[Rhodes22-list] Red, Right, Returning

[Lloyd Crowther]

Bill,

If we limit the discussion to the lateral (buoys or beacons that indicate 
the port and starboard sides of a route to be followed) system of Aids to 
Navigation (ATON) my belief is that the buoyage system is numbered beginning 
where entered from seaward.  Each branching waterway begins a fresh 
numbering system but the red-right (even number)-returning rule of entering 
from seaward continues.

Where branching channels occur, the preferred channel buoy (or beacon) is 
marked with a letter, not a number, and has the color of the preferred 
channel (the main channel) on top and the local channel color below.

The intercoastal waterway is numbered southbound, which seems to support 
your mainland side marked with red concept; however in many cases the inland 
waterway shares buoyage with other channels.  In the intercoastal waterway 
the buoyage system is marked as either a  a painted on (or decaled) yellow 
square - keep the ATON on the left (southbound), or a yellow triangle - keep 
the ATON on the right.  The shape of the painted on yellow marker (not the 
color or shape of the buoy or daymark itself) determines the side to pass on 
when using the ICW.  In many areas (Fort Lauderdale comes to mind) the 
normal channel, being marked from seaward in, is contrary to the ICW (marked 
from North to South).  In those cases, the 'red to mainland side' saying can 
give you big troubles.

Lloyd

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 8:28 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Red, Right, Returning


> Have we ever talked about this?
>
> Most of us know the Red, Right, Returning Rule--but we can forget what it 
> means, or not know that it is not universal.
>
> We learn the rules for our home waters, but forget how to apply them when 
> we have a lot of other things going on.
>
> Channels that run parallel to the mainland usually have red on the 
> mainland side, but if they fork off to sea, that can switch mid course. 
> Also, how you apply the rules changes, depending on which side of (for 
> instance) Florida you are sailing, with regard to where you keep the red 
> marker when sailing south.  The rule for Intracoastal Channels is actually 
> "Red, Right, Clockwise--New England to Texas".
>
> Watch the numbers on markers.  They increase as you approach the harbor, 
> which is how you can know if you are "returning", and which rule is meant 
> to apply.  Looking at charts before looking at markers can be quite 
> helpful.
>
> Please note, also, that in many parts of the world the rule is "Green, 
> Right, Returning".
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
> William E. Wickman wrote:
>
>>I didn't take any pictures traveling up Core Sound until that night once 
>>we
>>got anchored.  I was in survival mode and picture taking was the last 
>>thing
>>on my mind.  I didn't see any good anchorages along Core Sound past
>>Atlantic.  The charts looked like there might be something south, but my
>>steerage was really bad at the time and with the deteriorating weather and
>>waves, I didn't want to venture out of the channel at all.  The cut before
>>Cedar Island is pretty well marked, but I was surprised that the waves 
>>were
>>almost as rough as Core Sound even though there was a land mass blocking
>>the long fetch that existed in the Sound.  I think the high winds resulted
>>in any open water area being rough.  In calmer weather, navigation would 
>>be
>>a walk in the park.  The bridge was a new high rise with plenty of
>>clearance.  The final cut over to West Bay was very narrow and VERY 
>>shallow
>>at the edges.  You really have to stay in the channel through this 
>>stretch,
>>even with a 20" draft.  I made the mental mistake of passing the green
>>markers to port and red to starboard through the entire channel; or at
>>least until I ran aground north of the bridge.  The channel markers change
>>over once you pass under the bridge to where you should pass with the 
>>green
>>to starboard.  I don't know why they did that , but the mistake cost me
>>some anxious moments of getting unstuck while the wind blasted the boat
>>further onto the shoal and the weather called for lightening and gusts up
>>to 60 mph later that evening.  After getting unstuck, there was some 
>>really
>>nice anchorage past the cut.  It is all wildlife refuge so there is
>>absolutely no development for miles around.  It is mostly marshland and
>>really quite beautiful.  We rode out the storm nicely there.
>>
>>Bill W.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>|---------+---------------------------------->
>>|         |           "ed kroposki"          |
>>|         |           <ekroposki at charter.net>|
>>|         |           Sent by:               |
>>|         |           rhodes22-list-bounces at r|
>>|         |           hodes22.org            |
>>|         |                                  |
>>|         |                                  |
>>|         |           06/10/2005 11:45 AM    |
>>|         |           Please respond to The  |
>>|         |           Rhodes 22 mail list    |
>>|         |                                  |
>>|---------+---------------------------------->
>> 
>>  >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
>>  | 
>> |
>>  |       To:       "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" 
>> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> 
>> |
>>  |       cc: 
>> |
>>  |       Subject:  RE: [Rhodes22-list] Bill W's outer banks trip 
>> |
>> 
>>  >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Bill:
>>
>>Fantastic, your sunset scene will now replace Peter's!
>>
>>Furthermore, maybe those shots will entice some other Rhodies to the area.
>>
>>Are you hiding anymore?  Did you take any shots while motoring up the
>>channel by Atlantic and Davis?  Did you see any moorings in those areas.
>>How was the trip in the cut before Cedar Island?  Was there a draw bridge
>>involved?  Or is that where they put that new high rise bridge?
>>
>>Whose boat has the line controlled tiller tamer?  I think that might be in
>>order for taking pictures.  I do not have the autopilot.
>>
>>Ed K
>>Greenville, SC, USA
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
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