Red, Right,Returning in Europe

[BK]

Norbert brought up this subject in another post and I thought it was important not to miss. I saw this reverse of buoy colors when I was in Tahiti. The right side buoy in Germany and half of the world is green on the right side when entering the harbor. You would think they would have an international set of rules for this kind of thing since we are in the jet age and have world wide boat charters.

[mgg4]

Actually, most of the world has Green on the right when returning to port. This is the IALA "A" configuration. IALA "B" is the one used in the US and Japan, but almost nowhere else in the world.

--Mark

[Mark Prouty]

Oh my, how does this apply to right of way rules! Does the starboard tack still have the right of way. The US is the most powerful country in the world. Can't they just send over their navy and correct this problem?

[Dave Mason]

It's red, right, returning in Canada, too, not surprisingly considering who our big brother is!

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Whats that make it then...Green Gauche Going

[Sloop John B]

When Norbert explained the right of way to us, I think he would have been out of trouble, because his interpretation of port tack and starboard tack was just the opposite of what we learned, but he had it all ass backwards and the way he interpreted the rules thereafter, it turned out all right.

Agree?

[mgg4]

Actually, the only thing different is the color of the buoys. The starboard-tack boat still has right of way, no matter if they are in US or European waters. The International Rules apply outside the COLREGS lines, no matter where you are.