Module 16 - Pilotage
Cardinal Marks
Cardinal marks indicate where safe water lies relative to the mark, using the compass directions North, South, East, and West. The safe water is on the NAMED side: a North cardinal mark means pass to the NORTH of it.
Cardinal marks are yellow and black with distinctive top marks (two black cones): North = both pointing up, South = both pointing down, East = base-to-base (diamond shape), West = point-to-point (egg-timer shape). Their lights are white and very quick or quick flashing, with distinctive patterns based on a clock face.
- Pass on the NAMED side (North mark → pass to North)
- North: cones up ▲▲, continuous quick flash
- South: cones down ▼▼, 6 quick + long flash
- East: base-to-base ▲▼, 3 quick flashes
- West: point-to-point ▼▲, 9 quick flashes
Watch for this: Clock-face mnemonic for cardinal light patterns: North = 12 o'clock (continuous), East = 3 o'clock (3 flashes), South = 6 o'clock (6 flashes + long), West = 9 o'clock (9 flashes).
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