Flag ang burgee etiquette

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kpgraci

kpgraci

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Jun 12, 2010
936
Oday 22 Orleans Marina, NOLA
I see a lot fly from the backstay, I thought this needed to be 3/4 the way up to be 'correct'. I plan on adding a line under the spreader for flag display, but port or starboard? I don't recall which side but 90% of boats i've seen prefer one over the other.

For inland/coastal sailing what are the rules for the stars and stripes, especially when combined with a boat or club burgee?
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,085
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Starboard on my boat, Ken, but I don't know if that is the right side..?? (small pun intended)
 
tkanzler

tkanzler

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Sep 5, 2007
689
MacGregor 26X Rochester
I'd have to consult Chapman to be sure, but I'm pretty sure it's not proper to fly the flag from a spreader. A courtesy flag, when visiting another country, yes, but the US ensign or yacht ensign, no. And the yacht ensign is only supposed to be flown in US waters, while in foreign waters, only the US ensign should be flown, either from the leach of the aft-most sail, or from a staff at the stern. But I'm not totally positive about all that.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,030
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Starboard for a flag halyard for club burgees. The American flag does not belong on the flag halyard to a spreader (unless you're a visiting Canadian).

We fly our ensign lower on our backstay, the top is connected to the turnbuckle for our split backstay and the bottom is tied onto one of the backstays. While I know it is not "kosher" as far as backstay flag positions, it works for us for a number of reasons:

1. I can reach it with no extra hardware - I put a loop of line in the turnbuckle with a quick clip tied to the top cringle of the flag
2. It is a great wind vane, much better than having it on a flag pole on the transom, especially coming downwind
3. I ain't been arrested yet! :)
4. It looks good
 
K

KingAirDriver

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Aug 27, 2011
408
Catalina 27 Titusville, FL
Where does the American Flag go then? I have been flying my US Flag from my spreader mounted flag halyard. With my Rum running jolly roger right below it...
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
I was always under the impression that the US Flag flies from the backstay 3/4 up to the truck of the mast. This was the correct position for a gaff on a gaff rigged boat. But on the the gaff rig, the flag flew at the top of the gaff. Now, I don't think anyone here has a gaff rigged sloop or schooner, so what is to say that we HAVE to fly the US Flag 3/4 up the backstay anymore?
 
tkanzler

tkanzler

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Sep 5, 2007
689
MacGregor 26X Rochester
KingAirDriver said:
Where does the American Flag go then? I have been flying my US Flag from my spreader mounted flag halyard. With my Rum running jolly roger right below it...
Click to expand
According to Chapman (which I just consulted), on a flag staff at the stern, or off the leach of the main sail (Bermuda rig), 2/3 of the way up.
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
"First and most important is the ensign, the flag of our nation. The ensign (from the Latin in siqnum, meaning ‘in sign’ or ‘marked’) is always hoisted first, (briskly), and lowered last, (ceremoniously). It was traditionally flown from the peak of the mizzen on sailing ships. This is because the mizzen, being at the aft end of the ship, was over the captain's cabin and the helm, which is to say, over the place of command. It is not the highest place that it could be flown but it is the place of honor. For this reason, the ensign is flown from the peak of the gaff on a yacht club mast, and the peak of the after-most sail of any gaff rigged vessel."

From www.bellportyc.org/Flag_Etiquette.pdf‎
 
kpgraci

kpgraci

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Jun 12, 2010
936
Oday 22 Orleans Marina, NOLA
Ron20324 said:
Google it for facts, not opinions.
Click to expand
Sure, but where's the fun in that?

So far I'm getting: Ensign 2/3 of the way up on the leech of the main, burgee on starboard signal halyard.

I suppose the backstay or topping lift could be used in place of the mainsail leech?
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,085
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Yup..US Yacht Ensign on the stern when the captain is aboard (and remembers to fly it). The other flags go on the spreader line.
 
victorhoisington

victorhoisington

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Jan 22, 2008
296
Islander Freeport, 41 Ketch Longmont, CO
Here is a very nice write up on proper flag etiquette:

http://www.seattleyachtclub.org/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=286483&ssid=164116&vnf=1#Flag Etiquette of the Seattle Yacht Club


I fly my flags whenever I am at the boat, except when racing. It is a way to let people know I am home. It's also a fun and interesting part of ournautical heritage that many people are not aware of. On my boat, since I'm not fast my other alternative is to look good; ie: fenders up, flags flying and well set sails.

Fair winds,
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I have also heard that there is a certain size for a vessel for it to fly the yacht ensign if we are getting technical. Maybe I am wrong.

I use to fly a yacht ensign off of a staff on the stern of the boat. I would sometimes fly a Jolly Roger off of the starboard spreader. Theatrics I guess, but it was fun and I liked finding unique flags.

The most unlucky flag that I have flown is a Norse Raven Flag. Through it was not a traditional flag and there is debate the amount of use that it had, several vikings flew this flag into battle. There was a legend that said that as long as the raven fluttered the group flying it would be victorious in battle but the person who raised it would die in battle as a sacrifice to Oden.

Wither this is true or not, the first day that I flew the flag a brand new ratchet was dropped from the top of the mast and it hit the deck and bounced into the water. The next day I was at an anchorage and part of my grill fell over into the water. The next day I drifted around the anchor in an anchorage and found some land that wasn't supposed to be there by every chart I ever looked at and I had to winch my boat off of this spot in the middle of the night. The following day I had some other issues. Finally I took this as an omen and took the flag down. The bad luck stopped.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
tkanzler said:
I'd have to consult Chapman to be sure, but I'm pretty sure it's not proper to fly the flag from a spreader. A courtesy flag, when visiting another country, yes, but the US ensign or yacht ensign, no. And the yacht ensign is only supposed to be flown in US waters, while in foreign waters, only the US ensign should be flown, either from the leach of the aft-most sail, or from a staff at the stern. But I'm not totally positive about all that.
Click to expand
This is correct. Fly your state flag, club burgees, courtesy flags, Q flag from the spreader, U.S from the 3/4 leech the aft sail or a stern pole. Put the pirate flag where you want the incoming rounds to strike. :eek:
 
tkanzler

tkanzler

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Sep 5, 2007
689
MacGregor 26X Rochester
My favorite flag (after the US Yacht Ensign, of course):



My second favorite flag:

 
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