Sail Skills www.sailskills.co.

uk Mnemonics
Distinctive or
Rule Additional Day Shape Vessel Mnemonic
Lights

Yellow over white,

Power-driven towing (from astern)
towline’s tight

Power-driven towing, tow is not more than Two whites in a row is a

24
200 m short tow

White over white over

Power-driven towing, tow is more than 200 m
white, long tow in sight

Red over green is a sailing

25 Sailing underway – optional lights
machine (but rarely seen)

Green over white, trawling

Fishing – engaged in trawling
tonight

26
Fishing – engaged in fishing “other than Red over white, fishing
trawling” tonight

Not under command Two red, the captain’s abed

Red, white, red, restricted

27 Restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
ahead

Restricted in her ability to manoeuvre. Green green good

Dredging and underwater operations - where Diamonds are our best
an obstruction exists friend

Red, red, red; rudder

28 Constrained by their draft
rubbing rocks

29 Engaged in pilotage duties White over red, pilot ahead

Anchor light(s) with two

30 Aground red mean I’m stuck to the
seabed
© P Joy 2010 enquiries@sailskills.co.uk