Have you ever noticed how many boats display national flags, ensigns, burgees, yacht club and other private signal flags while underway? Some owners even leave the national ensign flying on their boats, day and night, while in their slips with no one aboard. There doesn't seem to be any standard with respect to these displays: some boats fly them from the mast head, others from the leech of the mainsail, some from poles on the stern, and yet others from a signal halyard attached to a spreader. The U.S Flag Code is strangely silent about flying the colors from private recreational boats. How do you feel about flying a national or yacht ensign on your boat? And what about state flags? Does your state, like Maryland and Arkansas, have protocols for flying the state flag on boats? Do you hoist the colors every time you sail? If so, do you prefer the national ensign or the yacht ensign? And where on your boat do you fly the colors? What do you do while at anchor? Tell us how you feel about, and fly, the national colors on your boat, then take the Quick Quiz on the homepage. (Discussion topic and quiz by Warren Milberg)
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Protocol
We live in an age where protocol is not as important, so, as a result one sees the ensign improperly flown. I have been guilty of leaving it out overnight, but have resolved to follow custom in the future - remove it at sundown. Trav'ler flies the US ensign off the stern on the starboard side and is a 2 inches short of the 1" per foot rule.
We live in an age where protocol is not as important, so, as a result one sees the ensign improperly flown. I have been guilty of leaving it out overnight, but have resolved to follow custom in the future - remove it at sundown. Trav'ler flies the US ensign off the stern on the starboard side and is a 2 inches short of the 1" per foot rule.
Flag protocol
I fly a yacht ensign frrom my backstay whenever I am aboard and the Jolly Roger from my port shroud when going to meet up with my sailing/drinking buddies.
I fly a yacht ensign frrom my backstay whenever I am aboard and the Jolly Roger from my port shroud when going to meet up with my sailing/drinking buddies.
Respect for the flag....
I'm irritated by boaters who disrespect our flag by not displaying it correctly. ... It's so simple... It should be at the stern on a sailboat, displayed between 8:00 am and sunset, on the flagstaff or 2/3 up the backstay or mainsail leech. Chapman's....page 584... provides a chart regarding all flags and pennants. There's a guy on our dock who put up an undersized american flag on his VHF antenna after 911 and left it there for a couple of years. I left him a gentle note explaining my postion that he was actually disrespecting the flag. I hated to be such a pill... but maybe he just didn't know the etiquette, so I felt compelled to enlighten him. He has subsequently removed it. BTW, the thing was looking real ratty. I think our marinas should be obligated to inform their tenants of proper national ensign display.
I'm irritated by boaters who disrespect our flag by not displaying it correctly. ... It's so simple... It should be at the stern on a sailboat, displayed between 8:00 am and sunset, on the flagstaff or 2/3 up the backstay or mainsail leech. Chapman's....page 584... provides a chart regarding all flags and pennants. There's a guy on our dock who put up an undersized american flag on his VHF antenna after 911 and left it there for a couple of years. I left him a gentle note explaining my postion that he was actually disrespecting the flag. I hated to be such a pill... but maybe he just didn't know the etiquette, so I felt compelled to enlighten him. He has subsequently removed it. BTW, the thing was looking real ratty. I think our marinas should be obligated to inform their tenants of proper national ensign display.
Flag Etiquete
You have opened Pandora's flag box(NPI), I would only ask for one thing and that is a full understanding of "flying at half mast". This discraceful ignorance of flags almost touching the ground to comply with an order they don't understand drives me to reply to this important question.
You have opened Pandora's flag box(NPI), I would only ask for one thing and that is a full understanding of "flying at half mast". This discraceful ignorance of flags almost touching the ground to comply with an order they don't understand drives me to reply to this important question.
Past and Future
For about a year, I flew an ensign, with a TX flag below it, and a pennant with my boat's name below that (gift from my daughter), starting about 2/3 the way down my topping lift. I let it fly day and night. I was even proud of the fact that I replaced the ensign and TX flags promptly when they became worn after about 6 months. When they were worn the next time, before I replaced them, I found the information about how they should be properly displayed, and when. So, I took 'em all down (the banner was shot by then anyway). I'm going to rework the flag halyard on the topping lift so it's actually 2/3 instead of "about 2/3" and use that for the ensign, and then fly the TX flag from the starboard spreader. And all only between 8 and sunset. I know some purists might say that fling from halyard on the toppling lift is not the same thing as from the mainsail leech, but it's close enough, and I'm just not ready to sew a flag on the sail.
For about a year, I flew an ensign, with a TX flag below it, and a pennant with my boat's name below that (gift from my daughter), starting about 2/3 the way down my topping lift. I let it fly day and night. I was even proud of the fact that I replaced the ensign and TX flags promptly when they became worn after about 6 months. When they were worn the next time, before I replaced them, I found the information about how they should be properly displayed, and when. So, I took 'em all down (the banner was shot by then anyway). I'm going to rework the flag halyard on the topping lift so it's actually 2/3 instead of "about 2/3" and use that for the ensign, and then fly the TX flag from the starboard spreader. And all only between 8 and sunset. I know some purists might say that fling from halyard on the toppling lift is not the same thing as from the mainsail leech, but it's close enough, and I'm just not ready to sew a flag on the sail.
Ensign on the stern
while we're sailing and in port, When I was in the Navy the Ensign was on the stern while in port and was raised in the morning and lowered in the evening. It was flown at the highest point while at sea. I also fly a couresey flag on the starboard side haylard to the spreader from Canada, when we travel to there, and the Canadians do the same when they come to the states, well atleast most of them do.
while we're sailing and in port, When I was in the Navy the Ensign was on the stern while in port and was raised in the morning and lowered in the evening. It was flown at the highest point while at sea. I also fly a couresey flag on the starboard side haylard to the spreader from Canada, when we travel to there, and the Canadians do the same when they come to the states, well atleast most of them do.
The Jolly Roger!
Submariner's fly the JR after a sucessful mission - one generally invloving the - ah - er - dissapearance of some floating objects! I modified the Jolly Roger tradition some for a recreational boat. I just fly it for a sucessful grownup sail. And - you can bet I have Admiral's orders that only she is aboard for those!
Cheers! OldCat
Submariner's fly the JR after a sucessful mission - one generally invloving the - ah - er - dissapearance of some floating objects! I modified the Jolly Roger tradition some for a recreational boat. I just fly it for a sucessful grownup sail. And - you can bet I have Admiral's orders that only she is aboard for those!
Cheers! OldCat
Flags
The US Ensign has some rules that are particular to US boats. When I cam to Canada I was mildly shocked to see different customs. I have a choice, I can fly the US or Canadian ensign. Either ensign is flown from the gaff (or where the gaff would be) on the aftmost sail. The Canadian custom is to fly the ensign 24 hrs a day, rather than 0800 to sunset (any women aboard are not allowed on deck before colours). When I fly a burgee, it flies from the masthead. As Commodore Snyder (NYYC) said, "if you don't know where the top of your mast is, don't fly the burgee." Other signals are flown from the starboard spreader.
The US Ensign has some rules that are particular to US boats. When I cam to Canada I was mildly shocked to see different customs. I have a choice, I can fly the US or Canadian ensign. Either ensign is flown from the gaff (or where the gaff would be) on the aftmost sail. The Canadian custom is to fly the ensign 24 hrs a day, rather than 0800 to sunset (any women aboard are not allowed on deck before colours). When I fly a burgee, it flies from the masthead. As Commodore Snyder (NYYC) said, "if you don't know where the top of your mast is, don't fly the burgee." Other signals are flown from the starboard spreader.
Canadian Flag Etiquette
The National Flag denotes the Ship’s Registry, not the owner’s Nationality. Although the U.S.A. recognizes “Dual Citizenship”, Canada does not. These two realities might complicate Moody Buccaneer’s assumption that: “... I have a choice, I can fly the US or Canadian ensign ...” From “Flag Etiquette in Canada”: http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/etiquette/index_e.cfm The manner in which flags may be displayed in Canada is not governed by any legislation but by established practice. The etiquette outlined in this brochure is an adaptation of international usage and of customs the federal government has been observing for many years. Flown on ships and boats The National Flag of Canada is the proper national colours for all Canadian ships and boats, including pleasure craft. The Canadian Shipping Act states that a Canadian ship shall hoist the flag on a signal being made to her by one of Her Majesty's Canadian ships, or any ship in the service of and belonging to the Government of Canada; on entering or leaving any foreign port; and if of 50 tonnes gross tonnage or upwards, on entering or leaving any Commonwealth port. Foreign vessels may fly the Canadian flag as a "courtesy flag" when they are berthed in a Canadian port. The flag then is customarily flown from the foremast. General rules governing merchant vessels and pleasure craft are as follow: * the flag should be worn in harbour and in territorial waters but need not be worn while under way on the high seas unless the vessel wishes to identify her nationality to another ship; * whenever possible, the proper place for a vessel to display the national colours is at the stern, except that when at sea, the flag may be flown from a gaff; * when in harbour the flag should be hoisted at 0800 hours and lowered at sunset; * when a merchant ship and a warship of any nationality pass or overtake one another, the merchant ship should dip the flag as a gesture of courtesy. If on a staff, the lowest corner of the flag should be brought to the level of the rail and kept there until the salutation is acknowledged by the naval vessel. If flown from a gaff, the flag should be lowered to six feet (1.80m) above the level of the deck, until the salute is acknowledged; * in times of mourning, the flag may be flown at half-mast, which places the upper corner of the flag next to the staff at approximately three-quarters of full-hoist. As on land, a flag hoisted to or lowered from half-mast position must first be hauled close-up.
The National Flag denotes the Ship’s Registry, not the owner’s Nationality. Although the U.S.A. recognizes “Dual Citizenship”, Canada does not. These two realities might complicate Moody Buccaneer’s assumption that: “... I have a choice, I can fly the US or Canadian ensign ...” From “Flag Etiquette in Canada”: http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/etiquette/index_e.cfm The manner in which flags may be displayed in Canada is not governed by any legislation but by established practice. The etiquette outlined in this brochure is an adaptation of international usage and of customs the federal government has been observing for many years. Flown on ships and boats The National Flag of Canada is the proper national colours for all Canadian ships and boats, including pleasure craft. The Canadian Shipping Act states that a Canadian ship shall hoist the flag on a signal being made to her by one of Her Majesty's Canadian ships, or any ship in the service of and belonging to the Government of Canada; on entering or leaving any foreign port; and if of 50 tonnes gross tonnage or upwards, on entering or leaving any Commonwealth port. Foreign vessels may fly the Canadian flag as a "courtesy flag" when they are berthed in a Canadian port. The flag then is customarily flown from the foremast. General rules governing merchant vessels and pleasure craft are as follow: * the flag should be worn in harbour and in territorial waters but need not be worn while under way on the high seas unless the vessel wishes to identify her nationality to another ship; * whenever possible, the proper place for a vessel to display the national colours is at the stern, except that when at sea, the flag may be flown from a gaff; * when in harbour the flag should be hoisted at 0800 hours and lowered at sunset; * when a merchant ship and a warship of any nationality pass or overtake one another, the merchant ship should dip the flag as a gesture of courtesy. If on a staff, the lowest corner of the flag should be brought to the level of the rail and kept there until the salutation is acknowledged by the naval vessel. If flown from a gaff, the flag should be lowered to six feet (1.80m) above the level of the deck, until the salute is acknowledged; * in times of mourning, the flag may be flown at half-mast, which places the upper corner of the flag next to the staff at approximately three-quarters of full-hoist. As on land, a flag hoisted to or lowered from half-mast position must first be hauled close-up.
take it down to race
don't forget that you should not have the flag flying during a race/regatta.
don't forget that you should not have the flag flying during a race/regatta.
OK to fly if illuminated?
Gord, I was under the impression that it was OK to fly the Canadian flag 24 hours/day provided it was illuminated. For example - the flags at the cenotaph.
Gord, I was under the impression that it was OK to fly the Canadian flag 24 hours/day provided it was illuminated. For example - the flags at the cenotaph.
I'm proud
.. of our country and our flag. I fly the yacht ensign from a staff at the stern whenever I'm under sail. When I'm not, I furl it. A number of people at my marina have large US flags flying from the rigging of their boats day and night, mostly when no one is aboard. While it is not my business to tell anyone what to do,this annoys me as I feel it is disrespectful.
.. of our country and our flag. I fly the yacht ensign from a staff at the stern whenever I'm under sail. When I'm not, I furl it. A number of people at my marina have large US flags flying from the rigging of their boats day and night, mostly when no one is aboard. While it is not my business to tell anyone what to do,this annoys me as I feel it is disrespectful.
Thanks Gord
After asking several people about proper flag etiquette and observing common practice, I made the deadly mistake of assuming that there is no proper procedure. After being taught basic US flag etiquette in elementary school, I was suprised that the people I talked to had no idea what I was talking about. I also assumed that the ensign flown was the nationality of the owner. It is my understanding that a vessel owned or chartered by a US Citizen may fly the US Ensign. Is this true only in US waters?
After asking several people about proper flag etiquette and observing common practice, I made the deadly mistake of assuming that there is no proper procedure. After being taught basic US flag etiquette in elementary school, I was suprised that the people I talked to had no idea what I was talking about.
I also assumed that the ensign flown was the nationality of the owner. It is my understanding that a vessel owned or chartered by a US Citizen may fly the US Ensign. Is this true only in US waters?Protocol - smotocol! It's about PRIDE!
While I'm sure proper flag etiquet makes for good winter reading, in my humble opinion it's all about pride. I fly my ensign from a stern staff whenever I'm on-board and even have a national flag on a pole at the dock. Overkill? No way! Other than that, I fly anything I might happen to have on a few special occasions. Bill on STARGAZER
While I'm sure proper flag etiquet makes for good winter reading, in my humble opinion it's all about pride. I fly my ensign from a stern staff whenever I'm on-board and even have a national flag on a pole at the dock. Overkill? No way! Other than that, I fly anything I might happen to have on a few special occasions. Bill on STARGAZER
I don't bother with flags.
. Flags, boat names, nautical lingo, military time. I have better things to do with my time than to be concerned with those things. I just cruise. Badge' .
. Flags, boat names, nautical lingo, military time. I have better things to do with my time than to be concerned with those things. I just cruise. Badge' .
US only
I fly a US flag from the stern when actively using the boat, including at anchor. I have port and starboard hoists on the spreaders & shrouds, but don't use them other for a dive flag. At the Marina, there's everything from jolly rogers to Conch Republic flags on the shrouds. Nobody follows protocal. I think very few know the rules.
I fly a US flag from the stern when actively using the boat, including at anchor. I have port and starboard hoists on the spreaders & shrouds, but don't use them other for a dive flag. At the Marina, there's everything from jolly rogers to Conch Republic flags on the shrouds. Nobody follows protocal. I think very few know the rules.
Fly it Proudly....
I agree that the National Flag outta be flown proudly. I have the USA Flag on the rear Stay regularly...and occasionally...the TEXAS flag below it. Its simply patriotic, the right thing to do...and sends a message to fellow boaters out there..."Hi...Im American too" Seeing some of the disrepect to Old Glory by some folks these days is a poor way of exercising "freedom of speech" .. (sewing on the back side of pants, burning it, stomping it...etc.) Thank God for Freedom...and that we can fly Old Glory on our boats...
I agree that the National Flag outta be flown proudly. I have the USA Flag on the rear Stay regularly...and occasionally...the TEXAS flag below it. Its simply patriotic, the right thing to do...and sends a message to fellow boaters out there..."Hi...Im American too" Seeing some of the disrepect to Old Glory by some folks these days is a poor way of exercising "freedom of speech" .. (sewing on the back side of pants, burning it, stomping it...etc.) Thank God for Freedom...and that we can fly Old Glory on our boats...
ensign on documented vessel
I do fly a yacht ensign from a flagstaff on the stern of my boat. I was told that it was required if you are documented. That may or may not be true... does anyone know for sure?
I do fly a yacht ensign from a flagstaff on the stern of my boat. I was told that it was required if you are documented. That may or may not be true... does anyone know for sure?
Go ahead and let her fly
To round up all the disertations on flying flags. Maybe sum it up for the weaker minded. Your country flag should be flown from the "taffrail", the rail around the stern of the ship. Host flags on halyard to the starboard spreader. Martini flags... er.. just put a bikini clad mate on the foredeck and let her wave it! Better have a lot of olives handy. Cheers Rick s/v Whiskey Chaser
To round up all the disertations on flying flags. Maybe sum it up for the weaker minded. Your country flag should be flown from the "taffrail", the rail around the stern of the ship. Host flags on halyard to the starboard spreader. Martini flags... er.. just put a bikini clad mate on the foredeck and let her wave it! Better have a lot of olives handy. Cheers Rick s/v Whiskey Chaser
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