Abstract: A high mast lighting system includes an elongated vertical mast having upper and lower ends, an annular lamp support ring surrounding the mast and having a plurality of lamps removably mounted thereon, a mechanism for raising and lowering the ring along the mast between the upper and lower ends, and a centering device for centering the ring on the mast when moved by the moving mechanism between the upper and lower positions. The centering device includes a plurality of resilient members equally spaced around the inner circumference of the ring and paired with a plurality of contact members. Each resilient member is secured to two locations on the inner circumference of the ring and spans the inner circumference of the ring so as to form a substantially linear chord when the ring is centered on the mast. Each contact member resiliently contacts the mast with a centering force.