Chapter - 24

Code For Flying Flags And Colors

Yachting Etiquette and customs are very exacting in regard to the proper flying of flags and colors. A yacht is known by the colors she flies. If these are incorrectly flown, then the yacht and her owner create a poor impression in yachting circles. It is, therefore, of foremost importance that the correct procedure be followed at all times.

The yacht ensign, by usage and custom, may be considered our national flag for yachts.1 The USPS ensign is flown by special authority and custom by members in good standing in this organization, in accordance with their rules.

When a yacht is in commission and manned, the following routine and etiquette shall be observed.

Colors shall be made at 0800 and sunset.

Time shall be taken from the senior officer present.

1. Ensign

The United States yacht ensign may be displayed between morning and evening colors:

(a) When at anchor,2 at the stern staff.
(b) When under way, in inland waters and when meeting or passing other vessels on the high seas, weather and rig permitting, by motor yachts at the stern; by motor yachts with gaff at the gaff; by gaff-rigged sailing yachts at the after peak; by marconi-rigged sailing yachts at the leach of the aftermost sail, approximately two-thirds the length of the leach above the clew; by sailing yachts under power alone, at the stern staff.

2. USPS Ensign

The ensign of the United States Power Squadrons may be displayed* between morning and evening colors:

(a) In place of the U. S. yacht ensign as provided in Sec. 1, or
(b) In addition to the U. S. yacht ensign,4 at anchor or underway,from the starboard main spreader or yard-arm.
3. Burgee

The yacht club burgee may be displayed whenever6 the ensign is hoisted, between morning and evening colors, at anchor or under way, by

(a) Mastless yachts or single-masted yachts with bow staff, at the bow staff,
(b) Single-masted yachts without bow staff, at the truck,
(c) Yachts with two or more masts at the foremost truck.
 
4. Squadron Distinguishing Signals

A local Squadron's distinguishing signal, which has been approved by the District and authorized by the USPS Governing Board, may be flown between morning and evening colors, in the place and instead of the club burgee.

5. Private Signal

The private signal may be displayed, between morning and evening colors, by

(a) Mastless yachts when under way, at the bow staff, in place of the burgee,
(b) Single-masted yachts with bow staff, at anchor, or under way, at the truck,
(c) Single-masted yachts, without bow staff, when under way, at the truck in place of the burgee,
(d) Yachts with two masts, at the aftermost truck.
(e) Yachts with more than two masts, at the main truck.

6. Flag Officer's Flag

A flag officer6 shall display his flag day and night, in place of and instead of his private signal, or in the case of a single masted yacht instead of the burgee, except when racing or displaying the burgee of another club or the race committee flag.

7. Fleet Captain's Flag

The fleet captain displays his flag7 between morning and evening colors only at the bow staff in small boats while performing the duties of his office.

8. Race Committee’s Flag

On a yacht acting as committee boat, the race committee's flag shall be displayed at the main truck in place of the flag otherwise there displayed, at all times while acting as such.

9. Union Jack

The union jack may be displayed between morning and evening colors on motor yachts with two or more masts only, and on sailing yachts at anchor, on Sundays or holidays or when dressing ship, at the jackstaff (not bow staff).

10. Absent Flag

The absent flag, a rectangular blue flag, may be displayed at the starboard main spreader or yard-arm * at anchor, or under way, between sunrise and sunset, when the owner is not on board.

11. Guest Flag

A rectangular blue flag with a white diagonal stripe, from top of hoist to bottom of fly, may be displayed at anchor or under way, between sunrise and sunset, at the starboard main spreader or yard-arm,8 when guests are aboard during the absence of the owner.
 
12. Owner's Meal Rag

A rectangular white flag may be displayed when at anchor, from sunrise to sunset, during the owner's meal hours, at the starboard main spreader or yard-arm.8

13. Crew's Meal Pennant

A red pennant may be displayed when at anchor, between sunrise and sunset, during the crew's meal hours, at the foremost port spreader or yardarm.

14. Night Pennant
A blue pennant may be displayed at the main truck from evening to morning colors and at all times when no other flags are flown.

15. Other Flags

Flags authorized by naval, military or recognized yachting organizations may be displayed at option, provided the procedure for flying such flags as specified by those organizations is followed. No other flag shall be displayed, except when making signals with the international code or dressing ship.*

16. Racing

While racing, yachts shall comply with pertinent sections of the Racing Rules and any specific instructions of race committees where these conflict with any provisions of Yacht Routine.

17. Size Of Flags

The burgee, private signal and flag officer's flag shall be approximately a minimum of one-half of one inch on the fly for each foot of the highest truck above the water on sailing yachts and Y% of one inch for each foot of overall length on motor yachts. The hoist shall be two-thirds the fly. The ensign when flown at the stern shall be approximately a minimum of one inch on the fly per foot of overall length. The hoist shall be two-thirds the fly. When the USPS ensign is flown from the starboard yard arm, on motor boats, the length of the fly shall be approximately s of one inch per foot of over all length of the boat.

The night pennant should approximate three-fourths of an inch on the fly for each foot of height of truck above the water, with a hoist of one-tenth of the fly.

18. Order Of Colors

When making colors short-handed, the ensign shall be hoisted first, followed as rapidly as possible by the USPS ensign, the club burgee and the private signal. Flags are lowered in inverse order. Colors are hoisted smartly but lowered ceremoniously. Flag officer's flags though displayed day and night may be lowered and hoisted at colors.

19. Entering Port Before Or After Colors

On entering or leaving a port before or after the time for making colors, a yacht shall display her flags provided there is sufficient light for them to be recognized. Colors shall be lowered promptly after anchoring or after leaving port.

*(Signals should be flown from a conspicuous hoist. Probably such signals as the cocktail flag, etc., should be so flown.)

Dressing Ship

On national holidays, at regattas and on other special occasions, yachts often dress ship with signal flags of the International Code. Flag officers’ flags and club burgees are not used. The ship is dressed at 8 :OO A.M. and remains so dressed from morning to evening colors. In dressing ship, the yacht ensign is hoisted at the peak or staff aft, and the jack at the jackstaff. Then a rainbow of flags of the International Code is arranged, reaching from the waterline forward to the waterline aft, by way of the jib-boom end to the foretop masthead, then across to the main topmast, and down to the main boom end, allowing several flags to touch the water line from both the jib-boom end and the main boom end.

A Few Don'ts

Don't fly two flag-officers' flags at the same time.

Don't fly two flags from the same hoist, except flags of the International Code, when dressing ship or signalling.

Don't fly a yacht club officers' flag of a yacht club of which you are a member but not a flag officer.

Don't fly a yacht club officers' flag while flying a USPS officers' flag. (Note: It is permissible to fly a USPS officers' flag and a yacht club burgee when the USPS ensign is flown.)

Don't fly a yacht club officers' flag while flying a yacht club burgee of a yacht club of which you are not an officer.

Don't fly your flags (other than your flag-officer's flag) before 0800 or after sundown except for the purpose of identification while entering or leaving a harbor or anchorage other than your own. Haul them down immediately thereafter.

Don't fly your USPS ensign unless the vessel is actually in command of a USPS member in good standing.

Don't fly your guest, absent or meal flag while your USPS ensign is displayed at the starboard main spreader or yard-arm—keep them in the flag locker.

General Note:—Mastless motor yachts may display, on a staff erected on the superstructure, the flag designated by this code to be flown from the truck of single-masted yachts.

Note *:—The constitution or by-laws or printed regulations of some clubs provide a code for flying flags and colors. In such a case a member of that club when flying the burgee of that club should follow the code of his club.

Note 1:—While the best practice calls for the flying of the yacht ensign yet the US ensign may be substituted therefore except on documented yachts.

Note 2:—Yachts moored or made fast to the shore, wharves, etc. and when aground should fly the flags specified by this code to be flown at anchor.

Note 3:—The ensign of the United States Power Squadrons may be displayed only while the yacht is in command of a member in good standing of the United States Power Squadrons.

Note 4:—Correctly displayed.

Note 5:—Except as otherwise herein provided.

Note 6:—Other officers of yachting organizations (except the Fleet Captain) rating a rectangular flag shall fly it as herein specified for a Flag Officer's flag. Swallow tail officers' flags should be flown only from 8 A.M. to sundown.

Note 7:—The constitution or by-laws of some clubs provide that the fleet captain shall be a flag officer. In such a case the fleet captain shall display his flag as a flag officer.

Note 8:—Provided the USPS ensign is not being flown at this hoist.

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