SkipperA cardinal mark tells you where the safe water is. A north cardinal has safe water to its north, so you pass north of it. The danger is on the other side.
Topmarks
Each cardinal has two black cones on top.
- North: both cones point up.
- South: both cones point down.
- East: points away from each other, base to base, like an egg.
- West: points toward each other, like a wine glass, or a W on its side.
Colours
The cones point to where the black is on the mark.
- North: black over yellow.
- South: yellow over black.
- East: black, yellow, black.
- West: yellow, black, yellow.
Lights
Cardinal lights are white and quick flashing (Q) or very quick flashing (VQ). Think of a clock face.
| Mark | Light | Clock |
|---|---|---|
| North | Continuous Q or VQ | 12 |
| East | Q(3) every 10 s or VQ(3) every 5 s | 3 |
| South | Q(6) + LFl every 15 s or VQ(6) + LFl every 10 s | 6 |
| West | Q(9) every 15 s or VQ(9) every 10 s | 9 |
The long flash after the six on a south cardinal stops it being mistaken for an east or west mark.
Same everywhere
Cardinal marks are identical in IALA Region A and Region B.
Practise it in Skipper.
Fifty-four short lessons for the Day Skipper theory and the VHF exam. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.