The nautical rules of the road are officially called, "The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea", or COLREGS. I keep a printed copy on my desk, but you can find many references on the web. One is at the USCG site at Office of Vessel Traffic Management

The lighting rule that I referenced is under Rule 25.


Kevin Rose N6.0na #215 Lake Champlain (New England's "west coast") Burlington, Vermont