Collection: Masthead lights

The masthead tricolour light is an option reserved for sailboats under 20 meters underway under sail, permitted by Rule 25 of the COLREGs. Instead of combining the three separate lights (two sidelights + one sternlight), a single masthead unit emits the three regulated colors in their respective sectors:

• Green starboard: 112.5° to the right of the bow
• Red port: 112.5° to the left of the bow
• White stern: 135° aft

Advantages of the tricolour

• Increased visibility at long range: the masthead position offers superior optical range compared to lights mounted on the coachroof or pulpits
• No obscuration by sails: unlike sidelights mounted low, the tricolour remains visible regardless of tack
• Reduced power consumption: a single LED housing (typically 1.8 to 5 W) instead of three

Limitations

• Sail-only use only: once the engine is running, separate lights (sidelights + masthead + sternlight) must be illuminated. The tricolour alone is not compliant.
• Sailboats < 20 m only: sailboats 20 m and longer must use separate lights.
• Powered vessel: switch off the tricolour and activate the sidelights + masthead + sternlight combination (or equivalent combined unit).

Mantagua variants

• Tiny Tri 1MN / 2MN: compact version for boats < 12 m, often combined with an anchor light in a single housing
• Deck-mounted flat tricolour with base: alternative for boats where masthead access is not possible
• Navipro 2MN tricolour + anchor masthead light: complete tricolour + anchor light combination

Skysat note: on a sailboat alternating regularly between sail and power (typical in coastal navigation), a dual-position switch at the electrical panel allows instant switching between tricolour (sail only) and sidelights + masthead + sternlight (power). Forgetting this switch is the most common COLREG violation in mixed navigation.