Printable reference
Buoyage quick sheet
Lateral, cardinal, danger, safe-water, and special marks.
Port-hand lateral mark
Fl R 4s
Fl G 4s
Marks the port (left) edge of the channel when travelling with the direction of buoyage — a red can in Region A, a green can in Region B.
Region A: “Is there any red port left?” — red = port = left, and port wine comes in a can-shaped bottle. Region B flips the colours (green can to port) but the can shape still says port.
Starboard-hand lateral mark
Fl G 4s
Fl R 4s
Marks the starboard (right) edge of the channel when travelling with the direction of buoyage — a green cone in Region A, a red cone (nun) in Region B.
The cone points up like a mountain you steer right around. Region B (the Americas): “red right returning” — red nun on your right when returning from sea.
Preferred channel to starboard
Fl(2+1) R 10s
Fl(2+1) G 10s
A banded junction mark: the channel splits and the preferred channel lies to starboard — so treat the mark like a port-hand mark.
Read the top band and the shape — they win. Composite light Fl(2+1): “two-plus-one, the channel splits, pick one.”
Preferred channel to port
Fl(2+1) G 10s
Fl(2+1) R 10s
A banded junction mark: the channel splits and the preferred channel lies to port — so treat the mark like a starboard-hand mark.
Same trick: top band + shape read like an ordinary lateral. The stripe just warns you there is a second channel on the other side.
North cardinal mark
Q
Black over yellow with both topmark cones pointing up: safe water lies to the north — pass north of it.
Both cones point up = north (top of the compass), and they point at the black band on top. Light: continuous quick white — think 12 o’clock, the top of the clock face.
East cardinal mark
Q(3) 10s
Black with a yellow band, cones base-to-base: safe water lies to the east — pass east of it. White light Q(3) 10s.
Cones point apart like an Easter Egg — East. The points aim at the black: top and bottom. Light: 3 flashes = 3 o’clock = east on the clock face.
South cardinal mark
Q(6)+LFl 15s
Yellow over black with both cones pointing down: safe water lies to the south — pass south of it. White light Q(6)+LFl 15s.
Both cones point down = south (bottom of the compass), at the black band below. Light: 6 flashes = 6 o’clock, plus one long flash so you can’t miscount it as 9 or 3.
West cardinal mark
Q(9) 15s
Yellow with a black band, cones point-to-point: safe water lies to the west — pass west of it. White light Q(9) 15s.
Points together make a Wineglass — a Wasp-waisted W for West. The points aim at the black band in the middle. Light: 9 flashes = 9 o’clock = west.
Isolated danger mark
Fl(2) 5s
Black with red bands and two black spheres: a small danger with navigable water all around it. White light Fl(2).
Two spheres, two flashes — double trouble sitting right underneath.
Safe-water mark
LFl 10s
Red-and-white vertical stripes with a single red sphere topmark: navigable water all around — the mid-channel or landfall mark.
Red-and-white candy stripes = all clear. Its white light is gentle, never quick: Iso, Oc, one long flash every 10 s, or Morse “A” (short–long, “Alfa — I’m arriving”).
Special mark
Fl Y 4s
All yellow with a yellow ✕ topmark: marks a special area or feature — check the chart for what and which side to pass.
Yellow with a yellow ✕: “X marks the special spot — go check the chart.” Its light is always yellow, in any rhythm not used by white lights.
Emergency wreck-marking buoy
Al Bu/Y 3s
Blue-and-yellow vertical stripes with an upright yellow cross, light alternating blue/yellow: a new wreck not yet on your chart.
Blue and yellow = brand new. Nothing else afloat shows an alternating blue/yellow light — one second blue, one second yellow.
Learning aid only — not for navigation. Confirm current rules and local requirements with the relevant authority.