Rule 25: sailing vessels and vessels under oars.

What does COLREGs Rule 25 say?

Rule 25(a): a sailing vessel underway shows sidelights and a sternlight. Rule 25(b): under 20 metres, those lights may be combined in one lantern at or near the top of the mast. Rule 25(c): any sailing vessel underway may also show red over green at or near the top of the mast, but not with the combined lantern. Rule 25(d): what a small sailing vessel and a vessel under oars must do. Rule 25(e): the cone for a vessel under sail and machinery together.

Which parts of Rule 25 are compulsory?

The rule's own words decide it. 'Shall': the sidelights and sternlight in 25(a); in 25(d), the lights 'if practicable' for a small sailing vessel, and otherwise the torch or lantern ready at hand, for her and for a vessel under oars that does not show the sailing lights; and the cone in 25(e). 'May': the combined lantern in 25(b), the red over green in 25(c), and the sailing lights for a vessel under oars in 25(d)(ii).

Does a sailing vessel show a masthead light?

No. Rule 25(a) prescribes only sidelights and a sternlight. A masthead light is one of the lights of a power-driven vessel underway (Rule 23(a)). As we read it, a sailing yacht showing her masthead light is telling other vessels she is power-driven — so it belongs on only when the engine is in use.

When is a yacht a 'sailing vessel'?

Rule 3(c): she is one only while under sail with no propelling machinery in use. A sailing yacht with her engine in use — motoring or motor-sailing — is a power-driven vessel and shows the Rule 23 lights, not the Rule 25 ones. Rule 25 also covers only a sailing vessel underway; at anchor she shows the Rule 30 lights or shape for a vessel at anchor.

What is the combined lantern (tricolour) in Rule 25(b)?

Under 20 metres, a sailing vessel may carry her sidelights and sternlight in a single lantern near the top of the mast — usually called a tricolour. It is optional: separate sidelights and a sternlight are always allowed.

It is a sailing vessel's light. Under engine she is power-driven and shows Rule 23 lights instead. Don't confuse it with the lantern in Rule 21(b), which lets any vessel under 20 metres combine her two sidelights — but not the sternlight — in one lantern on the centreline. As we read 25(b), the tricolour replaces the separate lights rather than being shown with them.

What does red over green mean?

Rule 25(c): a sailing vessel underway may add two all-round lights near the top of the mast, red above green. It applies at any length, and it is optional.

One restriction: these lights 'shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern'. Red over green goes with sidelights and a sternlight shown under 25(a) — a Rule 21(b) combined sidelight lantern included — never with the tricolour.

What lights does a sailing dinghy or a small sailing boat need?

Rule 25(d)(i): under 7 metres, a sailing vessel shows her sailing lights if she practicably can. If not, she must keep a white torch or lantern 'ready at hand' and show it 'in sufficient time to prevent collision'.

In practice, ready at hand means within reach, working and checked before dark — not in a locker below.

What lights does a rowing boat or a tender under oars need?

Rule 25(d)(ii): a vessel under oars may show the sailing vessel's lights. If she does not, the same requirement applies: an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light, ready at hand and shown in sufficient time to prevent collision. A tender under an outboard is not under oars: she is propelled by machinery, so she is a power-driven vessel (Rule 3(b)) and falls under Rule 23.

What shape does a yacht show when motor-sailing?

Rule 25(e): under sail and engine together she shows a cone forward, point down ('apex downwards'). It is a shape, so it is shown by day (Rule 20(d)); at night she shows the Rule 23 lights of a power-driven vessel. Rule 25(e) has no length exception, though Annex I, section 6(c), lets a vessel of less than 20 metres use smaller shapes.

Apex down for motor-sailing. Don't confuse it with the cone apex upwards that a fishing vessel shows towards outlying gear (Rule 26(c)(ii)).

What do the sailing lights tell other vessels?

Which rules apply to her. Under Rule 18, a power-driven vessel underway keeps out of the way of a sailing vessel, and a sailing vessel underway keeps out of the way of a vessel not under command, one restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, and one engaged in fishing — 'Except where Rules 9, 10 and 13 otherwise require'. Rule 12 governs two sailing vessels approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision. In restricted visibility a sailing vessel sounds one prolonged blast followed by two short (Rule 35(c)); motor-sailing, she gives the power-driven signal of Rule 35(a) or (b).

How might Rule 25 come up in an MCA oral?

It may come up as a lights picture or as a question about your own yacht. Examples of the kind of question to be ready for:

“At night you see an all-round red light above an all-round green light, and a green sidelight lower down. What is she, and which side of her are you seeing?”

“Can you use the tricolour when you're motoring or motor-sailing?”

“You're motor-sailing in daylight. What do you show?”

“Can you show red over green with a tricolour?”

“What must a 5-metre sailing dinghy have at night?”

Where do candidates go wrong on Rule 25?

The common slips: leaving the tricolour on under engine; showing red over green with the tricolour; putting the motor-sailing cone apex up, or forgetting it because the sails are drawing; showing a masthead light under sail alone; treating the tricolour as compulsory under 20 metres; and forgetting the 7-metre limit on the torch provision for a sailing vessel.