Under what condition can a sailboat be without its masthead light?

• A. When sailing and not motoring
• B. When anchored
• C. In fog
• D. During daylight

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the masthead light signals that a vessel is under power or making way, so it isn’t required for a vessel that is sailing and not using its engine. When a sailboat is powered only by its sails and not by the motor, it isn’t considered a power-driven vessel moving through the water, so the forward white masthead light can be omitted. You still follow the navigation-light requirements for a sailing vessel when underway at night, but the masthead light specifically isn’t needed in this scenario. The other situations involve conditions where different lights or situations apply (anchored, fog, daylight), so they don’t align with the exception for a sailboat that is sailing without motoring.