Did you know??

[floatingkiwi]

That not only do you Americans,( God Bless ya all, I love ya, if I didn't I would probably be somewhere else writing this),drive on the wrong side of the road, have your light switches upsidedown,spell theatre and centre funny, and have all kinds of weird fittings and plugs for different electrical applications,BUT, there is another of many things that took me quite by surprise. I don't think there is anything wrong with this particular Americanized thing, but was wondering if y'all were aware of it.
When entering an harbourage or river, estuary, basically heading inland, there is a little something to keep you from running aground, or worse.
Red, Right, Return.
I assure you, if I tried this at home or anywhere else, I certainly would not be within the confines of the channel.
I always learned to keep my port light to the red markers and starboard to the green.
I wonder how many close calls there have been as a result of this lefty righty thing.
I first discovered it on Lake Elsinore in Sth California in 1992 on a jetski of all things. Went screaming into a muddy sandbar in front of a bunch of startled people, one of which was the Harbourmaster.(cripes, another oddly spelled word.)
If you didn't know this, as I have discovered a few don't, I hope I might have saved you from mishap.
Cheers. Kerry

[paladin]

Of Course...all you folks are upside down so why not backwards too.....so if we turned you over the left would be right and right would be left.....

[Bob Cleek]

Not only THAT, but we've got TWO separate sets of "Rules of the Road," the International Rules (COLREGS) and the Inland Rules. Go figure!

[Hwyl]

Don't visit St Martin N.A. Kerry.

[RFNK]

Not only THAT, but we've got TWO separate sets of "Rules of the Road," the International Rules (COLREGS) and the Inland Rules. Go figure!


Is that right? So when sailing into harbours etc. in the US the channel markers etc. comply with international rules but it all gets turned around for inland waters? Rick

[floatingkiwi]

Is that right? So when sailing into harbours etc. in the US the channel markers etc. comply with international rules but it all gets turned around for inland waters? Rick
I believe they are all red right return, And the moon is upsidedown, Chuck.
I haven't seen them any other way, Bob. Do you have an example?

[Ian McColgin]

Most folk who learn basic seamanship know that IALA adopted two lateral systems:

System A (leave green to starboard inbound) used in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, parts of Africa and most of Asia other than the Philippines, Japan and Korea.

System B (leave red to starboard inbound) obtains in North America, Central America and South America, the Philippines, Japan and Korea.

You are also expected to know the cardinal system.

[Hwyl]

Most folk who learn basic seamanship know that IALA adopted two lateral systems:


System B (leave red to starboard inbound) obtains in North America, Central America and South America, the Philippines, Japan and Korea.

You are also expected to know the cardinal system.

I didn't know it was that widespread. I know the BVI turned to the oddball way to stop ill informed Americans from running aground.

[paladin]

It didn't prevent groundings but I'm not gonna say how I know.....:D

[Hwyl]

Me too, overtaking someone outside the channel to make "last orders" it was in the days of "A" and the guy I was overtaking "explained" that "the buoys were the wrong way round down here". I thought there was enough depth for me to get through
Had to jettison my fresh water.