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A buoy whose two cones say which side holds safe water.
Also known as: Cardinal buoy, North cardinal mark, Quadrant mark
A cardinal mark says that the safe water lies to the named side of it: a north mark is passed to its north. The two black cones on top encode the direction — both pointing up for north, both down for south — and the rule is the same in both IALA regions.
Indicates the quadrant in which safe water lies relative to the mark, so a north cardinal is passed on its northern side.
Contexts: Navigation, Maps
Encodes the direction in two cone topmarks: both points up for north, both down for south, points together for east and bases together for west.
Contexts: Navigation, Maps
Is identical in both IALA regions, unlike the lateral marks, which is why cardinals are the marks a navigator can read anywhere without checking the region.
Contexts: Navigation, Maps
A pillar or spar buoy in horizontal bands of two colours, carrying two solid cone shapes one above the other at its top.