How do the cone topmarks on cardinal buoys indicate north, south, east, and west?

Cardinal buoys use specific topmark configurations consisting of two black cones to indicate the direction of the safest navigable water relative to the buoy. These configurations correspond to the four cardinal points of the compass as follows:

• North: Both cones point upward.1
• South: Both cones point downward.1
• East: The cones are arranged base-to-base.1
• West: The cones are arranged point-to-point.1

These buoys, which feature horizontal bands of black and yellow, serve to guide mariners toward the deepest water in an area or the safest side around a hazard.1