The following rules of the road memory aides come at the request of a boatsafe.com reader from Israel. Thanks for the request Yuval!
The following table gives pneumonics for several lighting configurations. You might also want to memorize the poem below. I have no idea where I got this or who the author might be, however, I hope that he or she does not mind sharing it.
| The Rule of the Road |
| When
all three lights I see ahead, I turn to Starboard and show my Red: Green to Green, Red to Red, Perfect Safety -- Go Ahead. But if to Starboard Red appear, And if upon my Port
is seen Both in safety and in doubt |
| Pneumonics For Light Identification | Day |
|
| RED WHITE RED |
Red, White, Red, Restricted Ability Ahead![]() |
|
| RED RED |
Red over Red The Captain Is Dead Vessel not under command ![]() |
|
| RED RED RED |
Three Reds in a Row -No Room Below Constrained by draft - (International only) ![]() |
|
| RED WHITE |
Red Over White - Fishing at night![]() |
|
| RED GREEN |
||
| WHITE RED |
White
Over Red - Pilot Ahead![]() |
|
| YELLOW YELLOW |
Yellow Over Yellow - A pushing or Hip Towing Fellow (Inland only) | |
| GREEN WHITE |
Green Over White - Trawling at Night![]() |
|
| YELLOW WHITE |
Yellow Over White - My Towline is Tight Dayshape is
shown when tow exceeds 200 meters |
|
| -----GREEN GREEN---GREEN |
Three Greens in a Cross - Mineclearing Boss![]() |
|
GREEN to GREEN, RED to RED - Perfect Safety Go Ahead |
||
| Related Articles: Lights and Dayshapes Dayshapes - what they mean See also the Basic Boating Safety Course |
||
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