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 Night
Moves
by
Dusty Miller
There's
nothing more relaxing than anchoring on a quiet evening admiring
a beautiful sunset as the sky transforms from yellow to gold
to red then, eventually, to black.
After witnessing such a magnificent scene,
we hoist the anchor and prepare to make our way back to shore.
To ensure a pleasant and safe trip to port, there are many
aspects we have to know about cruising at night.
During this time, the wind usually drops,
the water undulates for a while then remains still. Reflections
from other boats and objects on the land also cast eerie,
yet interesting images.
It's simple to say we can't see things in
the dark. But on a clear night, even without moonlight, it's
surprising how much we can see - we just have to interpret
what we see in a different way.
While we can perceive coloured lights or
objects that are sometimes illuminated, most of what we see
varies from nearly white to very black. A good example of
this is when the depth of the water changes. The shade of
the surface will remain consistent until we reach shallow
water. Since the available light reflects off the bottom,
we can visually determine what lies beneath the surface.
For instance, a rocky and/or sandy bottom
will become lighter while a muddy or weedy bottom will be
darker. Remember, this is just a basic guideline so always
be sure to keep a close eye on the shade of the water as well
as your depth sounder when cruising closer to shore or approaching
islands.
It's also difficult to perceive distance
and speed. In daylight, we know how long it will take to cruise
to the dock at a certain speed, but at night, even if we can
see over the gunwales, caution must prevail. (Top)
Every year we hear reports of smaller boats
from 15 to 30 feet running into problems after nightfall.
No matter how well the operator knows the lake, I dare say
boaters are more likely to get into trouble when they know
the area very well. They can be overconfident, go too fast
or cut too many corners. What is worse is they often bring
neighbors or friends along and get distracted.
A perfect example of this happened on Lake
Ontario several years ago. A good friend of mine was cruising
in Toronto Harbour at night, coming through the eastern gap
in a small inflatable with a hefty outboard on the transom.
He'd been through there many times - day and night - we had
done it together in large and small boats.
But on this particular night he had guests
on board and was most likely distracted. He was cruising too
fast for the conditions and didn't see the several large pilings
that rose over four feet from the water (which blended in
between the reflections of the city and the dark water) until
it was too late.
When the inflatable bounced off one of the
pilings, everyone was thrown into the water. The guests suffered
only a soaking, however, my friend was hit by the motor and
died.
This brings up another situation in Toronto
Harbour where boaters also have to be very cautious - the
firework displays. Actually several harbours across the country
present them regularly throughout the summer.
The split second after the last explosion,
everybody hoists anchor and heads into the darkness at full
speed toward the western gap. To make matters worse, everyone's
night vision is temporarily hindered from watching all the
bright colours and white flashes. When cruising at a high
speed, how hard do think it would be to see a small sailboat
(which sometimes only uses a single flashlight for navigation)
anchored in front of a cityscape full of lights which also
reflect off the water? Think about it. Always let your eyes
get used to the darkness and go slowly. You may have to wait
a minute or two to get through the harbour entrance, but you're
much more likely to see all the other boats and avoid collisions.
(Top)
Sometimes while cruising after nightfall,
it's not only other boats you have to watch out for. One night
last May I was cruising across a lake. The moon provided a
lot of light as I approached shore. Without the moon you tend
to lose a lot of light as you get closer to the trees. With
just enough time to change direction, I passed a picnic table
floating in the water. If had hit it, it couldÕve easily ripped
a hole in the hull destroying the boat or even worse, injuring
everyone on board.
Don't let these points discourage you. Heading
out on the water at night is great fun. I used to bundle my
kids in their sleeping bags and go out for an evening cruise.
The air is cool, there's no better view of the stars and you
might even have a few pleasant surprises. I've watched the
northern lights and seen flocks of geese fly right past the
path of the moon.
But before you cast your lines, make sure
your running lights are working properly. Once underway, turn
off your cockpit courtesy lights as well as your interior
lights if you're leaving the gangway open. If you can, open
the walk-through windshield or take down your screen so you
aren't looking through glass or plastic which can potentially
distort your view. Don't use your spotlight unless you absolutely
have to. If you do, give your eyes a chance to adjust when
you turn it off. Even something as simple as lighting a cigarette
can impair your night vision for a short time.
Once your eyes are adjusted, you'll start
to notice objects that are familiar to you - a lighthouse,
cottage or marina - something stationary to help indicate
where you are. Also concentrate on lights that are moving
and decide whether their bearing and speed will intersect
your path. Keep in mind, a single white light may not be a
boat going away from you. Always proceed with caution.
When you're approaching the shore go slowly.
Also, if you do get distracted by your guests, slow down or
stop until you re-establish your path.
Evening cruises are a lot of fun. You can
keep cool on a hot night and enjoy the tranquility of the
lake. While you may not see as much as you would during the
day, cruising at night can be an experience all its own.
(Top)
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