Right of way, buoyage and night lights on Lake Geneva

Who gives way?

1. Priority passenger boats first (and towed convoys): everyone keeps clear. By day they show a green ball; by night, an all-round green light above the masthead light (art. 32, 37, 64).
2. Then, in order: cargo vessels, professional fishers engaged in fishing (yellow ball), sailing boats. Motor boats give way to rowing boats (art. 64).
3. Two sailing boats: the one with the wind on its port side keeps clear; if both have it on the same side, the windward boat keeps clear (art. 65).
4. Two boats crossing: the one that sees the other on its right (starboard) keeps clear; on opposite courses, each turns to starboard and they pass port to port (art. 62).
5. Overtaking: the boat catching up keeps clear (art. 63).
6. At a harbour entrance: boats leaving go before boats entering (art. 68).

Keep at least 50 m from scheduled passenger boats, their usual route and their landing stages at timetabled times. On the French side, windsurfers and kitesurfers give way to all other boats.

Buoyage

• Harbour approach channels: seen from offshore, red cylindrical buoys to port, green conical ones to starboard (art. 51).
• Light yellow buoys (at least 40 cm): boundary of an area closed to navigation (art. 52).
• Hazards: spars or buoys with cardinal marks (art. 50).
• Harbour entrances at night: green occulting light on the right, red on the left (art. 54).
• Landing stages: fixed red lights and no-mooring signs (art. 55).
• Storm warning lights: about 40 flashes per minute, caution warning; about 90, storm warning (art. 57-58) — thunderstorms and storm warnings.

Sailing at night: lights

• Motor boat under way: white masthead light, sidelights (green to starboard, red to port) and white stern light; under 15 m, an all-round white masthead light can replace the masthead and stern lights, and up to 6 kW an ordinary white light visible all round the horizon is enough (art. 27, 31).
• Sailing boat or boat without an engine: one white light; from 7 m, a sailing boat may show sidelights and a stern light (art. 30).
• At anchor: one white light, unless moored at a quay or in a designated berth (art. 34).
• Paddleboard, kayak, board: an all-round white light (in Geneva, a flashing light is allowed on a paddleboard).

Distress signals

Red rockets or hand flares, red flag, SOS light signal, outstretched arms slowly raised and lowered several times, repeated prolonged sounds (art. 43). And first of all: call 117 or 112.

Open the Lake Geneva map

See also

The Navigating Lake Geneva guide, plus: Boat licence, Speeds and zones, Safety and equipment, Emergencies and rescue, Water sports: the rules.