While preparing this item, it occured to me that I hae seldom seen
anybody propose a device for easy memorization of cardinal buoys. We
don't have many of them in US waters in the Pac NW, but we encounter
some up in Canada and many boaters who trek up there only every couple
of years or so may be less than entirely certain how to interpret
them.

In the off chance that this may be of interest to somebody-

Unlubberizing those "unusual" Canadian Buoys


Most boaters began learning about navigation aids by memorizing the
simple phrase, "Red, right, returning." During the second lesson, a
clever slogan such as "Even red nuns oppose odd green cans" might have
been employed to help clarify that the red buoys to starboard when
inbound will feature a conical top (like a nun's hat) and will be even
numbered, while the green buoys to port when inbound will be
cylindrical and marked with odd numbers. Stationary marks fixed to
pilings follow the same rules, with triangular shaped and even
numbered marks on the starboard side of an inbound channel and square
green marks with odd numbers to port. This system of navigational
marks is called the "lateral" system, and remains the primary system
in use for most navigable waters in Washington State.

Where a channel splits into "preferred" and "secondary" navigable
options, a special "bifurcation" buoy with red and green stripes is
normally used. The uppermost stripe indicates which option is
considered the primary channel, with a red top stripe suggesting that
the buoy be kept to starboard when inbound and a green top stripe
suggesting that an inbound boater keep the buoy to port.

One of the few common failures of this system has been a level of
ambivalence regarding the literal application of "red, right,
returning", with occasional instances of boaters running outside the
safe channel when "returning" to a moorage from an upstream fuel dock,
restaurant, boatyard or other location. Remembering that "returning"
equates to "inbound from the ocean" solves this problem (just as
surely as running aground a few times will also reinforce the point).
In rare instances where a marked channel doesn't appear to be either
inbound or outbound in nature, traveling north is considered inbound
along the west coast of North America.

While the lateral system of aids to navigation seems comfortable and
familiar to most US boaters in the Pacific NW, it's interesting to
note that it is not used consistently throughout the world. One of the
areas where we will encounter slightly different buoys than we are
accustomed to will be found just a short jaunt north in Canadian
waters.
About 30 years ago the International Association of Lighthouse
Authorities (IALA) hoped to create a uniform system of navigation aids
throughout the world, but met with mixed success. At present, there
are two accepted conventions. IALA-A applies everywhere except North
and South America, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. The IALA-B
system is used throughout North and South America, and includes the
traditional lateral system based on "red, right returning."
Transoceanic voyagers to Europe, Africa, Australia, most of Asia and
other locales will want to be aware that IALA-A regulations are the
reverse of what we are used to in the US, with the starboard side of
an inbound channel marked in green and the port side marked in red.

We officially use the IALA-B system in the United States, but in US
waters in the Pacific NW we seldom encounter some of the specialized
buoys we more frequently find in British Columbia.

The IALA-B convention includes the use of four "cardinal buoys",
representing the four cardinal directions on a compass card. (Despite
a name that could carry some religious connotations, there is no
direct relationship between a "nun" buoy and a "cardinal"). These
buoys have black and yellow horizontal stripes, with two triangular
top marks. The pattern of the stripes and top marks indicate whether a
cardinal buoy represents the direction north, south, east, or west.
The direction indicated by a cardinal buoy advises a mariner where
safe passage can be found, and implies a hazard in the opposite
bearing.
Pass a "north" cardinal buoy to the north, a "south" cardinal buoy to
the south, an "east" cardinal buoy to the east, and a "west" cardinal
buoy to the west.

A north cardinal buoy will be yellow, with a wide black stripe at the
top of the buoy and will be topped with two triangular markers that
both point up. The upper location of the stripe and the upward
indication of the triangular markers serve to remind us of the "top"
of the chart, and that's an easy way to remember that this cardinal
buoy represents north.
(There is safe passage to the north of the buoy, a hazard to the
south).

The south cardinal buoy is exactly the opposite of the north buoy. The
wide black stripe is at the bottom portion of the buoy and the
triangular markers both point down. This should remind mariners of the
"bottom" of the chart, and serve as an easy means to remember that
this cardinal buoy represents south. (Safe passage to the south of the
buoy, a hazard to the north).

The east and west buoys are only slightly less straightforward, and a
useful device for remember the east and west cardinal buoys is to
visualize sunrise (east) and sunset (west).
The east buoy will be 2/3 black, with a yellow stripe in the middle.
The two triangular marks atop the east buoy will be set with the upper
mark up and the lower mark down.
Remembering that it is mostly dark at the beginning of sunrise (2/3
black) and noting the upward or rising direction of the top triangle
will confirm that such a buoy indicates safe passage to the east and a
hazard to the west.

The west buoy will be 2/3 yellow, with a black stripe in the middle.
The two triangular marks atop the west buoy will be opposing, with the
bottom triangle pointed up and the lower triangle pointed down.
Remembering that it is normally quite light when the sun begins
setting in the west (2/3 yellow) and noting the downward or setting
indication of the top triangle will confirm that such a buoy indicates
safe passage to the west and a hazard to the east.

Buoys marked with black and red horizontal stripes indicate the actual
location of a hazard to navigation. This "isolated danger" indicator
might be found, for example, directly above an underwater rock or
pinnacle. Unlike a cardinal buoy, one cannot assume safe passage or an
obstruction on any particular side and when encountering a red and
black striped buoy a prudent mariner will consult the appropriate
chart for additional details. In fact, a prudent mariner will also
confirm assumptions with a chart when encountering a black and yellow
cardinal buoy. (While a chart may be considered dull reading, it is
far more accurate than the sharpest memory).

A pair of cardinal buoys at the same location will be rarely
encountered, but the use of a second buoy indicates that the hazard
the buoys are marking is a new or previously unknown hazard that is
has not yet been added to nautical charts.

Buoys with red and white vertical stripes indicate safe water, such as
the middle of a fairway. As there should be safe passage on either
side and it is prudent to favor the starboard side of a fairway, a red
and white buoy with vertical stripes would normally be passed with the
mark to port.

Just as Americans and Canadians speak two slightly different but
mutually understood versions of a common language, the minor
differences in our navigational aids need not present any
insurmountable obstacle. In Canada it's still "red right returning".
Horizontal lines mean danger, vertical lines imply safe passage, and
keeping the top of the chart, bottom of the chart, sunrise and sunset
in mind will help unlubberize those black and yellow cardinal buoys.

Chuck Gould wrote:

~~ snip ~~

Neat stuff.

Just as Americans and Canadians speak two slightly different but
mutually understood versions of a common language, the minor
differences in our navigational aids need not present any
insurmountable obstacle. In Canada it's still "red right returning".
Horizontal lines mean danger, vertical lines imply safe passage, and
keeping the top of the chart, bottom of the chart, sunrise and sunset
in mind will help unlubberize those black and yellow cardinal buoys.

Leave it to an "international" group to scew up a buoy system.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/Tp/...0/b3-buoys.htm

Here's a nun buoy you wouldn't soon forget. UD

http://tinyurl.com/2wm2ew

On Feb 20, 11:17Â*pm, (UglyDan®©™) wrote:
Here's a nun buoy you wouldn't soon forget. UD

http://tinyurl.com/2wm2ew

Suppose she sits there because she's a creature of habit?

Chuck Gould wrote:
On Feb 20, 11:17 pm, (UglyDan®©™) wrote:
Here's a nun buoy you wouldn't soon forget. UD

http://tinyurl.com/2wm2ew

Suppose she sits there because she's a creature of habit?

LOL!!

Ok - I'll give you that one. :)