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RYA - The Knowledge


CARDINAL MARKS 02


These are used to indicate the direction of the safest navigable


water from a mark. For example, if you see a South Cardinal ahead, you should stay to the south. The light sequences can be either quick (Q) or very quick (VQ), which allows for two similar nearby marks to be uniquely identified by their lights.


SAFE WATER MARK 03


Sometimes called a ‘Fairway Buoy’ or ‘Sea Buoy’, they are striped vertically red


and white, have a single ball on top and flash a single long white flash every 10 seconds. These buoys are usually set in safe, deep water at the seaward end of fairways, or harbour approach channels. They have unobstructed water on all sides. Traditionally, they are the point of departure or, when arriving, the waypoints to aim for, and mark the transition from open water navigation to pilotage.


Northerly -


Continuous quick white flash


Easterly - 3 white flashes


Southerly -


6 + 1 long white flashes


Westerly - 9 white flashes


Cardinal marks are often seen off headlands, shallows or potentially a change in the direction of buoyage. They are laid to indicate the area of safe water.


ISOLATED DANGER MARK 04


These marks are used to mark a relatively small hazard in the middle


of an area of open water. They can be passed on either side although you should exercise caution when approaching. They can be buoys, beacons, or even concrete pillars but they are always painted with red and black horizontal stripes with two black balls on top. If they are lit it will be with a white light flashing in groups of two.


SPECIAL MARKS 05


These marks have no navigational significance but mark special areas or


features such as racecourse areas, to define swimming or water­skiing zones, anchoring, fish farming, firing ranges and jetties, for example. They are not used to mark a hazard to navigation. Special marks can be all sorts of shapes, but are always yellow and often have a cross as a top mark. If they are lit, it will be with a yellow light.


Find out more. The importance of the understanding and interpreting of buoys in navigation cannot be underestimated. For further learning or knowledge refreshment, whatever your level of experience visit www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining


September 2017 / F&A 19


Picture courtesy of Paul Glatzel


Photos by: Emma Slater


Photos by: Emma Slater


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