Sailing vessels less than 12 meters (international) or 20 meters (inland) in length must display red and green sidelights, or a red and green ______ light, along with a stern light.

Sailing vessels less than 12 meters (international) or 20 meters (inland) in length must display red and green sidelights, or a red and green ______ light, along with a stern light.

• A. Bow light
• B. Masthead light
• C. Stern light
• D. Beacon light

Answer: (A)

The test is checking your understanding of small-boat navigation lights. Sailing vessels under the specified length must show red and green sidelights plus a white light at the stern. For these smaller vessels, the forward white light can be a bow light instead of a masthead light, giving a clear forward signal without adding a masthead installation. That forward white bow light fulfills the forward-light requirement while the red/green sidelights and the stern light cover the rest of the lighting needs. So the blank is bow light. The other options don’t fit because masthead light is not the intended forward light on these small vessels, the stern light is already required, and a beacon light is used for marks, not standard navigation at sea.

The test is checking your understanding of small-boat navigation lights. Sailing vessels under the specified length must show red and green sidelights plus a white light at the stern. For these smaller vessels, the forward white light can be a bow light instead of a masthead light, giving a clear forward signal without adding a masthead installation. That forward white bow light fulfills the forward-light requirement while the red/green sidelights and the stern light cover the rest of the lighting needs. So the blank is bow light. The other options don’t fit because masthead light is not the intended forward light on these small vessels, the stern light is already required, and a beacon light is used for marks, not standard navigation at sea.