In the Dark About Lights?

Back in the day, ships were small enough for the bow lookout to turn, face aft and yell back to the mate on the bridge. A sailor would affirm the correct functioning of the navigation lights each day at sunset by shouting, “The lights are shining brightly!” I loved this old-timey routine. You can call me a nostalgic old toot, but I fondly recite the words under my breath before assuming a night watch to this day, no matter what boat I’m on.

Checking to make sure your navigational lights are functioning every sunset underway is just plain good seamanship. This past summer, two recreational boaters were killed and three others were injured on the Great