Buoyage

IALA Buoys are the signposts of the Sea. Each one has a particular meaning and tells you to go a particular way.

Cardinal marks Cardinal marks come in the cardinal points on the compass:- North, East, South and West. And you should pass that side of the mark, for example:- to the North of a North cardinal mark and to the east of a East cardinal mark. They usually mark large areas of danger such as shoals or sand banks but can be used in any situation.

North cardinal Top marks - both points upwards Colours - black over yellow Lights - white, quick or very quick flash (continuous) East cardinal Top marks - base to base Colours - black on top and bottom, yellow middle Lights - white, group of three South cardinal - Top marks - both points downwards Colours - black below, yellow above Lights - white, group of six flashes, followed by one long flash. West cardinal Top mark - point to point Colours - black middle, yellow top and bottom. Lights - white, group of nine

Buoyage

Lateral marks Lateral marks are used to mark channels. You pass these to port and starboard when going into port and in the direction of buoyage.

Safe watermark These marks are used to indicate the centre of a channel, or the entrance to a wide-mouthed channel. Safe Water marks are red and white vertical Stripes and can be passed on either side. They may be looked on as a form of sign-post and do not mark any hazards.

Isolated danger mark These are used to mark isolated danger which have deep water all around, such as a small wreck and can be passed on either side.

Special marks These indicate special areas or features - recreational or military exercise areas, sewage outfalls etc. They do not mark navigational hazards.

Fair Head

PORT Light : Red STARBOARD Light : Green

SAFE WATERS Light : White - every 10 seconds

ISOLATED DANGER Light : White - 2 Flashes

SPECIAL MARKS Light : Yellow

Direction of Buoyage

Mizzen Head

Rules of the Road

The International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea, more often known as the “Rules of the Road at Sea”, regulate the movement of vessels, so as to avoid a collision. There are a lot of rules, and some of them are very complicated, but you are not expected to know them all, or in great detail. The following is a summary of the rules most relevant to Sea Scouts.

In practice, small boats should try to avoid areas used by large commercial vessels, as it may be very difficult for them to manoeuvre due to their size. All vessels should stay to the starboard side of any channel or fairway she sails through.

Vessels under oars (canoes & rowing boats)

Keep clear of all other vessels. Canoes give way to vessels under oars Sailing Vessels 1. A sailing vessel should keep out of the way of: a) Any vessel she is overtaking. b) Any vessel which is fishing. c) Any vessel “not under command”. d) vessel with restricted manoeuvrability.

2. When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to avoid risk of collision: a) a vessel with the wind on her port side should keep out of the way of a vessel which has the wind on her starboard side. b) when both vessels have the wind on the same side, the windward vessel keeps clear.

Note: For the purposes of the sailing rules the windward side is defined as the opposite side to the mainsail. A vessel with the wind on the port side, unable to determine on which side the windward vessel has her mainsail should give way, e.g. if windward boat is carrying a large spinnaker which obscures the view of the mainsail.

WIND

WIND

OVERTAKING SAILING BOAT STAYS CLEAR