Cardinal Buoys:

Cardinal buoys are so named because they indicate which direction the safest water is (in relation to the buoy), based on 4 Cardinal Points of a compass - North, South, East, & West.  Example; a North Cardinal buoy indicates that the safest water is to the North of the Buoy.  (Note the DANGER in the centre of the circle at left)  You will need to stay north of the buoy to avoid the danger. (circled in red are TOPMARKS, described below)

Cardinal Buoy's are black & yellow.

• Colour arrangements, identifies them - North, South, East, or West
  
• Black cones (TOPMARKS) shown on the top of each buoy, point to the Black Portion (s) of the buoy,
  
• They display a White flashing light (if equipped with a light).  Each has a different FLASH GROUP (note the clock face)
  
• Cardinal Buoy's are lettered, not numbered. (note the North Cardinal Buoy, CC on the chart image in the red circle at left)
  

0°

270°

90°

Compass reading

180°

TOPMARK symbols appear on charts to indicate the presence of these buoys on the water.  Picturing (in your mind) the clock-face, purple arrows and purple letters, can help you identify each buoy and it's flash characteristics (if lit).  Q shown at the top of the clock (north) means Quick flashing.  3 shown (East), 3 flashes.  6 shown (South), 6 flashes - plus a long flash.  9 shown (West), 9 flashes.

North Cardinal Buoy:

• is black & yellow in about equal areas above the waterline,
  
• the top half is black, the bottom half is yellow,
  
• (if) it has a "topmark", it is two black cones, points upward,
  
• (if ) the buoy has a light, it is white & quick (or very quick) flashing.
  

South Cardinal Buoy:

• is black & yellow in about equal areas above the waterline,
  
• the top half is yellow, the bottom half is black,
  
• (if) it has a "topmark", it is two black cones, points downward,
  
• if the buoy has a light, it is white & flashing 6 times - then a long flash.