Reference Material

Sail Plan 

Fill out a sail plan for every boating trip you take and file it with a responsible person. Upon your return, be sure to close (or deactivate) the sail plan you filed earlier. Forgetting to do so can result in an unwarranted search for you.


Owner's name and address __________________________

_________________________________________________

Telephone Number _________________________________

Emergency Contact Number _________________________

Boat's name and licence number ______________________

Sail _______ Power _______

Size and type______________________________________

Colour _______ Hull _______Deck _______ Cabin _______

Type of Engine ____________________________________

Other distinguishing features _________________________

Radio channels monitored HF ____ VHF ____ MF _____


MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) ________________

Satellite or cellular telephone number __________________

Safety Equipment on Board

Liferafts __________________________________________

Dinghy or small boat (include colour) __________________

Flares (include number and type) _____________________

Lifejackets or PFDs (include number) __________________

Other safety equipment _____________________________

Search and Rescue telephone number _________________

Trip details (include these details every trip)

Date of departure ________ Time of departure __________

Leaving from ____________ Heading to ________________

Proposed route ___________________________________

Estimated date and time of arrival ____________________

Stop over point ________ Number of people on board ____

THE CANADIAN AIDS TO NAVIGATION SYSTEM

  LATERAL BUOYS  

PORT (GREEN CAN) KEEP THIS BUOY ON YOUR PORT (LEFT) SIDE WHEN PROCEEDING IN THE UPSTREAM DIRECTION.

BIFURCATION (RED AND GREEN BANDS)
YOU MAY PASS THIS BUOY ON EITHER SIDE WHEN PROCEEDING IN THE UPSTREAM DIRECTION, BUT THE MAIN OR PREFERRED CHANNEL IS INDICATED BY THE COLOUR OF THE TOPMOST BAND. FOR EXAMPLE: KEEP THIS BUOY ON YOUR STARBOARD (RIGHT) SIDE.

PORT (GREEN PILLAR)
KEEP THIS BUOY ON YOUR PORT (LEFT) SIDE WHEN PROCEEDING IN THE UPSTREAM DIRECTION.		 Diagram showing boat proceeding from seaward or upstream - Image
PORT (GREEN SPAR)
KEEP THIS BUOY ON YOUR PORT (LEFT) SIDE WHEN PROCEEDING IN THE UPSTREAM DIRECTION.

STARBOARD (RED SPAR)
KEEP THIS BUOY ON YOUR STARBOARD (RIGHT) SIDE WHEN PROCEEDING IN THE UPSTREAM DIRECTION.

 STARBOARD (RED CONICAL)
KEEP THIS BUOY ON YOUR STARBOARD (RIGHT) SIDE WHEN PROCEEDING IN THE UPSTREAM DIRECTION.

STARBOARD (RED PILLAR)
KEEP THIS BUOY ON YOUR STARBOARD (RIGHT) SIDE WHEN PROCEEDING IN THE UPSTREAM DIRECTION.

FAIRWAY

THIS BUOY INDICATES SAFE WATER, USED TO MARK LANDFALLS, CHANNEL ENTRANCES OR CHANNEL CENTRES. IT MAY BE PASSED ON EITHER SIDE BUT SHOULD BE KEPT TO THE PORT (LEFT) SIDE WHEN PROCEEDING IN EITHER DIRECTION.

 Buoy showing safe water - Used to mark landfalls & channel entrances - Image

ISOLATED DANGER

AN ISOLATED DANGER BUOY IS MOORED ON, OR ABOVE, AN ISOLATED DANGER WHICH HAS NAVIGABLE WATER ALL AROUND IT. CONSULT THE CHART FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DANGER (DIMENSIONS, DEPTH, ETC.) MAY BE USED TO MARK NATURAL DANGERS SUCH AS SMALL SHOALS OR OBSTRUCTIONS SUCH AS WRECKS.

 An isolated danger buoy - Image

STANDARD DAYBEACONS

Port Hand Daybeacon - Image
PORTHAND
WHEN PROCEEDING UPSTREAM, A POST HAND DAYBEACON MUST BE KEPT ON THE VESSEL'S PORT (LEFT) SIDE.		 Junction - Image
JUNCTION (PREFERRED CHANNEL TO RIGHT)
MARKS A POINT WHERE THE CHANNEL DIVIDES AND MAY BE PASSED ON EITHER SIDE. IF THE PREFERRED CHANNEL IS DESIRED, THE DAYBEACON SHOULD BE KEPT ON THE VESSEL'S PORT (LEFT) SIDE.		 Arrow indicating Upstream - Image Junction - Image
JUNCTION (PREFERRED CHANNEL TO LEFT)
MARKS A POINT WHERE THE CHANNEL DIVIDES AND MAY BE PASSED ON EITHER SIDE. IF THE PREFERRED CHANNEL IS DESIRED, THE DAYBEACON SHOULD BE KEPT ON THE VESSEL'S STARBOARD (RIGHT) SIDE.		 Starboard Hand - Image
STARBOARD HAND
WHEN PROCEEDING UPSTREAM, MUST BE KEPT ON THE VESSEL'S STARBOARD (RIGHT) SIDE.

CARDINAL BUOYS

TOPMARKS

Topmarks - Image

FLASH GROUPS

Flash Groups - Image		 Cardinal Buoys - Image

DESCRIPTION

  • YELLOW AND BLACK
  • WHITE LIGHTS - FLASH CHARACTERS INDICATED BELOW (IF EQUIPPED)
  • TWO CONICAL TOPMARKS
    DIRECTION OF POINTS HAVE SIGNIFICANCE
    		•
  • BLACK TOPMARK CONES POINT TO THE BLACK PORTION(S) OF THE BUOY
  • LETTERED - NO NUMBERS
  • WHITE RETROREFLECTIVE MATERIAL
    		•

    NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
    Cardinal Buoy direction - Chart Image

    A CARDINAL BUOY INDICATES THAT THE SAFEST WATER EXISTS TO THE DIRECTION IT INDICATES. EX.: A NORTH CARDINAL BUOY INDICATES THAT THE SAFEST WATER EXISTS TO THE NORTH.

    SPECIAL BUOYS

    DESCRIPTION

    • SHAPES HAVE NO SIGNIFICANCE.
    • MAY BE LETTERED - NO NUMBERS.
    • CAUTIONARY, SCIENTIFIC AND ANCHORAGE BUOYS MAY DISPLAY A YELLOW "X" TOPMARK.
  • YELLOW LIGHTS - FLASH CHARACTERS (IF EQUIPPED).
  • RETROREFLECTIVE MATERIAL OF THE SAME COLOUR AS REQUIRED MARKINGS. WHITE BUOYS WILL DISPLAY YELLOW MATERIAL.
    		•

    CAUTIONARY ACHORAGE MOORING
    Cautionary Buoy Anchorage Buoy Mooring Buoy

    A CAUTIONARY BUOY MARKS DANGERS SUCH AS FIRING RANGES, UNDERWATER PIPELINES, RACE COURSES, SEAPLANE BASES AND AREAS WHERE NO THROUGH CHANNEL EXISTS.

    AN ANCHORAGE BUOY MARKS THE PERIMETER OF DESIGNATED ANCHORAGE AREAS; CONSULT THE CHART FOR WATER DEPTH.

    A MOORING BUOY IS USED FOR MOORING OR SECURING VESSELS; BE AWARE THAT A VESSEL MAY BE SECURED TO SUCH A BUOY.
    INFORMATION HAZARD CONTROL
    Information Buoy Hazard Buoy Control Buoy

    AN INFORMATION BUOY DISPLAYS INFORMATION SUCH AS LOCALITY, MARINA, CAMPSITE, ETC. BE GUIDED BY THE INFORMATION ILLUSTRATED WITH IN THE ORANGE SQUARE.

    A HAZARD BUOY MARKS RANDOM HAZARDS SUCH AS SHOALS AND ROCKS. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE HAZARD IS ILLUSTRATED WITHIN THE ORANGE DIAMOND.

    A CONTROL BUOY INDICATES SPEED LIMITS, WASH RESTRICTIONS, ETC. OBEY THE RESTRICTIONS ILLUSTRATED WITHIN THE ORANGE CIRCLE.
    KEEPOUT SCIENTIFIC (ODAS) DIVING
    Keepout Buoy Scientific Buoy Diving Buoy

    A KEEP OUT BUOY MARKS AREAS IN WHICH BOATS ARE PROHIBITED.

    AN OCEAN DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM BUOY COLLECTS METEOROLOGICAL AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC DATA.

    A DIVING BUOY MARKS AN AREA WHERE SCUBA OR OTHER SUCH DIVING ACTIVITY IS IN PROGRESS. NOT NORMALLY CHARTED.
    SWIMMING
    Swimming Buoy

    A SWIMMING BUOY MARKS THE PERIMETER OF SWIMMING AREAS. MAY NOT BE CHARTED.

    OPERATING RULES 

    Diagram depicting Port, Starboard & Stern of Boat - ImagePort: If a power-driven vessel approaches within this sector, maintain with caution, your course and speed.

    Starboard: If any vessel approaches within this sector, keep out of its way.

    (Note: This rule may not always apply if one or both vessels are sailboats.)

    Stern: If any vessel approaches this sector, maintain with caution, your course and speed.

    A blows one blast and alters course to starboard.

    B blows one blast and alters course to starboard.    		 Boat approaching another boat on Port side - Image
    Boat approaching another boat on Starboard side - Image A keeps clear of and must avoid crossing ahead of B.
    Any vessel overtaking another must keep clear. Boat approaching another boat at Stern - Image
    Boat showing proper course for approaching boats at all sides - Image A keeps clear of B
    B keeps clear of D
    C keeps clear of A and B
    D keeps clear of A and C
    A power-driven vessel keeps clear of a sailing vessel Power-driven vessel keeps clear of a sailing vessel - Image

    DISTRESS SIGNALS  

    MARINE RADIO

    VHF Radio - ImageDISTRESS CALL
    Use: 2182 kHz (MF) or
    channel 16, 156.8 MHz (VHF)
    DSC alert, channel 70 (only
    for DSC type radios and
    where the service is offered)

    CALLING PROCEDURES
    Mayday   Immediate danger for persons OR ship
    Mayday
    Mayday
    Pan-Pan   Urgent message concerning safety of a person or ship
    Pan-Pan
    Pan-Pan