows. My brother did it once in his 32' cabin cruiser, and said he felt lucky to make it home alive.

People who have done it on my lake (not quite as congested) have said the "minimum required" lighting, was not enough for power boaters to see while they're watching the other boats and lights, etc... You might be better off with a broad-beam light, shone onto your sail. That not only lets power boaters know you're there, but that you're not as maneuverable as they are.

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What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"

Agreed. The fireworks traffic is scary on the Ohio River.

My parents have a 25" speed boat that they put in the ohio for the fireworks and it's insane. Drunken power boaters have no respect for the rules of the water. We spent 2 hours in heavy traffic last year trying to get off the water. It was like downtown Chicago during rush hour on a friday.

I did it one year in a 16 foot fish and ski and ended up with standing water in the boat from the waves crashing over the bow.

I have only done it once. That was in the middle of winter on a frozen lake with an ice sailer. The moon was out and it was a clear sky. That was scarry enough and I was sure there were no boats out there. There may have been some intoxicated snow mobile drivers though and every time I heard a motor my spider sences tingled.

All in all I would not go out on a busy water way at night. So not worth the risk.

One of my buddies said he used to sail his cat at night all the time.. but that was 20 years ago. He said they just carried a flashlight to light up the sail if they heard somebody around them.

I've thought about taking mine out for fireworks too.. but they actually launch them right next to where I store my boat in the summer, so maybe I'll just go to the park and lay on the cat for the fireworks this year.

I've done a fair amount fo distance races where we have finished after dark ....

LISTEN - you will HEAR trouble coming before you can see it !!!

Everyone wears a lifejacket all the time ... WITH A PERSONAL SAFETY STROBE ON IT !!!! and make sure the batteries are good Trying to find someone in the dark floating on the water is VERY difficult

Care MULTIPLE flashlites ... one I attach to the sail shining up vertically ... the others I use to shine in the eyes of approaching boats, moving the lite in a horizontal arc across their approaching path

I have rigged a "mast head lite attached to my halyard" at the head of my sail ... and I have a red/green lite attached to my spin pole, you can also rig one to your bridle wires

Be vigilant ... but be comfortable ...


Harry

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HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

I'd be fine with night sailing, just not in the middle of post fireworks traffic.

I'll probably do a moonlight sail at some point this summer, probably on a weeknight when I know there aren't any idiots to run me over.