Curious flag hoist

[MASH]

I've just passed a yacht at anchor displaying an anchor ball like a good fellow, as well as a square plain blue flag on the stbd spreaders. It looks as if the owner knows what he is about, but what on earth does that blue flag signify? It isn't a regular signal flag.

 

[Stork_III]

I've just passed a yacht at anchor displaying an anchor ball like a good fellow, as well as a square plain blue flag on the stbd spreaders. It looks as if the owner knows what he is about, but what on earth does that blue flag signify? It isn't a regular signal flag.

In my marina it means the boat is for sale, bythe onsite broker.

 

[Robert Wilson]

SWMBO has now left for home. Safe for you to come aboard, you saucy wee strumpet.

??????

 

[Leighb]

Might signify that it is a committee boat on station on the Finish Line.

 

[Dingbull]

I've just passed a yacht at anchor displaying an anchor ball like a good fellow, as well as a square plain blue flag on the stbd spreaders. It looks as if the owner knows what he is about, but what on earth does that blue flag signify? It isn't a regular signal flag.

Not on the starboard, but on the port spreaders means "Skipper not on board". A white flag would mean "Skipper is having lunch"

 

[maxi]

Race committee boat

 

[Avalon]

If the square flag is directly above or below the ball, it is a distress signal.

 

[estarzinger]

"At least as early as the first decades of the 20th century, a series of special signal flags had been adopted for use by yachts to convey certain messages. Some of these are still in use, at least in the old line yacht clubs aboard large sailboats [as well as other large vessels]. The solid blue "owner absent" flag is flown from the starboard main spreader to prevent visitors from having to pull a rowboat across the harbor in order to find out that only the hired crew is aboard to receive them. [Remember that these were invented in the days before radios and cellular telephones.]"
Joe McMillan, 19 August 2002