Guide for night sailing in a solar-powered boat
The possibility of going out in the evening adds an extraordinary dimension to solar boating. What a pleasure it is to glide silently along with loved ones over a good meal, barely hearing the lapping of the waves. With regular off-season outings, you can easily reach the level required for full-season night sailing. This guide corresponds to the Club’s level 3. To find out more, read this article or play the Final Quiz.
Level 3 roadmap
For a swim, eat, rest program in the order you prefer, you can go out as far as the Villa David Niven, well known to the Club members. This means sailing less than a mile from the harbour, for obvious safety reasons, and can only be done in calm weather, which is often the case at the height of the season.
Specific point of attention for night sailing
Spotting the coast
Exercise maximum caution. You should only sail in places that you have spotted perfectly during the day. Keep a close eye on the harbor entrance by day.
At night, the lights will help you find your way. The green beacon should remain on your right as you enter the harbor. Be careful not to get the wrong green light – there are several! The harbor light flashes 3 times over a period of 12 seconds.
Collisions
Crossing an outboard boat at night is potentially more dangerous. Skippers are sometimes less vigilant, and you won’t be able to tell. Don’t forget to switch on your navigation lights – it’s an obligation. We also recommend that you bring your own flashlights. If you see a motorboat dangerously crossing your path at high speed, avoid it even if you think you have the right of way, and signal your presence with your torches.
Every time you pass a harbour or channel, you are on the path of a boat that may be entering or leaving. In some cases, boats exceed authorized speed limits. By sailing exclusively in the area between the David Niven anchorage and the port, you considerably reduce the risk of traffic collisions.
Managing solar autonomy at night
The solar boat only runs on battery power at night. If the boat has been used during the day by a previous crew, you won’t be at 100% charge. Fortunately, night-time sailing has nothing to do with daytime sailing. For the safety reasons mentioned above, we won’t be sailing far. What’s more, night sailing lends itself to gliding along in almost absolute silence. In these conditions, you’ll consume very little fuel, and it’s still possible to bring the boat back to port with its batteries charged.
Night assistance
At night, we can no longer provide the same level of assistance at sea. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions, but we can’t be on call, and it’s not certain that we’ll be able to answer. Before you set off, think about distress situations and what you would do if something went wrong. Think as if you owned the boat!
If you witness or are the victim of a problem at sea, CROSS MED on 196 is there to coordinate assistance as a last resort. And don’t forget that the boat has an oar.
Leaving the boat overnight
As an extra precaution when leaving the boat at the quay, remember to keep it as far away from the quay as possible to discourage unwanted visitors. The surveillance camera is there to ensure that no one comes on the boat after you’ve left it as it is. Make sure it’s working properly, so there’s no ambiguity.