I just have a question for anyone who knows about the actual anchor light laws in nsw.
On the rms website it states:

"Sailing vessels seven metres to 20 metres Shall exhibit one of the following

:A combined lantern, that is at or near the top of the mast and incorporates sidelights and stern light
Separate sidelights and stern light."

"Power and sailing vessels at anchorVessels less than 50 metres in length at anchor shall exhibit an all round white light, placed where it may be well seen."

a few days ago i got 2 visits from the boat officer. the first visit was to tell me there was a courtesy mooring available nearby. No doubt he is crossing off the days im at anchor to then tell me how many days i have left this year!
The second visit was on dusk at longbeach. I had my anchor lights on and was inside cooking up spag boll with the music up.
I could see the water bubbling outside and realised that he was here again.
I came outside for him to tell me that i had the incorrect anchor lights and that it needs to be on the top of the mast.
What i have is an all around light on the stern which doubles as my nav stern light(i cover the front half when going at night)
Its seriously bright(rated at least 2nm) and sits over 1m above the forward nav lights just above the companion way hatch. Its about 1.8 m from the waterline. It is on the stern.
He has told me it MUST be on the top of the mast. Basically saying i can no longer come out and anchor with my current config. Keeping in mind i had no issues in QLD and have visits. Ive checked the rms website and its a little confusing. "where it can best be seen" is what it says. Yes the top of the mast might be true in this case. But i swear you can see my stern/anchor light from miles away. It lights up the entire white cockpit.
As i have just spent a fortune hauling out in JB , im certainly in no hurry to do it again - yet the situation having a mooring in the creek means that you have to spend a night out to get back in to the creek , or anchor/moor off the creek and wait for water.
The grey area for me is , is this really a legal requirement because there is nothing definitive in writing on the rms website that says it MUST be on the top of the mast. My boat is old. It didnt come with mast lights. just like an old landrover didnt come with seatbelts - yet is legal.
Im all about safety and have adhered to the many demands that come form this boating officer, but im feeling like this is harrassment.
In my case over easter, alone enjoying some solitude and im being visited by the BO for any reason it seems every time im out there. I know it isnt personal as he is just a officious RMS officer, but its getting annoying.
I really just want to be left alone. If my anchor light isnt legally sufficient then i guess i have to remedy this, but if it is(which i believe it is) then id really appreciate being left alone. My reasons for not having the light on the mast is i just dont want wiring going through the mast and holes in the roof of the cabin. a remote light would be something im very interested in if it exists.
Essentially we are rms customers. we pay them alot of money to have boats, cars, motorbikes, yet they are able to fine us/change regs and provide us with a pretty substandard service in return.
Does anyone know the actual law regarding anchor lights?