Flying the American flag
- Thread starter Chief RA
- Start date
OMG Chief, All good! No worries, NOTHING that happens on SBO will never upset me!
My general option? Do whatever you want. Your service helped allow that.
Last edited:
We fly the flag from the mizzen boom. It flies free there unlike from an aft staff that doesn't work as well. Aside from all that it symbolizes, the stars and stripes with it's beautiful form and colors is one of the best photo prop on the water. Red is an especially powerful color to get into the lens of a camera. It reveals wind and motion.
While 8 am is recommended etiquette to raise the flag, I fly it often at sunrise. Beautiful light that time of the day for photos and I've used the flag to diffuse the rising sun.
While 8 am is recommended etiquette to raise the flag, I fly it often at sunrise. Beautiful light that time of the day for photos and I've used the flag to diffuse the rising sun.
Joe: that is a nice idea to attach her to the main sail! Topping lift good as well! Thanks, Chief
Last edited:
Too big, IMHO. It's already fouled on the shroud and will foul more as the wind shifts around to the aft.
My flags and pennants do not foul as they are on sliders attached so they fly from the shroud line, plus, none are larger than 3'x2'. I appreciate this discussion as it achieved what I was seeking. Attaching flag to sail and using topping lift both are practical possible solutions for my boat. Finally getting some decent seas and wind out here so can get out after the salmon, bottom fish, and do some sailing. Thanks, Chief
Flying the national ensign from the leech of the main on a sloop, or on the aft-most sail's leech on multi-mast boats or ships is derived from flying the colors from the gaff of the aft most mast, when most boats were gaff-rigged. The proper location on a non-gaff rigged sail, like the main on a common sloop, is 2/3rds the way up the leech. Same location on the backstay or topping lift if your sail is not set.
From a flag halyard, port or starboard, or a shroud, is poor protocol. The starboard flag halyard is where the flag of a foreign country you're visiting is flown, the courtesy flag.
Another flag one can fly at the stem is the Union Jack, or jack of the United States, an all blue field with white stars; on Sundays and holidays when moored or at anchor.
A good question is "what size flag?" I remember one inch on the fly per foot of boat length as a minimum.
From a flag halyard, port or starboard, or a shroud, is poor protocol. The starboard flag halyard is where the flag of a foreign country you're visiting is flown, the courtesy flag.
Another flag one can fly at the stem is the Union Jack, or jack of the United States, an all blue field with white stars; on Sundays and holidays when moored or at anchor.
A good question is "what size flag?" I remember one inch on the fly per foot of boat length as a minimum.
@shemandr I think you are referring to the US Yacht Ensign (circle of 13 stars surrounding a fouled anchor in the field of blue) with the say "Ensign" but Chief asked about the National Ensign. Your American Flag became the National Ensign when brought aboard a boat, just like all those ropes you bought became lines when you brought them aboard. It is a nautical thing.
Attachments
Last edited:
Rules are different shipboard. I remember the instructions we got as Marines coming aboard and going ashore. And also to play nice with the Squids. 
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
I understand that the 'yacht ensign' may used when under way in US waters, and that the regular US Flag is required when boating into other counties.
We use our aluminum (approx) 8 foot tall radar mast to fly the US Flag when visiting Canadian waters in BC. That leaves the regular hoist on the starb. spreader available for the courtesy flag.
No one has noticed or commented yet, tho.
It's nice to try to do this properly, if for no other reason than to give a local LEO a choice to ignore us when they are out assessing the waters for a vessel in need of a 'safety boarding'.....
Around here the river patrol deputies have told us that they prefer to spend their time boarding boats with obvious unsafe persons or navigation tendencies, and do notice the general appearance of the vessels around them. It seems good to show respect for tradition, so we always have our annual VSC decal properly displayed, also.
Last time we spoke to a CN coast guard guy (driving a powerful RIB) was a friendly short chat while he was directing us to their new Customs dock and phone box, in Victoria inner harbor.
We use our aluminum (approx) 8 foot tall radar mast to fly the US Flag when visiting Canadian waters in BC. That leaves the regular hoist on the starb. spreader available for the courtesy flag.
No one has noticed or commented yet, tho.
It's nice to try to do this properly, if for no other reason than to give a local LEO a choice to ignore us when they are out assessing the waters for a vessel in need of a 'safety boarding'.....
Around here the river patrol deputies have told us that they prefer to spend their time boarding boats with obvious unsafe persons or navigation tendencies, and do notice the general appearance of the vessels around them. It seems good to show respect for tradition, so we always have our annual VSC decal properly displayed, also.
Last time we spoke to a CN coast guard guy (driving a powerful RIB) was a friendly short chat while he was directing us to their new Customs dock and phone box, in Victoria inner harbor.
Actually, a hunk of rope just lying about on a boat, e.g., sailboat, would not be a “line.” Rope, or cordage, is bulk material that you use to make up lines. Lines are lengths of rope that have a function w/ a moniker to identify. As in sheet, guy, preventer, tow, or dock, etc.
Last edited:
