Cardinal Marks Quiz & Trainer

PolarisApp2025

About this app

Cardinal marks tell you where safe water lies, to the North, East, South or West of a danger. Every deck officer, cadet, fishing skipper and leisure sailor must be able to recognise them instantly, by day and by night. This app teaches you exactly that, then proves you know it.

Cardinal marks are identical worldwide in IALA Region A and Region B, so what you learn here applies on every coast.

LEARN MODE

Start with an overview chart showing how the four cardinal marks guard a danger. Then study each mark on its own page:

• Day view — the black-and-yellow colour bands and the double cone topmarks, drawn clearly so the pattern logic sticks (topmarks point up for North, down for South, and the East/West shapes follow the colour bands).
• Night view : an animated light that flashes the real IALA rhythm in real time:
– North: white VQ or Q (continuous)
– East: VQ(3) 5s or Q(3) 10s
– South: VQ(6) + Long Flash 10s or Q(6) + LFl 15s — the long flash stops a six being mistaken for a nine
– West: VQ(9) 10s or Q(9) 15s

Watch the rhythm, count the flashes, and the clock-face memory aid (3 o'clock East, 6 South, 9 West) becomes second nature.

QUIZ MODE

40 multiple-choice questions in four graded parts:

1. Daytime identification : name the mark from its colours and topmark (4 questions)
2. Night identification : name the mark from its flashing light alone (4 questions)
3. Daytime scenarios : your vessel approaches a mark from North, East, South or West; decide the safe action (16 questions)
4. Night scenarios :the same situations, but all you can see is the light (16 questions)

Scenario questions show the view from your own bridge together with a bird's eye chart of your vessel and the mark, so you practise the real decision: which side do I pass? Your score and progress survive screen rotation, and you get a full results breakdown at the end.

WHO IT'S FOR

• Merchant navy cadets and deck officers preparing for orals and COLREG/buoyage exams
• RYA Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster candidates
• Fishing crews, pilot trainees and port workers
• Anyone learning the IALA Maritime Buoyage System

FEATURES

• Fully offline :no internet connection needed
• No ads, no accounts, no data collection
• Accurate IALA light rhythms, animated in real time
• Written by a maritime lecturer
www.anindyabanerjee.co.uk

DISCLAIMER

This app is for education and training only it must NOT be used for navigation. Always consult official IALA publications and up to date nautical charts.

What’s new

Initial Release