Flag etiquette - what goes where?

[lustyd]

That will be how it started, but when they only had two things written down the committee would have got to work.

 

[Laser310]

I am a member of several clubs, and each one stipulates that, on a sailing yacht, the club burgee is to be flown from a pig stick atop the mast.

It's not permitted to fly the burgee from a spreader.

This is not that easy to do.., and the consequence is that few boats fly the burgee, except power boaters, who are permitted to fly it from a short staff at the bow, which is quite easy to do.

One of the clubs has a different "Member Aboard" burgee, and it is permitted to fly that from a spreader - when the member is a guest aboard a non-member's yacht.

 

[st599]

I am pretty sure they had a good look around and saw a common theme there and just jotted it down. "Ah look chaps, they are all flying their yacht club flags on port. Makes sense! Because transom is for the ensign and starboard is busy with quarantine and courtesy flags!".

They didn't make it happen, they just observed and unified.

My guess anyway. Either way. Thanks all, I will put my flag on my port spreader from now on.

Burgees are meant to be at the masthead though.

 

[ShaneO]

When was that ever feasible or practical? (genuine question)

 

[dunedin]

I am a member of several clubs, and each one stipulates that, on a sailing yacht, the club burgee is to be flown from a pig stick atop the mast.

It's not permitted to fly the burgee from a spreader.

…….

Pretentious twaddle by the clubs - IMHO.
None of the sailing clubs I have been a member of bothered with such nonsense, thankfully. But they did have some very good sailors.

 

[Laser310]

Pretentious twaddle by the clubs - IMHO.
None of the sailing clubs I have been a member of bothered with such nonsense, thankfully. But they did have some very good sailors.

well.., the clubs do have good sailors; I am one of them!

but the rest i kind of agree with.

the rules date from a long time ago; 19th century in one case.., and nobody has been motivated enough to try to change them.

to the extent that flying the burgee serves a purpose; either to promote the club around the world, or just to let members know of other members in an anchorage.., we are missing out.

 

[ylop]

I am a member of several clubs, and each one stipulates that, on a sailing yacht, the club burgee is to be flown from a pig stick atop the mast.

It's not permitted to fly the burgee from a spreader.

What happens to members who do not comply? Flag etiquette is a bizarre way to make sure ordinary people find sailing obscure and inaccessible - clubs who treat it seriously presumably attract a demographic of people who love such pomp and ceremony? I wonder how much longer that will be sustainable.

 

[Laser310]

What happens to members who do not comply? Flag etiquette is a bizarre way to make sure ordinary people find sailing obscure and inaccessible - clubs who treat it seriously presumably attract a demographic of people who love such pomp and ceremony? I wonder how much longer that will be sustainable.

i have never seen anyone not comply

i imagine eventually, some one would tell them.

Particularly in older clubs - clubs , say, from the 1800's.., there tend to be traditions and practices that, to most modern observers, seem out dated and maybe even pretentious by modern standards. Certainly, in say 1880, life for people who could join yacht clubs was more formal than it is today.

but I would just say, that in most cases the members like these traditions; they enjoy and appreciate the connection with members now long gone, in an institution that was there before they were born and will be there after they are gone.

I think increasingly, people have less and less involvement with institutions that value tradition and honor any connection with the past; pretty much nobody attends church anymore, and older universities have been quick to ditch many of their traditions.

Thankfully.., nobody has to join one of these clubs, and there are clubs for all tastes.