Regarding Lighting - you should NEVER see bowlights (which are an exception to the NAV RULES for sidelights) from astern a vessel.
The exception I am referring to is that Boats under 20m (65.6 ft) are permitted to combine the sidelights into one lantern (what we call the bow lights). So having bow lights on either side of a vessel is not anything special and does not change visibility.
The red and green sidelights by regulation are only to be visible 112.5 degrees from directly ahead - which is from straight ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam.
If you make it a point to understand arc of visibility, a lot of the navigation rules become easier to understand. I included a link to a great site that shows the arc of visibility. For $5 you can get a laminated index card to keep on your boat for reference.
If you're operating in a boat's red zone, you must give way. Same if you ONLY see white (meaning you are astern) because you are overtaking. If you see green, you are the stand-on vessel.
Arc of Visibility