Question 206Navigation General

The correct answer is A) Alter course to leave the buoy to starboard. This is because a red and green horizontally-striped buoy with the upper band red indicates a preferred channel, and vessels should pass to the side indicated by the red band - in this case, the starboard (right) side. This is in accordance with the United States Aids to Navigation System. The other options are incorrect because: B) would place the vessel on the wrong side of the channel marker, C) does not specify the correct side to pass, and D) could be unsafe by passing too close to the buoy.