I have a U.S registered boat and am a U.S citizen, which flag is most appropriate for my sailboat; the U.S. Yacht Ensign or the normal U.S Flag? I sail in Canada, but will fly the U.S flag off my stern and the Canadian courtesy flag from my starboard spreader. Thanks, Matt Wolf s/v Wu-Wei 1989 Hunter 28
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Ensign acceptable in US only
From Chapman's: "The yacht ensign, with an anchor surrounded by 13 stars in place of the 50-star field, can be used in place of the national flag in US waters. It should be accorded the same precedence as the national flag when displayed." I interpret this to mean that when you are sailing in Canada you should use the US flag, not the ensign. I fly a US flag in any case, but that's a personal choice. Best, Trevor
From Chapman's: "The yacht ensign, with an anchor surrounded by 13 stars in place of the 50-star field, can be used in place of the national flag in US waters. It should be accorded the same precedence as the national flag when displayed." I interpret this to mean that when you are sailing in Canada you should use the US flag, not the ensign. I fly a US flag in any case, but that's a personal choice. Best, Trevor
Semantics Confusion
The national ensign (50 stars) should be the only one used outside of US waters. The yacht ensign (fouled anchor and thirteen stars) is an optional choice to be flown only in US waters. Either should be the first raised and the last lowered.
The national ensign (50 stars) should be the only one used outside of US waters. The yacht ensign (fouled anchor and thirteen stars) is an optional choice to be flown only in US waters. Either should be the first raised and the last lowered.
which U.S. flag is appropriate?
I read somewhere that if your boat is documented, you must fly the U.S. yacht ensign (fouled anchor with 13 stars)in U.S. waters, but undocumented boats have the option of either the yacht ensign or U.S. ensign (50 stars) Is this true?
I read somewhere that if your boat is documented, you must fly the U.S. yacht ensign (fouled anchor with 13 stars)in U.S. waters, but undocumented boats have the option of either the yacht ensign or U.S. ensign (50 stars) Is this true?
Old Glory
United States ensign and the bigger the better. I proudly fly a 3x5 two thirds up the backstay.
United States ensign and the bigger the better. I proudly fly a 3x5 two thirds up the backstay.
Here's the deal.
Any boat owned by a US Citizen can fly either the Yacht Ensign or the 50 stars and thirteen stripes US flag while in US teritorial waters. When sailing in International waters or waters claimed by another country, only the Stars and Stripes is appropriate. It should be flown half way up the back-stay or off the transom. The rule of thumb for its size is: the flag's length should be at least one inch for every foot of the boat's length. The flag should be taken down during bad weather, and at sunset. Also, when in another coutry's waters, their flag should be flown on a seperate halyard attached to the mast or spreader. BTW, the US flag should always be bigger than the courtesy flag. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Any boat owned by a US Citizen can fly either the Yacht Ensign or the 50 stars and thirteen stripes US flag while in US teritorial waters. When sailing in International waters or waters claimed by another country, only the Stars and Stripes is appropriate. It should be flown half way up the back-stay or off the transom. The rule of thumb for its size is: the flag's length should be at least one inch for every foot of the boat's length. The flag should be taken down during bad weather, and at sunset. Also, when in another coutry's waters, their flag should be flown on a seperate halyard attached to the mast or spreader. BTW, the US flag should always be bigger than the courtesy flag. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Courtsey Flag
A couple more related flag details: The courtsey flag should be flown after customs and immigration has been cleared. When in foreign waters once the boat has touched land (anchored or tied to a dock)and prior to clearing customs and immigration the quarentine flag should be flown in lieu of the courtsey flag. If the boat doesn't touch land it can traverse the foreign waters by flying only the national ensign. Once the US Boat has cleared US Customs and immigration it should not fly any foreign courtsey flag - this means it hasn't cleared yet.
A couple more related flag details: The courtsey flag should be flown after customs and immigration has been cleared. When in foreign waters once the boat has touched land (anchored or tied to a dock)and prior to clearing customs and immigration the quarentine flag should be flown in lieu of the courtsey flag. If the boat doesn't touch land it can traverse the foreign waters by flying only the national ensign. Once the US Boat has cleared US Customs and immigration it should not fly any foreign courtsey flag - this means it hasn't cleared yet.
Somewhere it says that a US flag with 48 stars and
13 stripes is Illegal to fly on my documented boat? I would like to see where that law is. Vic
13 stripes is Illegal to fly on my documented boat? I would like to see where that law is. Vic
Some thoughts on flying the ensign
From all my readings over the years about flying the American Flag (also called the National Ensign), I haven't found a single law that applies to the flag. I may be wrong on this point. During the Viet Nam war, we got ourselves in a snit wearing the flag as clothing to protest the war and today, clothes with the national esign are hot items. How times change. However, internation rules (they can't be laws) suggest that a boat fly the flag of the country the boat is from. On some occasions, people fly the flag of the country that they are from even though the boat may be from a different country (as in charter boats). And tradition says that we fly the flag off the stern and not at the bow. In the beginning of this country, ships of the line would fly the flag of another country to tease another boat into coming closer then suddenly change to their country's flag. Which brings me to the reason we sometimes fly the flag three-quarters up the back stay as to emulate flying the flag off the mainsail gaft as they did two hundred years ago. Tradition suggestions (we can change tradition anytime we like I suppose), that when your sails are furled, you change your flag off the backstay down to the flag staff as those ship of the lines did. People near Boston had a flip over flying the flag several years ago. It was being flown off a club flag pole off the gaft as was proper. The yacht club burgee which is technically not a flag but a signal was being flown at the top of the hoist which made it appear to be above the American ensign. Some patriotic Americans got insensed that some club would fly their flag over the American Flag and made the club change it around. If I remember correctly, they actually had a local law passed so this would happen. In some areas, instead of the American ensign being flown from the stern, the United States Power Squadron flag is flown. But as I said in the beginning, as far as I know, there is no law that says you have to fly the flag in any manner--just traditions.
From all my readings over the years about flying the American Flag (also called the National Ensign), I haven't found a single law that applies to the flag. I may be wrong on this point. During the Viet Nam war, we got ourselves in a snit wearing the flag as clothing to protest the war and today, clothes with the national esign are hot items. How times change. However, internation rules (they can't be laws) suggest that a boat fly the flag of the country the boat is from. On some occasions, people fly the flag of the country that they are from even though the boat may be from a different country (as in charter boats). And tradition says that we fly the flag off the stern and not at the bow. In the beginning of this country, ships of the line would fly the flag of another country to tease another boat into coming closer then suddenly change to their country's flag. Which brings me to the reason we sometimes fly the flag three-quarters up the back stay as to emulate flying the flag off the mainsail gaft as they did two hundred years ago. Tradition suggestions (we can change tradition anytime we like I suppose), that when your sails are furled, you change your flag off the backstay down to the flag staff as those ship of the lines did. People near Boston had a flip over flying the flag several years ago. It was being flown off a club flag pole off the gaft as was proper. The yacht club burgee which is technically not a flag but a signal was being flown at the top of the hoist which made it appear to be above the American ensign. Some patriotic Americans got insensed that some club would fly their flag over the American Flag and made the club change it around. If I remember correctly, they actually had a local law passed so this would happen. In some areas, instead of the American ensign being flown from the stern, the United States Power Squadron flag is flown. But as I said in the beginning, as far as I know, there is no law that says you have to fly the flag in any manner--just traditions.
Ed, in theory only 'Documented' Vessels should fly
The Yacht Ensign (Fouled anchor) and these days either documented or non-documented vessels can fly the Old Glory (50 Stars and Stripes). I don't there is any real enforcable law out there, just tradition in the US.
The Yacht Ensign (Fouled anchor) and these days either documented or non-documented vessels can fly the Old Glory (50 Stars and Stripes). I don't there is any real enforcable law out there, just tradition in the US.
Fly the 50 Stars in Foreign Waters
Just to ensure there is no confusion, according to the USPS (US power squaderon) the vessel must fly only the 50 star flag when in foreign waters - documented or not. see link: http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html#us-ensign Realize the USPS is not the Coast Guard but when they post this on their web site I feel pretty confident that they're correct in this regard.
Just to ensure there is no confusion, according to the USPS (US power squaderon) the vessel must fly only the 50 star flag when in foreign waters - documented or not. see link: http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html#us-ensign Realize the USPS is not the Coast Guard but when they post this on their web site I feel pretty confident that they're correct in this regard.
The Flag is not protected.
The rules of flag etiquette are just rules or guidlines. There are no laws protecting the flag. Case in point, it's legal (although some may wish otherwise) to burn the flag in protest. Nonetheless, when on the high seas, there needs to be a standardized method of determining the ownership/registry of the vessel. Thus, the National Ensign (currently 50 stars, 7 red stripes and 6 white ones) is the only internationally recognized flag of the USA. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
The rules of flag etiquette are just rules or guidlines. There are no laws protecting the flag. Case in point, it's legal (although some may wish otherwise) to burn the flag in protest. Nonetheless, when on the high seas, there needs to be a standardized method of determining the ownership/registry of the vessel. Thus, the National Ensign (currently 50 stars, 7 red stripes and 6 white ones) is the only internationally recognized flag of the USA. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Suggest checking the expert.
I think you should get hold of Chapman's Piloting, seamanship and small boat handling. Go to chapter 22 - flag etiquette. You have all the correct answers there, including the proper way to fly the national flag on yacht club poles. If your club pole has a yardarm, then the national flag is flown from the yardarm (or gaff) and the club burgee is flown from the top of the main pole hoist. Cheers.
I think you should get hold of Chapman's Piloting, seamanship and small boat handling. Go to chapter 22 - flag etiquette. You have all the correct answers there, including the proper way to fly the national flag on yacht club poles. If your club pole has a yardarm, then the national flag is flown from the yardarm (or gaff) and the club burgee is flown from the top of the main pole hoist. Cheers.
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