This week, USCG Boating Safety reposted a reminder from the Please Wear It campaign on the importance of paying attention to and understand buoys and markers. Aids to Navigation help us know the rules of the road when out boating. They are the road signs of the water.
Depending on where you are boating, they may look very different. Within our areas, we have channels maintained by the USCG as well as those maintained by local agencies.
A good rule of thumb for buoys marking a channel is to remember “Red, Right, Returning.” This will help you know if you are heading out toward open waters or returning to a port. When the red buoys are on the right side of your boat, you are heading inland. If you see a buoy that has both red and green markings, in horizontal stripes, this indicates a junction between two channels. In this case, the color that’s highest on the marker indicated the preferred or primary channel.
Markers we see most in our area are no wake zones and diver down flags. We may also come across controlled area and danger markers.
You cannot assume other boaters understand the meaning of the markers and buoys, it is critical to keep a good lookout to avoid getting into dangerous situations.
Thanks to Sherrie, we will always remember safe boating is no accident.
If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net.
Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.
