A red buoy indicates a left turn. Two or more red buoys may be put in a line to form a large sweeping left-hand turn.
A yellow buoy indicates a right turn. Two or more yellow buoys may be put in a line to form a large sweeping right-hand turn.
Checkered buoys indicate the Start/Finish line. A rider must pass through these buoys for a lap to be counted.
The penalty buoy is to be used in the case of a missed buoy. The penalty buoy may be any color buoy that is designated by the Race Director and stands out and away from all other buoys on the race course. If a rider fails to properly negotiate, or misses a buoy, that rider must properly negotiate the penalty buoy instead of reattempting the missed buoy.
White/Other Color Buoys:
White buoys are used to mark the outside lane of a racecourse utilizing a two-lane split start. White buoys are also used to mark turns on the Slalom event and to mark the merge lane in the case of a “split” type racecourse.
“Hot-dog” inflatables are also used to establish a merge lane on a split-type racecourse. Other Color buoys are often used on the outside of the racecourse to control boat traffic from entering the racecourse.
Buoy colors direct the racer to turn. RED signifies a left turn, YELLOW is for right.