RYA Day Skipper Buoyage & COLREGs — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IALA Region A buoyage (used in UK and Europe), what does a red can buoy on the port hand indicate when entering harbour?
- The buoy marks the port side of the channel — keep it to port (vessel's left) when entering (Correct answer)
- Keep the buoy to starboard when entering
- The buoy marks a wreck
- The buoy marks a restricted area
Correct answer: The buoy marks the port side of the channel — keep it to port (vessel's left) when entering
In IALA Region A, port hand buoys are RED (can-shaped) and kept to the vessel's PORT side when proceeding in the conventional direction of buoyage (generally entering harbour or going clockwise around land masses).
Question 2: What is the topmark of a South Cardinal mark?
- Two cones, both pointing downward (points down) (Correct answer)
- Two cones, both pointing upward
- One cone pointing up, one pointing down
- No topmark
Correct answer: Two cones, both pointing downward (points down)
South Cardinal: both cones point DOWN. Memory aid: South = points down, like the letter 'V' or think 'south is below, cones below.' Light character: Fl(6)+LFl every 15s.
Question 3: Under COLREGs Rule 18, in which order of priority must vessels keep out of the way of other vessels?
- Power-driven vessels give way to sailing vessels, fishing vessels, and vessels constrained by draught, in that order (Correct answer)
- All vessels have equal priority
- Sailing vessels always have right of way over all vessels
- Anchored vessels must give way to underway vessels
Correct answer: Power-driven vessels give way to sailing vessels, fishing vessels, and vessels constrained by draught, in that order
Rule 18 establishes a hierarchy: power-driven vessels yield to sailing vessels, vessels fishing (gear out), vessels not under command (NUC), and vessels restricted in ability to manoeuvre (RAM) and constrained by draught (CBD). Smaller sailing vessels also give way to large ships restricted in channels.
Question 4: COLREGs Rule 9 states that a vessel should not impede the passage of a vessel that can only navigate safely within a narrow channel. Which vessel class might this apply to?
- A large container ship in a dredged channel (Correct answer)
- A sailing yacht in open water
- A motor cruiser at anchor
- A rowing dinghy
Correct answer: A large container ship in a dredged channel
Rule 9 protects vessels that are constrained by the channel dimensions — typically large deep-draught ships in narrow dredged channels. Small vessels must not force them to alter course.
Question 5: A safe water mark in IALA Region A has which characteristics?
- Red and white vertical stripes, spherical topmark, Morse A light character (Correct answer)
- Green and white stripes, no topmark
- Yellow and black horizontal bands, X topmark
- Red and black bands, can topmark
Correct answer: Red and white vertical stripes, spherical topmark, Morse A light character
Safe water marks (fairway/landfall buoys) are red and white vertical stripes, with a red spherical topmark. Light: white Morse A (·−) or isophase/occulting white.
Question 6: Under COLREGs Rule 13, an overtaking vessel must:
- Keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken until finally past and clear (Correct answer)
- Give a sound signal only
- Proceed at no more than 5 knots
- Alter course to starboard only
Correct answer: Keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken until finally past and clear
Rule 13 states that any vessel overtaking another (bearing more than 22.5° abaft the beam of the vessel ahead) must keep clear until completely past and clear. This rule overrides Rules 11–18 for crossing and head-on situations.
RYA Day Skipper Buoyage & COLREGs
Under IALA Region A buoyage (used in UK and Europe), what does a red can buoy on the port hand indicate when entering harbour?