Know your marine buoys

East Cardinal one cone up, one cone down, (an egg shape) means an east cardinal so safe water to east of it , flashes 3 times in 5 to 10 seconds.

North Cardinal The black cones point up, so the safe side to pass it is to the North. Flashes constantly either quick (Q)/ very quick (VQ)if lit.

South Cardinal The Two black cones point down, so the safe side to pass is to the South. Flashes 6 then 1 long (6 second flash) every 10 to 20s

West Cardinal One cone down, one cone up, means a West cardinal so the safe side to pass it is to the West. Flashes 9 times every 10 to 20 s if lit.

Safe water mark or Fairway Buoy Red and white vertical Stripes. Top mark Red Sphere. Outer marker, landfall mark white long flashes varied sequence

Temporary Wreck,Yellow and blue vertical strips. Flash's yellow then blue continuously, If more than 1 mark they flash in unison, new wrecks only.

Isolated Danger mark Black, red horizontal strips 2 white flashes Only buoy with this Sequence. marks a danger area, stay clear.

Preferred channel mark Main channel or Preferred channel to Starboard. Red green red horizontal strips Light is unique Red, 2+1 fl.

Yellow buoy. /Special mark Often has an X on top, They flash yellow 1 every 4 second unless marked otherwise if lit.Seasonal taken out for winter

Starboard buoy Channel mark They have a green light at night.Keep them on your right when entering a port They are normally triangular in shape

Port mark/can. Channel marks They have a red light at night. Keep them on your left when entering a port. They are normally square in shape.

Red Dolphin port hand Lateral mark. Outer marker River entrance. Red light normally an even number. With information board.

Air Draft Gauge or bridge clearance measure. And it warns of strong cross tide. Note numbers increase going down.

Tide level measure, so you can see real depth of tide above Chard Datum. Note numbers increase going up.

Transit marks Clearing bearings Line up to be on bearing marked on chart. Used as an aid to turn onto an exact bearing for a narrow channel.

Warning sign on shore line Cable on sea bed. No anchoring or Trawling in that area.

Isolated Danger mark Black, red horizontal strips 2 white flashes Only buoy with this Sequence. marks a danger area, stay clear.

Safe water mark or Fairway Buoy Red and white vertical Stripes on Top mark Outer marker, landfall mark white long flashes varied sequence

Starboard buoy Channel mark They have a green light at night.Keep them on your right when entering a port They are normally triangular in shape

Port mark/can. Channel marks Keep them on your left when entering a port. They are normally square in shape.