new york yacht club flag etiquette

On our pier, the flagpole and its flags are often the first things to catch your eye when arriving at the club, whether by land or water. The flags immediately tell sailors the two most important things for the day - how much wind is there and which way is it blowing?

The flagpole at any yacht club traditionally represents the mast of a sailing ship. The etiquette of which flag is flown, and onto which halyard it is bent, is one descended from centuries of tradition.

Until recent times, flags were the only way vessels could communicate with each other at sea. Lives and property often depended on understanding their protocols.

Even in the old days, recreational sailing's use of flags was more of a custom and seldom of critical importance. In those times, a breach of flag etiquette would raise eyebrows, but because today those customs are largely forgotten it can be fun to revive them. Following the old ways has its own charm and helps us continue the spirit of generations of sailors, great and not-so-great, who preceded us.

Because maritime flag etiquette is now often misunderstood by the public – and by some sailors – here are a few basic subjects which might be of interest:

Why isn't the US flag at the top?

A yacht club is traditionally considered to be a vessel, not a part of the land. While land-bound tradition (and the U.S. Code) holds that no flag is to be higher than the national flag, this is not the case with vessels nor the related facilities of yacht clubs, harbormasters' offices, etc.

On a sailing vessel, the national flag of the ship's registry (called the "ensign") is traditionally flown from the outer end of the vessel's aftermost gaff. The gaff is the spar which supports the top of a gaff-rigged sail (those trapezoidal sails now seldom seen outside of old movies and on traditional craft). The end of the gaff is called the "peak", while the top of the mast, usually a round wooden disc, is called the "truck".

Many yacht club practices are firmly rooted in naval traditions. Here, the protocol is unequivocal, from an authority no less than the U.S. Navy. Per the chapter "Display of the National Ensign at U.S. Naval Shore Activities", in NTB 13 (B) 801. b. (4) "Polemast with Crosstree and Gaff – This is commonly called a 'yacht club mast'. Displayed from gaff."

A fine discussion of the inseparable traditions of the navies and yacht clubs is found at the United States Power Squadron's website . After consultation with the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and the New York Yacht Club they summarized: "The gaff of a yacht-club-type flagpole is the highest point of honor, as is the gaff of the gaff-rigged vessel it simulates. The U.S. ensign alone is flown there. Although another flag may appear higher (at the truck of the mast), no flag is ever flown above the national ensign on the same halyard (except the worship pennant on naval ships)."

From time to time, unfortunately, offense is taken by some who have not troubled to learn the facts. The Power Squadron website relates that the Palm Coast Yacht Club had a "continuing battle" with a local veterans' group over just this issue, settled only when the Secretary of the Navy (!) was obliged to write a letter confirming the fact that in the world of yacht clubs, the highest point on the mast is not, in this case, the place of greatest honor.

More background on the this and other traditions of flags on yacht clubs is interesting reading. See the classic texts " Annapolis Book of Seamanship " by John Rousmaniere, " Chapman Piloting & Seamanship " by Charles B. Husick, and "Yachting Customs and Courtesies" by James A. Tringali.

But setting aside misunderstandings and perceived insults, the obvious question really is, why from the gaff? We can't know for sure, but it seems reasonable that since identifying the nationality of a ship from a distance was critical in wartime, the ensign needed to be large and to stream free, avoiding fouling in the rigging. This spar was also less likely to be shot away in an engagement, or carried away in a storm, as the top of any mast might be.

This is clear in this engraving of a ship contemporary with RYC's founding: a U.S. Navy ship-of-the-line, from the 1848 edition of "The Kedge-Anchor; or Young Sailors' Assistant" by William Brady, Sailing Master, USN. The ensign is flying clear and unimpeded from the gaff on the mizzen (the aft, or rear-most) mast, while other signals are displayed from the masthead and jackstaff.

If you've ever visited the USS Constitution in Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, you'll have seen that Old Ironsides flies the ensign properly, too. In fact, most modern US Navy vessels, when underway, fly the ensign from a small steel gaff up on the superstructure of the ship. (In general, though, other steamships and their successors use a different set of rules.)

click for larger image

Are there exceptions? Naturally – there were regional and personal variations. Some artwork from the colonial era shows naval vessels flying the ensign in various places. Whether the captains actually displayed the flags that way or whether this was based on the imagination of an artist many miles away is open to question.

Today, a few vessels in the Maine schooner fleet , all of which are gaff-rigged, have given up and now fly the ensign from the highest mast, having grown weary of members of the public taking offense at what is indisputably the correct protocol.

So what is the pennant at the top?

This is the "burgee" and it is each yacht club's own, unique symbol or logo. Traditionally, the burgee is a way for sailors to identify boats of their own club when away from home. Only members of a club are permitted to fly its burgee.

Riverton Yacht Club's burgee dates from the club's founding in July of 1865, and tradition holds that the similarities to the US flag reflected the patriotism which ran high in the immediate aftermath of Lincoln's assassination and the end of the Civil War.

Some early photos show RYC's burgee as a swallowtail, rather than a pennant.

What is the flagpole's history?

The RYC flagpole is a historical treasure – and a mystery. The mast and topmast of the RYC flagpole once sailed far as part of the rig of a sailing vessel of considerable size, probably a schooner . So not only does this flagpole represent the mast of a ship, it actually is the mast of a ship! Unfortunately, that tantalizing bit from the golden age of sail is all we know about its history. No one alive today knows when the club obtained the spars, nor from which vessel.

The mast is actually in two parts: the mast and the topmast. Over time, the mast itself (the lower part) has been cut down, undoubtedly for safety. Early 20th Century photos of the club show the mast as much taller and apparently unsupported by stays or shrouds as it would have been on a ship. Considering the force of the wind on this pier during storms, it's remarkable that the original, tall rig survived as long as it did. As it is, the masthead is about 60' above the deck of the pier and the top bends noticeably in strong winds. After being shortened, the proportions are now unlike they would be on a ship, where the spars generally get shorter the higher they are.

The topmast partially overlaps the mast itself, supported on two short timbers called "trestle trees". A heavy square wooden pin rests on these supports, driven through the square mortise hole in the bottom of the topmast.

Townsend Wentz prepares the topmast for lowering, October 2003.

This design was standard on all large sailing ships. It not only allowed a taller mast to be made from smaller logs, it also made a ship at sea more self-reliant. If the rig were damaged, the crew wouldn't need a crane to lower any of the higher spars for repairs or replacement, merely using a block and tackle and a capstan (or a lot of muscle). The first upper spar, as at Riverton, is called the "topmast". Larger square-rigged ships went far beyond that, with higher "topgallant" and "royal" masts not uncommon. The barkentine Gazela , berthed at Penn's Landing, has three spars on her foremast: the mast, the topmast and the topgallant (the latter pronounced something like "t'gallnt"). Gazela's crew generally lowers all the upper spars for the winter. USS Constitution is also similarly laid up for winter, with all the upper spars brought down on deck.

The upper spars could also be lowered as heavy weather approached, to bring the center of gravity of the whole rig lower. This would help keep the ship from rolling dangerously in heavy seas. This exercise was called "housing" the upper masts and an experienced crew could do this quickly, even in bad weather.

This engraving, also from "The Kedge Anchor", shows a frigate with her topmasts housed.

In more recent history, upper masts were also housed to clear bridges – a practice you can still see here today. Delaware's tall ship Kalmar Nyckel , a replica of the first Swedish ship to colonize the area, berths in the Christina River in Wilmington. To reach her wharf, she must pass under the I-495 bridge and her crew lowers her topmasts to clear it.

At Riverton we have lowered the topmast for painting and repair in recent years. Over the winter of 2003-2004 we repaired a considerable split in the topmast which was beginning to rot, gluing in a new "dutchman" of sound Douglas fir to replace the rotted area. National Casein kindly donated the epoxy for this project.

While the history of the mast itself is unknown, the other two parts, the gaff and yard, are more recent – and even quirkier. Both owe their existence to the RYC tradition of making things last and never discarding something which still may be useful. The present gaff is actually a carbon fiber windsurfer mast, installed in 2007 to replace a similarly re-purposed spar, an old boom from a Comet-class sloop, which broke the year before, having served as the club gaff for many years after its retirement from who knows how many racing seasons.

The yardarm appears to be part of a mast from a Lightning-class sailboat of unknown origin. Together, the gaff and yard are smaller than would be found on an actual ship's mast, and are mounted very differently. The weathervane at the top brings a pedigree, having been constructed by long-time member Howard Lippincott. It is soundly made of stainless steel and bronze, and is about three feet long. It is perfectly balanced and pivots on its bearing in the slightest breeze. Howard Lippincott was an honorary life member of RYC (and its oldest member) when he passed away in 2005 at the age of 85, a skilled yacht builder whose Lippincott Boat Works just inside the mouth of the Pompeston Creek turned out champion Stars and Lightnings year after year. He held a number of national and international sailing titles himself.

Roger Prichard fairs in a new piece of wood on the topmast, April 2004

Storm Signals

The expression "storm warnings" is still in common-enough usage today, but who ever sees them in use? At RYC, we try to keep this tradition alive in an informal way.

Before radio, flag signals were one of the common means of warning mariners not to venture out onto the open water when heavy weather was predicted. Flown from coast guard bases, lighthouses, and the like, a variety of shapes and colors were used at different times, indicating not only the expected strength of the wind but also the compass direction from which the storm was approaching.

At Riverton Yacht Club, we have revived the tradition of displaying the appropriate daytime flags, based on the NOAA marine forecast for upper Delaware Bay and local conditions as it seems appropriate. We use the convention once followed by the National Weather Service , which discontinued the use of flags in 1989 but has attempted to reinstate their use from time to time. Ours is only a volunteer effort, so don't assume the lack of a flag means no storm is due!

Flags on sailboats

Riverton is home to recreational craft and our boats are most often seen underway during the weekly races on Wednesday evenings and some Sunday afternoons. It may seem peculiar that none of them are flying flags at all. This is actually in accordance with the rules, which bar all flags while racing (including the national ensign). The reason for this is that racing boats do use a few important signals to communicate special situations, protests, etc. to the race committee and the fewer opportunities for error on the race course the better.

Other than while racing, there are traditional ways of flying flags, though variations abound.

Historically, say for the first 50 years of RYC's existence when all our fleet were gaff-rigged, the same rule about the national ensign was followed on a yacht just as it is on a frigate: it flies from the aftermost gaff. And just like on the club flagpole, the skipper's yacht club burgee flies from the head of the main mast. On a boat with multiple masts, such as a schooner or ketch, the owner's "private signal" flies from the head of a mast other than the main. The private signal was a flag or pennant of a design unique to the owner or family, usually with colors and symbols of personal meaning, a sort of individual logo.

For a full set of drawings of how to fly your many flags in the age when yachting meant polished brass (and a crew who polished it for you when they weren't bringing you sherry and hors d'oeuvres) see the July 1916 issue of the Rudder Magazine.

Even more pomp and ceremony of a by-gone age can be found in the "Yachtsman's Handbook" of 1912 . On page 210 is a delightful array of rules of etiquette from the New York Yacht Club's rulebook, straight from the era of the Titanic. If you ever wondered how to indicate that the crew is at dinner, or felt unsure when it was proper to fire a saluting cannon …

The rules for modern sailboats are far easier to follow. Since few boats have gaffs, the most traditional way of flying the ensign is from the leech of the aftermost sail or from a backstay, at about the same height as the peak of a gaff would have been. More commonly, and thankfully much simpler, the ensign can now fly from a small staff mounted on the rail at the stern of the boat, as it does on a powerboat.

The club burgee flies from the boat's main masthead, or actually from above the masthead on a small flagstaff which goes up with the flag (usually called a " pig-stick ").

An old custom which is still easy to follow is to "dress ship" for festive occasions. This is often seen at traditional craft festivals, when naval vessels are being commissioned, and on holidays. A whole set of signal flags is tied together and run up to the mastheads, giving even the most fearsome warship a rakish giddiness. It's generally the only way the full alphabet (and more) of signal flags is used today, which is reason enough to do it. Some boating suppliers still sell whole sets of signal flags for the purpose.

Flags on Commercial Vessels

While no large vessels still pass Riverton under sail (excepting New Jersey's tall ship the AJ Meerwald on her annual visits to Burlington), the diesel tugs and huge bulk carriers on the river follow today's formal flag rules scrupulously. Here are some of the flags you may see passing us:

Ensign: Tugs generally follow the sailboat tradition of flying the national flag from a small gaff, usually high on the superstructure aft of the stack. This may be partly tradition, but it also has the very practical advantage of keeping the aft deck of the tug clear of obstructions to the towing hawser. Larger freighters inevitably carry their ensigns from a staff on the stern rail (interestingly, the lowest point on the vessel!). Look closely and you'll see flags from all over the world pass us on the river. The fact that many of these vessels have never visited their country of registry just adds a bit of irony to these traditions.

Courtesy Flag: Foreign-flagged vessels will always fly the United States flag from a halyard high up on the starboard side of the superstructure. This is not only a formal courtesy of recognizing they are in US waters, it indicates that the vessel has cleared customs and so is here legally. Foreign sailboats, such as all the Canadian "snowbirds" who transit the lower Delaware and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal each winter, will all be seen flying the US flag from the starboard spreader of the mainmast.

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Additional Resources

United States Flag Code— USC Title 4, Chapter 1

Title 4, Chapter 1 §5, Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005

FECom Graphics from the Operations Manual

Flags Of The World —more that 30,000 webpages and 56,000 images devoted to the study of flags

Flag Etiquette in Canada —website of the State Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Program, within the State Ceremonial and Corporate Events Directorate

International Burgee Registry —free service with displays of yacht club & squadron burgees

Definitive Guide to Flag Display

In 1998, USPS in consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, New York Yacht Club and other yachting authorities developed an updated nautical flag code, How to Fly Flags, Nautical flag Display for use on private vessels. The new nautical flag code is flexible enough to accommodate the wide variation in construction of modern pleasure craft. New configurations of boats, riggings and the like have slightly modified the traditional points of honor. Use of antennas, fishing towers, outriggers, sailboat backstays, portside halyards, and double hoisting are all new to the nautical flag code. The booklet is available from USPS Headquarters and various marine retailers around the country for around seven dollars.

Current Errata Information (as of 1 Sep 04) for the 1998 Edition

Good Flag, Bad Flag - How to Design a Great Flag

Ted Kaye, a member of the North American Vexillological (the study of flags) Association NAVA , has created a electronic document that can be viewed on-line, or downloaded and printed, that graphically demonstrates the differences between good flag design and bad flag design. The document uses actual flags to demonstrate the five basic principles that should be used in creating any new flag: 1. keep it simple; 2. use meaningful symbolism; 3. use 2-3 basic colors; 4. no lettering or seals; and 5. be distinctive or be related. While these principles apply to any type of flag (i.e., organization, city, tribe, company, family, neighborhood, or even country), USPS squadrons and districts contemplating new flag designs should review the document carefully because these principles are used by the Flag & Etiquette Committee when reviewing new flags.

Good Flag, Bad Flag—How to Design a Great Flag

What is the proper way to fly flags on a gaff rigged pole?

This is the most frequently asked question received by the USPS Flag & Etiquette Committee. Gaff-rigged poles are used by navies, boaters and yacht clubs around the world. Onshore, the "yacht club style flagpole" with a gaff represents the mast of a ship. A gaff rigged pole may, or may not have a yardarm or crosstree. More...

Floral Version of Old Glory

This 2002 floral flag was planted by the Bodger Seed Company as a tribute after the September 11, 2001 tragedy. It was740 feet long and 390 feet wide (maintaining the proper flag dimensions described in Executive Order #10834 .) It was located near Vandenberg AFB and covers 6.65 acres. The flag was the first floral flag to be planted with 5 pointed stars comprised of White Larkspur. Each star is 24 feet in diameter, each stripe is 30 feet wide. The flag was estimated to contain more than 400,000 Larkspur plants with 4-5 flower stems each for a total of more than 2 million flowers. Between the field where the flag was planted there are 9+ miles of flower fields that go all the way to ocean. The flowers are grown by seed companies. (Photo courtesy of Bill Morson)

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HONGKONG Senior Member

What'e wrong with these pics? And, on another note, my apologies for disappearing from the "Yacht Trivial Pursuit - Photo Round" your answers are, of course correct COENHARBOR. My lesson learned, never, never let your sons use your computer "just to look at something"

Attached Files:

100_3445.jpg, 100_3448.jpg, 100_3451.jpg, 100_3453.jpg.

Ken Bracewell Senior Member

The top two photos show the US Flag in the position where the club burgee should be flown. There is nothing wrong with the last two pictures so long as the guests aboard are Bahamians. - You know... it's truly amazing how many sport fishermen carry Bahamiams aboard full time in South Florida

Seafarer Senior Member

Ken Bracewell said: The top two photos show the US Flag in the position where the club burgee should be flown. Click to expand...

Seafarer said: US flag etiquette dictates that the US flag is always highest on the same pole or halyard, and if on separate poles, it is flown highest on a taller(the tallest) pole. The club burgee does not go higher than the US flag, nor does another nation's flag when flown simultaneously (another nation's flag gets flown at the same height as the US flag on US soil). From a pure flag etiquette standpoint, when other flags are flown simultaneously in the US, the other flags may be smaller but not larger than the US flag. Click to expand...

YachtForums Administrator

This thread has been moved into the General Discussion Forum. Good topic.

Ken Bracewell said: The position of the U.S. Flag on a mast which also has a gaff is a controversial one. According to long-standing maritime tradition, the gaff is the position of honor on a ship and thus is where the U.S. Flag should be flown. Yachting organizations, following the tradition of the seas, erect land-based, gaff-rigged flagpoles and fly the U.S. Flag at the gaff as well, feeling that the gaff is the position of honor on the pole. The U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7(f), which postdates this maritime tradition, states that “when flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag’s right.” Alternatively, you can visit the US Power Squadron www.usps.org/national/fecom/faq/gaffpole.html Click to expand...

K1W1 Senior Member

Seafarer said: US flag etiquette dictates that the US flag is always highest on the same pole or halyard, and if on separate poles, it is flown highest on a taller(the tallest) pole. Click to expand...

K1W1 said: Hi, Does this apply all over the world? Click to expand...

NYCAP123 Senior Member

Flag Etiquette Most of the boats I captain fly only the American flag, a YC burgee, courtesy flag, quarentine, etc. so please excuse my ignorance. I recentlly began working a US flagged 62' express cruiser (In U.S. waters). She flies the US flag on the port side aft roof forward of the transom, and (2) smaller foreign flags (representing the owner's countries of origin) lower and on the transom plus a YC burgee on the forward jackstaff. Before we start ticking people off can anyone enlighten me to the proper placement for these flags. (The foreign flags are on clamp-on staffs which can be moved to the mast.

Hi, Where is the yacht registered? I don't see any reason why anyone would fly two foreign flags ( assuming they are courtesy flags at the same time) other than poor procedure.

The yacht is U.S. registered. These are not courtesy flags, but rather honoring the owner's home or birth country. To the best of my knowledge there is no proper place for such flags, but is there a permissable place? I've seen such flags flown from the halyards of sailboats and from the outriggers of Sport Fishers. I can't really dictate to an owner of a small craft that he remove such a flag, but there are places where we are certainly going to hear about it. Any suggestions?

Hi, I see you edited your original post before replying to mine. Have a look at Post No 2 by Ken Bracewell and the photo right above it in Post 1. Although you won't have the same outriggers is your setup similar? Also, here is another very informative page from the USPS- No Cap, not the Post Office

"None is so blind as he who will not see". Thanks K1W1. Just rechecked post 1 from Hong Cong and got my answer. Your page from the USPS didn't get through?? I had checked Chapmans, but that just left me confused. I've been running hard for the past 18 days. Mind is frying. Thanks for the 2nd set of eyes.

Hi, Sorry about getting your hopes up and then not giving you the goods http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html

ychtcptn Senior Member

Megayacht flag etiquette- vessel flag country= Aft, centerline on the main flagstaff. Yacht Club= Fwd centerline jackstaff (if the yacht has no yacht club affiliation the house/owners flag is sometimes flown here) Country courtesy flag= Stbd. spreader Owner country of origin= Port spreader Q- Stbd spreader, with out the country courtesy flag. Owners flag= centerline, as high up as possible. Flags flown from 0800 to Sunset.

I learned several new things today. It's a good day. Thanks for supplying some of it.

ychtcptn said: Megayacht flag etiquette- vessel flag country= Aft, centerline on the main flagstaff. Yacht Club= Fwd centerline jackstaff (if the yacht has no yacht club affiliation the house/owners flag is sometimes flown here) Country courtesy flag= Stbd. spreader Owner country of origin= Port spreader Q- Stbd spreader, with out the country courtesy flag. Owners flag= centerline, as high up as possible. Flags flown from 0800 to Sunset. Click to expand...

Fishtigua Senior Member

Flag ettiquette, gotta luv it. In the mid 80's I worked on a US flagged 110' Bennetti but the only non-Brit aboard was gay-Ray, the chef. We used to have to wake him up early on his only day off to put the Sunday flag on the foredeck. Most times he felt very un-patriotic and needed a shave. (Blame skipper Kenny Argent for that) Then sailing up to the Straits of Hormez off Oman the US Fifth Fleet was anchored off the coast when we were passing on a 65m Blomm & Voss yacht. There was a little tension around there at the time so when the deckcrew on the aircraftcarrier saw us, all the radios of the fleet must have squarked as flags were dipped all over the place (just in case, if in doubt - Salute. Sir Yes Sir) We then had to run out on deck to put up our Antiguan ensign just to dip it to the Admiral. He then ran up his flag which meant we had to run up the Royal Standard of our guest. It was the worst hand ever in Maritime Texas Hold'em. Total panic for nothing.

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Boating flag traditions and etiquette.

Information on Boating Flag Traditions and Etiquette

Back in the days before radio and other communications devices, flags were the primary means for communicating on the seas. As a result, strict protocol was adapted to ensure accurate communication and avoid misinterpretation of signalling intentions. Today, the tradition has much less significance because of modern electronics but those electronics can and do fail. Knowing how to follow acceptable protocol, and signals could save you in an emergency situation.

Text from Chapman's The following text was scanned and edited from the 61st addition of "Chapman Piloting Seamanship & Small Boat Handling", Elbert S. Maloney, Hearst Marine Books, New York, 1995. Graphics Restrictions Note, flags, ensigns, pennants, or burgee may not be drawn to exact scale. In many cases, it was necessary to compromise their scale in order to meet the restrictions of the media. Contents of this page

• United States Ensign
• United States Yacht Ensign
• United States Power Squadrons® Ensign
• Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons Ensign
• United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Ensign
• Coast Guard Auxiliary Operational Ensign
• Yacht Club Burgee
• USPS Squadron Burgee
• Owner's Private Signal
• USPS Officer Flags
• USCG Auxiliary Officer Flags
• Size of Flags
• Raising and Lowering Flags

Dressing Ship

• Honoring Other National Flags
• Half-Masting Flags

Shop United States Ensign flags here

Shop United States Yacht Ensign flags here

Shop United States Power Squadron Ensign flags here

Shop United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Ensign flags here

USPS Squadron Burgee A distinguishing USPS Squadron burgee which has been authorized by USPS may be flown in lieu of a club burgeeand from the same positions. This burgee may be flown by day only, or both day and night. Get a free quote online now for custom club burgees.

Owner's Private Signal This is generally swallow-tailed in shape, but may be rectangular or pennant-shaped. It is flown from the masthead of a single-masted motorboat or sailboat, or from the aftermost mast of motor or sailing vessels with two or more masts. It may be flown by day only, or day and night. A mastless motorboat may fly this signal from the bow staff in place of a club burgee. Get a free quote online now for custom owner's private signal flags.

Officer Flags Flags designating yacht club or USPS officers are rectangular in shape, blue (with white design) for senior officers; red for next lower in rank; and white (with blue design) for lower ranks. Other officer flags may be swallow-tailed or triangular in shape. An officer flag is flown in place of the owner's private signal on all rigs of motor and sailing vessels except single-masted sailboats, when it is flown in place of the club burgee at the masthead. On smaller motor boats without a signal mast, a USPS officer flag may be flown from a radio antenna, preferably to starboard, either singly or beneath the USPS ensign.

USCG Auxiliary Officer Flags The flag of a USCG Auxiliary officer flies day and night when the officer is on board. On a vessel without a mast, it is flown at the bow staff in place of the USCG Auxiliary ensign; on a vessel with a mast, it is flown at the starboard spreader. Past officer burgees are displayed in the same manner. Only one officers pennant may be flown at a time, and an incumbent officers pennant invariably takes precedence. When the Auxiliary ensign is displayed, it is considered improper to hoist a guest, owner absent, meal, cocktail, or novelty flag.

Shop Union Jack flags here

Size of Flags Although flags come in a fixed, standardized series of sizes, there are guidelines which will help in selecting the proper size for your boat. Keeping in mind that flags are more often too small than too large, use the rules given below, and round upward to the nearest larger standard size. The flag at the stern of your boat-U.S. ensign, yacht ensign, or USPS ensign-should be one inch on the fly for each foot of overall length. The hoist will normally be two-thirds of the fly, but some flags such as the USCG Auxiliary ensign have different proportions. Other flags such as club burgees, officer flags, and private signals for use on sailboats should be approximately 1/2 inch on the fly for each foot of the highest mast above the water. For flying on powerboats, these flags should be roughly 5/8 inch on the fly for each foot of overall length. The shape and proportions of pennants and burgees will be prescribed by the organization to which they relate. A union jack should be the same size as the corresponding portion of the national ensign.

Here is a handy chart to help you find what size flag you need for your vessel.

A handy guide to flying the U.S. flag on a boat can be found on our flag etiquette page.

Raising and Lowering Flags "Colors are made" each morning at 0800; as mentioned, at yacht club and similar organization docks or anchorages, this may be signaled by a morning gun. The national ensign or yacht ensign is hoisted at the stern (or set in place on its staff). This is followed by the USPS ensign at the starboard spreader (if not already flying on a day-and-night basis) provided the skipper is an active member of USPS. Then comes the club burgee or Squadron burgee at the bow, and the private signal at the masthead. (An officer flag, if flown in place of a private signal, would be flown continuously.) If the boat bears a valid USCG Auxiliary Facility decal, it would be flying the Auxiliary ensign at the masthead day and night. The USCG Auxiliary officers pennant or burgee may be flown day or night. On smaller craft, the same sequence should be followed, with the flags on their staff being set in the appropriate locations. At sunset, colors not properly flown on a day-and-night basis should be lowered in reverse sequence, the ensign at the stern always being the last to be secured.

On national holidays, at regattas, and on other special occasions, yachts often "dress ship" with International Code signal flags. The ship is dressed at 0800, and remains so dressed until evening colors (while at anchor only, except for a vessel's maiden and final voyages, and participation in a marine parade or other unique situation). We sell a string pennant set of signal flags that are great for easily dressing ship for parades and regattas. In dressing ship, the yacht ensign is hoisted at the stern staff, and the Union Jack may be displayed at the jack (bow) staff. A rainbow of flags of the International Code is arranged, reaching from the water line forward to the water line aft, by way of the bowsprit end (or stem if there's no bowsprit) and the masthead(s). Flags and pennants are bent on alternately, rather than in any indiscriminate manner. Since there are twice as many letter flags as numeral pennants, it is good practice, as in the Navy, to follow a sequence of two flags, one pennant, two flags, one pennant, throughout.

The sequence recommended here provides a harmonious color pattern throughout: Starting from forward: AB2, UJ1, KE3, GH6, IV5, FL4, DM7, PO Third Repeater, RN First Repeater, ST Zero, CX9, WQ8, ZY Second Repeater.

Honoring Other National Flags As a matter of courtesy, it is proper to fly the flag of a foreign nation on your boat when you enter and operate on its waters. There are only a limited number of positions from which flags may be displayed, and consequently when a flag of another nation is flown, it usually must displace one of the flags commonly displayed in home waters. It is not hoisted until clearance has been completed and the yellow "Q" flag has been removed, and the vessel has been granted pratique by the appropriate authorities. The following are general guidelines to follow regarding courtesy flags:

• On a mastless powerboat, the courtesy flag of another nation replaces any flag that is normally flown at the bow of the boat.
• When a motorboat has a mast with spreaders, the courtesy flag is flown at the starboard spreader.
• On a two-masted motorboat, the courtesy flag displaces any flag normally flown at the forward starboard spreader.
• On a sailboat, the courtesy flag is flown at the boat's starboard spreader, whether the United States ensign is at the stern staff, or flown from the leech. If there is more than one mast, the courtesy flag is flown from the starboard spreader of the forward mast.

Although these points serve as protocol in most waters, keep in mind that customs observed in various foreign waters differ from one another; in case of doubt, inquire locally or observe other craft from your country. As noted previously, U.S. vessels while in international or foreign waters must fly the U.S. ensign (50-star flag) at the stern or gaff or leech, rather than the USPS ensign or the yacht ensign. When the starboard spreader is used for the "courtesy ensign" of the foreign country, the USPS ensign or similar flag may be flown from the port spreader; if the vessel has multiple flag halyards on the starboard spreader, the USPS ensign is flown there, inboard from the courtesy ensign. The U.S. ensign, club burgee, officer flag, and private signal are flown as in home waters. Don't fly a foreign courtesy ensign after you have returned to U.S. waters. Although this may show that you've "been there," it is not proper flag etiquette.

Half-Masting Flags A flag is flown at half-mast (or half-staff) in respect for a deceased person. Although there are no laws governing the half-masting of flags on private vessels, or at private homes and clubs, most citizens follow the flag display customs that are used on U.S. Government buildings and ships. The only authorities who can direct that the U.S. ensign be flown at half-mast are the President and the governor of a state, territory or possession. The duration varies from a day or so up to 30 days, determined by the deceased person's position. It is not correct for a yacht club commodore, or official of a similar organization, to order the U.S. ensign to be flown at half-mast to honor a deceased member -- only the burgee or organization flag may be half-masted. On Memorial Day, the U.S. flag is flown at half-mast until 1220, the time of the final gun of the traditional 21-gun salute commencing at noon. On a simple flagstaff-as at the stern of a vessel or a flagpole ashore-the "half-mast" position is approximately three/fourths the way up to the top. If the flagpole has a yardarm, or yardarm and gaff, the half-mast position is that which is level with the yardarm. When the U.S. flag is displayed at half-mast on a vessel, other flags remain at their normal position. When it is half-masted ashore, fly only a private signal or club burgee at masthead of a gaff-rigged mast with it. When the U.S. ensign is to be flown at half-mast, it should be hoisted fully and smartly, then lowered ceremoniously to the half-mast position. Before lowering, it is again raised to full height and lowered from there. Some yacht clubs follow the practice of flying the burgee at half-mast for a period of mourning on the death of a club member. A private signal may be flown at half-mast on the death of the owner of that vessel.

You can learn even more about flag etiquette for boating at United States Power Squadrons . This group the world's largest recreational boating organization with more than 35,000 members and they teach boating courses for those just getting into power boating or sailing or anyone needing a brush up course after time away from the sport.

International Signal Flags The International Code of Signals is a system of internationally recognized alphabetical and numerical flags and pennants that can be used to communicate on the open water. The set is also known as International Code Signal and the nautical flag alphabet. Boat enthusiasts also use the flags and pennants in fun ways to decorate their homes and boats. We sell 3 varieties of these flags plus a full set of string pennants that are perfect for dressing ship. Our flags come either with grommets, rope and snap hook or rope and toggle for the traditionalists. Full kits or individual flags are available.

Ice Yacht Clubs

• Carthage Ice Yacht Club / Chelsea Yacht Club (NY)
• Chickawaukee Ice Boat Club (ME)
• Cleveland Ice Yacht Club (OH)
• Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club (WI)
• Grand Traverse Ice Yacht Club (MI)
• Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club (MI)
• Hudson River Ice Boat Club (NY)
• Lake Ronkonkoma Ice Boat And Yacht Club (NY)
• Long Branch Ice Boat & Yacht Club (NJ)
• New England Ice Yacht Association (MA)
• New Hamburg Ice Yacht Club (NY)
• North Shrewsbury Ice Boat & Yacht Club (NJ)
• Orange Lake Ice Yacht Club (NY)
• South Side Ice Yacht Club (WI)
• Tappan Zee Ice Yacht Club (NY)

Traditions and Protocols

Doing things well in a consistent and proper fashion is a way of showing pride in yourself, your club, and your boating hobby as well as showing respect to your fellow yachtsmen around the Chesapeake Bay.   Also, traditions and protocols allow us to run events smoothly, effectively mark special occasions, and provide connection back to our founders and forward to the next generation. To this end, the CBYCA collects, monitors, and exchanges information about traditions and protocols of interest to member clubs.   Listed below (in no particular order) answers to commonly asked questions and information that we feel you and your yacht club will find useful. Please find your answer below.  If you are still in need of help email  Captain Protocol

Captain Protocol

Term for an appointed CBYCA officer, committee, or article concerned with yacht club customs, traditions, practices, and protocols to provide uniformity and socially acceptable standards for operations of Clubs

Nameplate Etiquette

Yacht clubs love tradition and one of the great traditional rules is “right rank”.  Just as you wear the collar pin of the office you hold on the right, so also belongs the corresponding badge. So, if you are dressed to represent your office as Secretary of XYZ Yacht Club, then your XYZ Yacht Club badge is worn on the right, while your CBYCA, Power Squadron, PRYCA, CCC, DRYL, etc. badges are worn on the left.   How many badges are worn is up to the wearer or the parent organization.   If you wear more than one badge on the right side (maybe because you ran out of space on your jacket) the badge corresponding to the office you are representing should be the highest.   Badges should be worn above pockets but devices on the pocket are OK when multiple devices are worn – the idea is to look balanced. An often heard problem among yacht club folks is   “my badge sags on my shirt, what can I do?”   The trick the military types typically use is to cut out some stiff material from something like a gift box, place it behind the shirt material, and pin the badge through it – takes a bit of practice to get right – don’t pick a color that shows through the shirt.

Why worry about where and how flags are flown?   Well, before radio and electric lights, flags were how boats communicated at a distance and have become the traditional way that boats tell something of themselves, the owners, and the guests on board.   There are many complications and variations but the main rule to remember is the “right rank” rule. So what rank is right for your boat? It is the one that corresponds to the “official” burgee flown at the bow (power only) or masthead (sail or power). Sailboats may also fly the boat’s “official” burgee on a Starboard hoist. “Official” in this case means the club or organization that you want your boat to represent. It is usually your home yacht club but may be changed for reasons such as cruising with another club to which you belong.

On a boat the place of Honor for the United States National Ensign is at the aft on a pole angled at about 30 degrees. The display standard at most yacht clubs is a spreading yardarm with gaff.  The Ensign is flown from angled gaff with the Club Flag flown on the highest vertical mast. If a yardarm is not available, traditions for display of the United States Ensign is to hoist it on the highest pole of the facility. For more information on mast and flag handling see Flags and Opening Day Presentations.

The flags you fly to Starboard represent the offices of all aboard corresponding to your “official” club burgee or organization flag.  Flags flown to Port are, in general, any other burgees or office flags of the owners or guests aboard the boat. Always remember to group the burgees and offices together.   For example, you should expect to see the Ventnor YC burgee with a Commodore flag under it followed by the Bristol YC burgee with the CBYCA Delegate flag under it if the Ventnor Commodore and the Bristol Delegate or Alternate were aboard that boat. To put the flags and burgees in the right order, remember “place higher in order of rank” and   “higher in order of most to least represented”. For example, club office flags of any rank are flown above the Past Commodore Flag because Past Commodore is a personal flag vs. the many represented by a club office flag.   Another example is that DRYL, PRYCA, CCC and CBYCA flags, representing regional organizations, would be flown above club burgees.   An NBF flag, representing a national organization, would be flown above CCC and CBYCA flags. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules. Also be aware of additional rules of other organizations such as the U.S. Power Squadrons and Coast Guard Auxiliary. For detailed flag guidance, there are many good references such as CHAPMANS and the U.S. Power Squadrons guide.

Naval etiquette for men or women permits salutes only in uniform and only when covered (i.e. when a hat is worn). When uncovered in uniform or in civilian attire, proper naval etiquette requires coming to attention but no salute. When uncovered in uniform or when in civilian attire, salute the U.S. Flag with hand over heart.

There is a strong desire by many to salute the Bridge (or Quarterdeck) Officer during a yacht club ceremony, hat or no hat. Among many Chesapeake Bay area clubs, it has become acceptable, when in uniform, to salute the Bridge Officer when “Coming Aboard” during indoor ceremonies where hats are not worn. Host clubs desiring greater formality with strict adherence to naval etiquette should remind their guests in invitations and flyers that representing officials in uniform are requested to wear hats during introductions. On such occasions, host club officer(s) manning the Bridge also should be wearing hats to properly receive the salutes. Those who are not comfortable with salutes can show respect to the host club by pausing at attention for a moment at the appropriate spot. Never respond with a salute unless one is given to you.

General Etiquette

When attending or participating in any club event, the chief thing to keep in mind either as a visitor or club member is to act with courtesy and respect to others.   There are times when we wish to mark a special occasion though certain customs, traditions, and protocols.   Even if some of these things may be “old hat” to you personally, keep in mind that each ceremony we attend is special and unique to the host club, its organizers, and honored guests and that we should always work together to ensure the occasion is the best it can be for everyone involved.  Please consider the following points next time you attend a function:

• When someone is speaking, be quiet and attentive to the speaker.  If you must carry on a conversation during a speech, withdraw from the ceremony area.   Although everyone is anxious and antsy by the time the Commodore speaks, remember that this is a special and unique moment for the host club and its members. On the other hand, we are there to celebrate fun and good fellowship on the water which means a certain amount of conversation and “carrying-on” is fine as long it does not detract from, delay, or disrupt the ceremony.
• Always dress appropriately for the occasion, especially if you will be part of the ceremony. If you are wearing a yacht club traditional or blazer uniform, ensure it is complete and properly worn. For example, there should be no shirttails out and no mismatched clothing such as a uniform shirt with gym pants or shorts. Never insult the host club or embarrass your own club by being introduced and rendering honors in sloppy, inappropriate, or improper attire. Only in the most unusual circumstances, such as fighting a boat fire (this really happened at Bodkin YC during their 2000 Flag Raising) is there a good excuse not to look your best.
• If you want to make a humorous gesture or demonstration, check with the folks running the ceremony first. It is very rude to do what you want without first checking with the host.  Act with restraint. This is a judgment area. The more far out you are the more likely you might offend some of the folks in attendance.   For presentations at the podium of a plaque, burgee, etc., you need not check with the hosts first unless you are planning something extreme.  When in doubt, ask first.
• BE ON TIME. Allow time to register – the hosts are working hard to keep things organized. Be at the starting line when needed. Don’t make the hosts have to herd you into position. If you are late, never demand special consideration. The hosts will line you up at their convenience and in their way, not yours. There is no alphabetical precedence for late arrivals.
• NO LAST MINUTE SPECIAL REQUESTS.   For example, if you have to speak or be introduced out of order, work it out with the host club well ahead of time.
•  Host clubs must START ON TIME AND KEEP THE CEREMONY MOVING, especially if there are multiple events that day at different clubs that many of the guests will be attending. In turn, if the events are reasonably scheduled and coordinated, guests should stay for the entire ceremony. Try to remain, to the maximum practical extent (it can get hot and nature calls), in the VIP seating area until the ceremony is over.

Uniforms and Attire

In addition to guidance found the CBYCA yearbook and other sources, keep the following pointers in mind:

• Shorts:   Shorts can be part of the traditional yacht club uniform. Dress shorts are acceptable for men or women as long as they match the rest of the uniform (color, texture, weave, material, etc.). They should have belt loops and pockets and be worn with a white uniform belt and buckle. If your club likes cuffed uniform shorts, then all should wear cuffed shorts – no mixing. Most of the worlds Navies have a shorts uniform (the Brits look especially sharp) and the U. S. Navy has had it from time to time. Whatever your club chooses to do, make every effort to have your representatives match each other (unless they are dressed in the uniform of another organization). An exception to this is that men may wear long pants while women wear shorts or skirts. However, on such an occasion, the women should match each other (i.e. shorts OR pants OR skirts – no mixing).
• Skirts:  For women, skirts are always appropriate and are preferred for formal occasions with ankle length skirts worn for the most formal occasions.
• Non-traditional uniforms:  Clubs with non-traditional yacht club uniforms (e.g. blazers and slacks) may elect to follow the same rules and protocols (e.g. saluting and hat, no hat – if your club uniform has a hat) as clubs with traditional naval style uniforms. Otherwise, they should follow “civilian” protocols.
• Civilian Attire:  Normal civilian protocols always apply, even if you are a part of the ceremony. Men remove hats indoors, during the National Anthem, and memorial for the departed. No saluting unless you really feel it is appropriate.       If you are introduced and “come aboard” as part of the ceremony, you should be dressed in appropriate attire that is respectful of the host club and the ceremony. Civilians “coming aboard” should use the hand over heart salute for the ensign and pause at attention before the OOD. To avoid awkwardness, you may wish to “request permission to come aboard”, after which the OOD responds with “come aboard”.
• Uniform of the Day:  Your Commodore or senior officer attending determines your club uniform of the day and should ensure that your club wears attire that is appropriate and respectful. Except when an individual is dressed to match the uniform of another organization, your club representatives should match each other to the maximum extent practical.
• Cover and Caps:    All persons in uniform should have a cover (hat) which conforms to the uniform. IE: Man’s Uniform + Man’s Cover, Woman’s Uniform + Ladies Cap.  Covers and caps are worn equally outdoors and when given commands to un-cover/cover.  It is established that women customarily wear hats within buildings, such as at religious ceremonies or services and at public gatherings or social events indoors and this follows in military traditions as in civilian life.  A woman’s hat or cover is considered part of her dress and is not removed, except when work or other labors would so dictate such as in a classroom or where it would be an encumbrance to perform a task.
• Feel comfortable also to wear some other form of garment or cover at various types of religious service which may require a shawl, vale or removal of foot wear.   The military conforms to custom as long as it does not affect the mission.

Honor Guard Salute in Group

Only the senior person in the group returns the honor guard salute.   The reasons for the senior person only salute to an honor guard are: 1) Salutes, as a matter of courtesy, are always returned,   2) As each yacht club group passes through, the honor guard is rendering honor to the organization, not the individuals passing through, 3)   The senior person acts on behalf of the organization, and   4) The individuals passing through form a unit representing their organization – the senior person acts on behalf of the unit (e.g. like an army platoon leader saluting on behalf of his platoon). This interpretation is also consistent with the commonly practiced yacht club custom that only the senior officer salutes the bridge while the rest of the group lines up, followed by a step forward out of formation where each individual salutes when introduced and recognized.

Please note that the senior person holds the salute until exiting the Honor Guard formation. The Honor Guard holds the salute until the last person in the organization has exited the Honor Guard formation. Under no circumstances should the Honor Guard drop their salute before the senior person has dropped their salute.

Coming Aboard and Rendering Honors

Another yacht club custom (often used for Opening Day/Flag Raising), which reflects nautical and naval traditions, is the approach to the Bridge to render honors.   The speakers stand, usually near the yardarm when outdoors, represents the Bridge (or Quarterdeck) of the host club where the Officer of the Deck (OOD) is standing watch. In yacht club ceremonies, the OOD is the officer who accepts and returns salutes and other courtesies as well as granting the visitors the traditional permission to come aboard.   The OOD is usually not the Master of Ceremonies because it is awkward to run the show and also be in it. At opening ceremonies, the OOD is usually the Commodore.

The typical yacht club ceremony follows the naval tradition of coming aboard ship where the ensign (U.S. Flag) is saluted at the top of the gangway, and then the OOD is saluted with a request for permission to come aboard. Unlike when passing as a group through the honor guard, all salute (if covered and in uniform) the ensign because ranks are temporarily broken to “cross the gangway”. The unit reforms on the Bridge (or Quarterdeck) to be introduced by the senior officer. The individual does not salute until they called from ranks to be recognized. If not in uniform, a person may salute the ensign with hand over heart or by pausing, facing the ensign, and coming to attention.   The group salute often seen at the end of a visiting club introduction and remarks is a formal rendering of honors from a group in formation and provides for a graceful (hopefully) and ceremonious exit.   The group salute is reminiscent of the naval tradition of “manning the rails” where passing ships exchange group salutes of crewmembers assembled at attention on the side facing a passing ship or place of honor.   The senior officer of the group leads the salute with the words “XYZ Yacht Club, Hand Salute”. The group salutes in unison on the word “salute”.   The senior officer then says “Ready, two” On the word “two” the group drops salute, turns and heads toward the beverage cooler.

Precedence of  Officers

The line up of officers is as follows:

• Vice Commodore
• Rear Commodore
• Fleet Captain
• Fleet Chaplain
• Fleet Surgeon
• Senior Board Member -to- Junior Board Member
• Immediate Past Commodore
• Most Senior Past Commodore -to- Most Junior Past Commodore

Past Commodores should line up and be introduced oldest to newest. The Immediate Past Commodore (IP/C) should be last.   However, many clubs introduce the IP/C after current officers because the IP/C is a current Board Member.

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Yacht clubs has appointed committee members with specific function and for each of these positions they are honored with a flag. Most Clubs host regattas, local events and national sailing and boat racing championships when these club members can be visibility on the water.

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