STATUE
Well-Known Member
Port or Starboard marks are shown at the sea end of beach groynes - WHY ?
WHY ARE BEACH GROYNES MARKED RED. or GREEN ?
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Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Marking the end of hazard, no?
superheat6k
Well-Known Member
They should follow the direction of buoyage as per the chart marks, which under IALA system A is from seaward, which places red marks to port and green to starboard. The solent for instance is treated as two rivers one from the eastern end, and one from the western end, so any marks on the island side from Bembridge will be red right up to Cowes, including any marked groins, whereas from the Needles they will be green on the island side. Conveniently the separation point off Cowes is marked with cardinals separating the two buoyage direction zones.
Leighb
Well-Known Member
It's to show you which side of the river you are about to run aground. 
sarabande
Well-Known Member
They conform to IALA A regional markings. Colours and top mark are as for lateral marks.
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
It's to show you which side of the river you are about to run aground.
As I recall when the Deben entrance is at it's Southerly extremes the green markers on the groynes off the golf club are left to Port as you enter the river!
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
I think they, in theory, mark the coast, in the context of the southerly direction of buoyage, as opposed to the river itself and its approach.
Confusing, yes, but saves having to change the shape and colour the marks on the groynes (and charts) every time the offlying sandspit changes in length!
John 32i
Well-Known Member
Don't they always run in the direction the tide floods?
prv
Well-Known Member
John 32i
Well-Known Member
They run in the direction of the “direction of buoyage” symbol on the chart
Pete
Same thing isn't it?
STATUE
Well-Known Member
'John32i ' & 'little sister' seem to be near my 'mark'.
I have been on beaches with no port/river entrance near by, got the bins out, but no buoys either.
Thanks everyone, I shall test the theory out. - so if you see an old seadog staring at groynes and then out to see ....
Hydrozoan
Well-Known Member
Menai Straits?
{151760}
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No. As previously pointed out in this thread, the direction of buoyage in the eastern and western Solent are opposites. The tide floods through the whole Solent in one direction. The buoyage is conformed to bring you into Southampton with the IALA convention whether you enter via the east or west Solent.
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Except the tide continues to rise in the Eastern half of the Solent even though the tidal flow has turned and become West going.
lw395
Well-Known Member
Historically, Portsmouth City Council had a tendency to paint things green. E.g the fence on the west side of Langstone Harbour.
The East side is more brown than red....
All theories have limits.
The East side is more brown than red....
All theories have limits.
Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
Portsmouth do historically have a bit of an issue with red and white (stripes). ;-)
superheat6k
Well-Known Member
I think the method they have chosen is a bit simpler than having someone dashing around keep changing their colours !!! (I'll get my coat)
{151760}
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Not really. There is a small east-going stream flowing out of Southampton Water along the north side of the East Solent for an hour or so after the tide turns, just as there is a west-going eddy north of Cowes before the tide turns, but looked at overall, the flood tide is east-going throughout the Solent.
lpdsn
Well-Known Member
Not worth getting too hung up about it. The flood comes into the Irish Sea from the North, but the buoyage still has the reds on the western side. e.g. South Rock, Skullmartin and those in Donaghadee Sd. The charts make it clear.
{151760}
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Quite.
