Buoyage
Red, right, returning. The grammar of the channel.
The grammar of the channel
Buoys mark the safe water, and their color and shape are a language. In the Americas: red, right, returning.
The rules
red keep it on your right, coming in green keep it on your left, coming in red/grn the channel splits yellow danger, keep clear
Why they matter
Learn the buoys and the whole coast becomes legible. Miss one, and the water will teach you instead.