Jess: I’m no expert; but, here are two suggestions:
1. Best bet is to spend a few bucks and add a starboard flag halyard to your starboard spreader - fly any courtesy flags and burgees from there.
2. Otherwise, US flag etiquette says that the US flag should be flown to “it’s own right” or on the left from the observer’s view (
http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html) (not entirely sure what that means); but, I think it means that it should be positioned to the right of any other flags - so, on your starboard flagstaff. Then, a smaller Chinese courtesy flag could be flown from the port flagstaff, ideally lower than the US flag. Alternatively, you could maybe fly the US flag with a smaller courtesy flag below it on the same flagstaff.
I think the definitive information on this is found in “The Annapolis Book of Seamanship” by John Rousmaniere - I do not (yet) have a copy; but, you can maybe find one at your local library, used bookstore, etc. Chapman’s is also cited as a good source.
Please share any additional information that you find.
Lastly, below are a couple of related links and items:
- nice summary found here:
http://www.cumberlandcrawl.com/flag.html … which includes these tidbits:
- No flag—state, heritage, Confederate, pirate, gag, or otherwise—except for the vessel’s national flag, should EVER fly from the stern of your vessel. This is considered a place of honor, for the vessel’s national flag and no other.
- On a sailboat, the courtesy flag is flown at the starboard spreader. If the sailboat has more than one mast, the courtesy flag is flown from the starboard spreader of the forward mast.
- from a posting from somewhere (grabbed it and saved it): your US flag SHOULD be larger than any courtesy flag you fly from the spreaders. There is no rule on this but the general guideline is 1" of flag length for every foot of boat and going UP to the next standard flag size.
So...a 35' sailboat should have a flag 35" long...and the standard 24x36" flag would thus be appropriate.
- Wikipedia Citation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_flag The position of honour on a ship is the quarterdeck at the stern of the ship, and thus ensigns are traditionally flown either from an ensign staff at the ship's stern, or from a gaff rigged over the stern. The usual rule that no flag should be flown higher than the national flag does not apply on board a ship: a flag flown at the stern is always in a superior position to a flag flown elsewhere on the ship, even if the latter is higher up.
has? I like flying a flag, and I like easy - this looks like it can be stowed and raised much more easily than a flag attached to the backstay, etc.
