Yacht mast lights
Ken Parry,
I'm afraid you've jumped on the wrong one this time!
Does the name ' Velsheda ' ring any bells ?
Though I've sailed most things inc' square riggers since 1974, yachtmaster offshore so theoretically can command up to 200 tons worldwide ( did 280 tons on French canals ) my own boat now at 6.7m does not officially require ANY decent nav' lights, but I and my chums fit them as a matter of common sense; likewise radar reflectors / sensors.
I have a 30W solar panel - itself not actually paying for itself re. manufacturing compared to output - and backup dynamo on the auxillary engine.
As for wind generators, I would LOVE to see the maths proving that such things are any benefit at all - when one factors in the manufacture of the materials, factory building the thing, the workers driving to get there, blokes in a landrover / boat going out to service it, replacement bearings...
There was a time I never thought I'd say it, but until battery technology comes on in a big way, ' Nuke power stations are what we're stuck with.
Back to the original point, if I or my girlfriend ever was surprised enough to have an erection of over say 40' AGL, I'd feel duty bound to make it as visible as possible for any passing aircraft ( as I 'phoned the Guiness book of records ).
Seriously, most yachts have a mast at least that high, as a certain red Arrow found out.
Yachts at anchor will usually but not always show an all-round white light, often at the masthead or if following the rule book, slightly lower than and forward of the masthead.
This isn't so much to ward off aircraft, as other boats and to give a target to row back to.
As I say, REALLY large yachts usually carry aircraft warning red flashing lights, as a matter of common sense.