🔍 Key Concepts

• Cardinal buoy system (IALA) and what each quadrant (North, South, East, West) means in terms of where the best water lies • How topmarks (orientation of cones) and color bands (black/yellow pattern) identify each cardinal buoy • How quick or very quick group-flashing light rhythms distinguish the different quadrants

💭 Think About

• First, picture your vessel on course 328°T and a buoy broad on your port bow. Relative to you, on which compass side (N, S, E, or W) would the best water need to be for you to be in it? • Match that required quadrant (North, South, East, or West of the buoy) to the correct combination of topmark shape, color pattern, and light characteristic for that type of cardinal buoy. • For each answer choice, ask: if this really were that type of cardinal buoy, where would the safest water be in relation to the buoy—and does that match where you are?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify from the cardinal buoy chart which quadrant has best water to the West/East/North/South of the buoy and how that’s drawn. • Match the light characteristic (e.g., VQ(3)5s) to the correct quadrant in the cardinal system. • Confirm that the topmark orientation (cones up/down) and color order (black over yellow or yellow over black) in each option correctly matches a real cardinal buoy, and eliminate any combinations that don’t exist.