[Guest]

we all know R R R

anyone want to take a stab at the rules for piloting along the East Coast when say ducking into the inner islands around Georgia

for instance, there is many daybeacons/markers with red & green
but then the channel has two entrances....
so how do you know which one is returning or leaving?

any links, general rules or comments appreciated

I have my own ideas/studies but would love to hear what u lads think
or ladies

 

[SeanConnett]

Unless you are talking about a traffic seperation scheme which has a specific lane that should be followed, I have never seen a seperate returning or leaving channel. If an inlet has two marked channels, then I would choose the channel that suited my draft and my destination best.
The biggest challenge when entering inlets on the eastern seaboard is when they intersect or merge with the ICW. That's where you have to look for the telltale yellow squares or triangles. Many boaters have mistakingly found themselves heading out an inlet because they didn't follow the correct ICW markers.

 

[JohnRPollard]

for instance, there is many daybeacons/markers with red & green
but then the channel has two entrances....
so how do you know which one is returning or leaving?

If I understand you correctly, these red/green markers are not all that unusual.

They are placed where the channels split or converge (depending which direction you're heading.)

If you are heading upstream, and encounter a red/green where the channel splits, and you intend to take the right hand channel, then the marker is a "green" and kept on your port side. If you plan to take the left hand channel, then the marker is a "red" and kept to starboard.

Is this the situation you are describing, or am I missing something?

 

[Cruisingdad]

Red Right Return is a very common mistake made by boaters in general. In many cases, especially around the ICW or around a inlet that makes a loop, it is flat wrong. This is especially true in FLorida. You need to make sure you are really between the markers... don't ask me how I know (I have the tow bill to prove it).

- CD

 

[captbillc]

R R R

up here on lake superior there are 2 entrances to superior bay (the duluth -superior harbor) each one is red right returning. the shipping channels meet at the high bridge & go up the river. if you are going from the duluth entry down the harbor to the superior, WI entry the bouys switch at the high bridge so the red bouys are now on your left because you are now outbound even if don't plan to go out. it is 5 1/2 NM from one entrance to the other.

 

[WanderingStar]

With the appropriate chart and by reading the numbers or letters on the bouy.

 

[sailortjk1]

I think John Pollard has it best.<O</O
Converging/splitting channels,
<O</O
It has always been my understanding on a splitting channel,
Red over Green.. preferred channel to Port.<O</O
<O</O

Green over Red.. preferred channel to Starboard.

<O</O
Don't even ask me which is the preferred channel. You have to figure that one out for yourself.

And I agree; RRR can get you into trouble even on the Great Lakes.
Sturgeon Bay comes to mind.

BTW and FYI, Chart no. 1 is available for down load and can be viewed here.... U.S. Chart No. 1
It is also recommended to keep a copy on board. You cn pick them up cheap enough.<O</O

 

[imagine2frolic]

I think John Pollard has it best.<O</O
Converging/splitting channels,
<O</O
It has always been my understanding on a splitting channel,
Red over Green.. preferred channel to Port.<O</O
<O</O

Green over Red.. preferred channel to Starboard.

<O</O
Don't even ask me which is the preferred channel. You have to figure that one out for yourself.

And I agree; RRR can get you into trouble even on the Great Lakes.
Sturgeon Bay comes to mind.

BTW and FYI, Chart no. 1 is available for down load and can be viewed here.... U.S. Chart No. 1
It is also recommended to keep a copy on board. You cn pick them up cheap enough.<O</O

The preferred channel is correct, and I would like to see that bill CD...:laugher ...i2f

 

[Guest]

thanks for all these stellar thoughts

John's ideas are on the mark

but more what our amigo who got the tow bill

many channels around Savannah's barrier islands have two entrances

so how the 'heck' do you know which way is returnin' ??
perhaps the guy who asked me should just buy a chart

 

[Guest]

still no one has answered the actual question...

 

[Guest]

"In many cases, especially around the ICW or around a inlet that makes a loop, it is flat wrong. This is especially true in FLorida. You need to make sure you are really between the markers..."

this is exactly what I am asking, thanks CD
so what is your recommendation in these cases? defer to a chart
what if it is a small power skiff say a 17' center console, for instance how is he to know when approaching a green which side it should be on! (within these loops that have two entrances to the sea)

 

[Faster]

Everybody SHOULD have a chart on board (and know how to use it) - for just such occasions.

It's fairly straightforward on coastal waters, returning is when a) entering a harbour or inlet, b)travelling in the direction of a flood tide, or c) travelling up river.

I seem to recall that in the absence of significant tide it falls to travelling clockwise around North America? (I'm hazy on this, feel free to correct that idea....)

On the Lakes.... sorry, can't help you there.

Just to make it more confusing, Europe is totally different again.

 

[sck5]

on buoys that indicate a split in the channel the TOP color refers to the preferred channel so if the top color is green and you actually want the main channel then keep the marker on your port side. If the top color is red and you actually want the main channel then keep it to starboard. If you DONT want the main channel then do the opposite.

Even better, look at the chart before you come to this point.

 

[Faster]

btw.. the correct term for these is "Bifurcation buoy/marker"

 

[Cruisingdad]

"In many cases, especially around the ICW or around a inlet that makes a loop, it is flat wrong. This is especially true in FLorida. You need to make sure you are really between the markers..."

this is exactly what I am asking, thanks CD
so what is your recommendation in these cases? defer to a chart
what if it is a small power skiff say a 17' center console, for instance how is he to know when approaching a green which side it should be on! (within these loops that have two entrances to the sea)

You have two options: THe first is to keep a chart on board and know before you turn, or to keep your towboat US number on board, and take your best guess!!!!

Think Dirty Harry... "So, do you feel lucky..." HEHE

- CD

 

[Guest]

in terms of the answer two blocks above, this is for solid ONE COLORED day markers, I believe the first poster mi-read that we were discussing markers with two colors on one pole, not the case

thanks for the answers, keep 'em coming

 

[Boasun]

Armchair reading for when you are not sailing: Dutton's, Chapman's, Boater's Bowditch and other books on chart reading and navigation.
The USA is in IALA-B. This means that the nun buoys are RED which you keep you keep to starboard when returning...
There are buoys that are horizonally banded; Red/green/red or Green/red/green. These are Bifurcation buoys that marks a fork in the channel. The top band indicates the main channel. If Red leave it to Stbd or Green to port when returning to port.
The world has two buoy systems But if you only sail the North & South American areas then IALA-B is the only buoy system you need to worry about.

 

[Guest]

just finished a navigation class relating to offshore & yes Chapman's is a stellar book, trod thru page after page of that epic this summer

this phrase: 'It's fairly straightforward on coastal waters, returning is when a) entering a harbour or inlet, b)travelling in the direction of a flood tide, or c) travelling up river' from our good British Columbia friend seems to really clear up some of the issue with the U-shaped inlets, as the other replies have wandered into the split channel issue, not the original question, although interesting as well

regards,
-JD