RYA Yachtmaster — UK

Practice questions (with answers)

1. Where it is impracticable for a seaplane or WIG craft to show the lights and shapes prescribed in Part C, she must:

   1. Display no lights as they are aircraft
   2. Exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar as possible in characteristics and position to those prescribed
   3. Show only aviation lights
   4. Display a blue flashing light
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   Correct answer: B. Exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar as possible in characteristics and position to those prescribed

   Rule 31: where compliance is impracticable, seaplanes and WIG craft shall exhibit lights and shapes as closely similar in characteristics and position as possible.

2. A 'short blast' is defined as a blast of about:

   1. Half a second
   2. One second
   3. Three seconds
   4. Five seconds
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   Correct answer: B. One second

   Rule 32(b): a short blast means a blast of about one second's duration.

3. A vessel of 100 metres or more must carry:

   1. A whistle only
   2. A whistle and bell
   3. A whistle, bell, and gong
   4. A whistle, bell, gong, and cannon
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   Correct answer: C. A whistle, bell, and gong

   Rule 33: vessels 100m+ must have a whistle, bell, AND gong.

4. Signals to attract attention must:

   1. Be distress signals only
   2. Not be mistaken for any prescribed signal or aid to navigation
   3. Use only sound signals
   4. Be made by radio only
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   Correct answer: B. Not be mistaken for any prescribed signal or aid to navigation

   Rule 36: signals to attract attention must not be mistaken for any other prescribed signal or navigation aid.

5. An isolated danger mark indicates:

   1. The start of a channel
   2. A danger with navigable water all around
   3. The direction of safe water
   4. A prohibited area
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   Correct answer: B. A danger with navigable water all around

   An isolated danger mark is on or near a danger with navigable water around it. Consult charts and nautical publications for the extent of the danger and safe passing distance.

6. Safe water marks have:

   1. Red and white vertical stripes
   2. Black and yellow horizontal bands
   3. All yellow colour
   4. Blue and yellow vertical stripes
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   Correct answer: A. Red and white vertical stripes

   Safe water marks are red and white vertical stripes, indicating navigable water all around.

7. Special marks are coloured:

   1. Red
   2. Green
   3. Yellow
   4. Blue and yellow
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   Correct answer: C. Yellow

   Special marks are yellow, indicating special areas like military zones, cables, or pipelines.

8. How does IALA Region B differ from Region A?

   1. It uses different shapes only
   2. The colours are reversed — red to starboard
   3. It only uses cardinal marks
   4. There is no difference
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   Correct answer: B. The colours are reversed — red to starboard

   Region A: port-hand red, starboard-hand green. Region B: port-hand green, starboard-hand red. Interpret both in the charted conventional direction of buoyage.

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