When heading East or West, which direction should you go if the buoy is red with white?

The presence of a red and white buoy indicates that you are likely navigating in a channel where lateral markings are used to guide vessels. In buoyage systems, particularly in the United States, a red and white buoy typically serves as a channel marker to indicate safe passage. When heading in the eastern or western directions, the buoy's color and design can be crucial for determining the correct course.

Buoys with red and white vertical stripes often indicate that the safest navigable water is towards the main channel, which usually implies a need to move away from the buoy to stay in the safest route. When approaching these buoys while traveling east or west, the recommended action is to pass by keeping the buoy to your starboard (right side), which essentially means heading toward the south if you are specifically headed east or west.

This reasoning aligns with standard navigation practices, ensuring boaters maintain their vessels in safe waters while minimizing the risk of running aground or colliding with obstacles. Other choices like north or leaving a eastward path fail to consider the implications of channel navigation that is typically indicated by such buoy markings, where maintaining a path relative to these visual aids is imperative for safe travel.