If you’ve ever gone sailing at night – or even been caught out a couple of hours past sunset – you are well aware of the issues surrounding visibility. For example, all sailors need to know where the important lines, halyards, and safety gear is located, even on a boat that they’re unfamiliar with. Common sense says to simply to turn on a flashlight. The problem, however, is that a flashlight (unless it has a red filter) will destroy the night vision of everybody on deck. For racers, turning on a light can also alert any nearby competitors of sail changes that may be taking place.
So what to do? Meet Luna Brite, a new “product ingredient” from Lunabrite, Inc., that is potentially poised to change how people engage night sailing. Luna Brite itself is a strange, gel-like substance that is injected into clear tubing; once exposed to light (be it natural sunlight or light from incandescent- or LED sources), Luna Brite glows (the amount of light that it kicks off, and the intensity at which it shines, is dependant on how much “charge time” it is given) in either vibrant blue or soft green. Once its charge has dissipated, simply re-exposing Luna Brite to a light source will reinvigorate it.
So how does Luna Brite benefit sailors? Provided that Lunabrite, Inc. sells Luna Brite to companies who incorporate this into their end-user products (say, railings, fiddles, companionway ladders, or first-aide kits), or if Lunabrite, Inc. markets Luna Brite with fittings that allow it to be clipped onto lifelines or attached to the side of clutches, finding your way around a boat – or simply finding something solid to grab onto in a rough seaway – will be far easier. Also, if foul-weather-gear companies incorporate Luna Brite as flashing stripes on jackets, it could prove beneficial in relocating a MOB.
For more information about Luna Brite, check out www.lunabrite.com
Posted: December 12, 2007
