Is there a yacht in the Irish Sea with its navigation lights on upside down?

Extract from Captiva's log 5th June …..

"Cleared Portpatrick at 2300, on the edge of dark, turned South towards Mull of Galloway. Loom of lights from Larne, Mull of Kintyre and Galloway. Wind SSW force 1. Jib furled, mainsail set and diesel on, course SSE , speed 5 knots. Vis good, sea state slight.".

Narrative -

"Our steaming light is out. Showing only port, starboard and stern as a sailing vessel underway. Feel guilty, will check at watch change but suspect bulb blown. The crew, John and Francis, have turned in. They soon fall asleep full of rat pie, fried potato and mushy peas. I have the deck for the next two hours. Lights to the South. First a yacht, motor-sailing North towards the Clyde. Second vessel appears as a power driven vessel, under 50 m , underway, making way. Presents as a white above green. But her aspect changes to white above red, the range closes. With "Red to Red straight ahead and green to green should never be seen" echoing in my head, I swing "Captiva" to show her lights, then settle back onto course. The oncoming vessel shows white above red as if on a collision course but begins to pass on our starboard side showing a white steaming light above a red light. She is a yacht, I can see two crew in the cockpit, two cables to the West of us, bound north and ought to have been white above green! Because I am a little tired and alone, its several minutes before I sort out the problem in my head. The other yacht had her bow port/starboard - red/green navigation lights on UPSIDE DOWN or am I completely doo lally!

I hailed them on the VHF channel 16 but no response perhaps I should have motored over to within hail, but I only thought about that later.

At this time of year when boats are being refitted ready for the new season, bits are taken off, cleaned, repaired are screwed back on, so if you've been playing with the pulpit lights check! Are they on upside down? Are those clean lenses in the right way round? If not, get the screwdriver and sort it out!

Le Ho! John Harris,

Captiva.