RYA Day Skipper Lights & Shapes 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What light(s) does a vessel of less than 50m show when at anchor?
- One all-round white light (Correct answer)
- Two all-round white lights
- A white masthead light and sidelights
- One all-round red light
Correct answer: One all-round white light
A vessel under 50m at anchor shows a single all-round white light in the fore part of the vessel where it can best be seen.
Question 2: At what minimum range must the masthead light of a vessel of 50m or more be visible?
- 2 miles
- 3 miles
- 5 miles
- 6 miles (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 6 miles
COLREGS Rule 22 requires the masthead light of a vessel 50m or more in length to be visible at a minimum range of 6 nautical miles.
Question 3: A vessel engaged in trawling at night, when making way, shows which combination of lights?
- Red over white all-round lights, sidelights and sternlight
- Two all-round white lights, sidelights and sternlight
- Green over white all-round lights, sidelights and sternlight (Correct answer)
- Green over red all-round lights and sternlight
Correct answer: Green over white all-round lights, sidelights and sternlight
A trawler underway and making way shows two all-round lights (green over white), plus sidelights and a sternlight.
Question 4: What day signal does a vessel engaged in diving operations display?
- A black ball
- A black cylinder
- Two black cones, apex together
- A rigid replica of the International Code flag Alpha (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A rigid replica of the International Code flag Alpha
A vessel with a diver down displays a rigid replica of Code flag Alpha (blue and white swallowtail), the international signal meaning 'I have a diver down — keep clear at slow speed'.
Question 5: What additional all-round light does an air-cushion vessel (hovercraft) in non-displacement mode show?
- A flashing yellow all-round light (Correct answer)
- A flashing blue all-round light
- A flashing white all-round light
- A flashing red all-round light
Correct answer: A flashing yellow all-round light
An air-cushion vessel in non-displacement mode shows a flashing yellow all-round light in addition to the lights required for a power-driven vessel.
Question 6: What arc of visibility does each sidelight cover?
- 360°
- 225°
- 135°
- 112.5° (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 112.5°
Each sidelight covers 112.5°, from dead ahead to 22.5° abaft the beam on its respective side of the vessel.
Question 7: When the length of the tow exceeds 200m, how many masthead lights does the towing vessel display?
- One masthead light
- Two masthead lights in a vertical line
- Three masthead lights in a vertical line (Correct answer)
- Four masthead lights in a vertical line
Correct answer: Three masthead lights in a vertical line
When the tow exceeds 200m, the towing vessel must show three masthead lights in a vertical line instead of the usual two.
RYA Day Skipper Lights & Shapes 2
What light(s) does a vessel of less than 50m show when at anchor?