Sam Suffit Means Honey Badger Attitude
07 March 2023 | Too damn close to Sans Suffit
Russ Whitford
A moonless, Caribbean sky shows off the stars like no other. Very little shore light spoils the view. Anchored sailboats must show a masthead anchor light for safety reasons. These become gently waving, low level stars to add to the show.
I would love to continue telling the reader about the beauties of our night sky, however we can all smell a but coming!
Sure, the anchor light gives some protection from a speeding powerboat smashing into your hull but some overly cautions sailors opt for a flashing or strobe light to protect their ride. These are among the most inconsiderate sailors around. Imagine a harbor full of strobe lights. No one could sit out and enjoy the evening without fear of seizures.
We have been a few days in Deshaise (day hay), Guadeloupe. This is a lovely little French Caribbean village surrounded by mountains. There a French catamaran with not one but two strobe lights flashing all night. One is at the top of the mast and one is just off the aft deck. Seems like catamarans like things in twos.
I vowed a few nights ago to dinghy over there and as gently as possible, tell them what jerks they are. Kelsey and Bobby were aboard, sailing with Lisa and me for a while. None of them wanted me to confront the offenders in a rum-fueled rage. I carefully rehearsed what I would say to them. It sort of went as follows: "We would appreciate it if you would turn off your strobe lights and join the ranks of considerate cruisers." I had a more succinct version in French, "Ferme les strobes, svp."
Still, I was restrained. Finally, Lisa said I could go if I brought a bottle of (French) wine as a peace offering. I agreed and picked out a bottle that was not high on the demand list. Still a free bottle should smooth the conversation.
It didn't work. No one was on the boat. We have been here for five days and still no one is on the boat. It is in dead storage, annoying everyone in the anchorage with nightly regularity. Of course no one is on the boat. The lower strobe light would weld the retinas of anyone in the cockpit.
Since this is becoming a more frequent problem, I'm going to print up cards. "Please join the community of considerate cruisers by turning off your flashing anchor light. And did you know a flashing light on an anchored boat is illegal, it is reserved for navigational marks. If you don't know this, I'm sure your insurance company will remind you if there is a claim. Cheers!"
I'm open to ideas that don't involve violence.