Flag Etiquette

[F_McMillan]

I'm kind of new to this big wobbly boat stuff but what should we be doing with out ensign?

I know it should go come down at sundown but should we take it down when racing?

Any other traditions / rules we should be aware of??

 

[DJE]

Thats about it really. Put it up when you get on the boat; take it down when you go home. At sea it stays up day and night. In harbour it comes down at sunset and goes back up when you crawl out of the hatch in the morning. At sea try dipping it to passing warships. They are supposed to dip their's in return but it rarely happens these days.
Generally removed while racing. Normally there is something in the sailing instructions to that effect.

 

[bobgosling]

There is a really helpful RYA booklet about flags & signals which only costs about a fiver. Even shows how to "dress overall" for festivals like the forthcoming Trafalgar 200 one.

 

[F_McMillan]

Thanks for info,
Current PBO has a wee pic of how to dress allover(page 11). Sadly, apart from not owning the flags, I don't think our mast is tall enough. We do have a nice array of battle flags though.

 

[LeonF]

Generally you don't fly an ensign when racing, but raise it if you retire. One should lower at sunset, but on the continent they leave them up most of the time, and now i do so as well. Have been told that the tradition of lowering at sunset was to save the thing flogging and wearing itself out when no one could see it anyway. Some of the old school navy guys can get upset to seen one flying after sunset. I prefer to leave mi ne up as it signifies someone is on board. Tradition at sailing clubs used to be that if you left your ensign up, or your fenders out on a swinging mooring, it was a round on you, but I think this has gone overboard with a lot of other practices.

 

[crms]

Also, what is the order/sequence of flags flown from yardarm halliards - I have 2 port and 2 starboard halliards - plus a masthead.

 

[Athene V30]

Masthead is senior - should fly Club / Association burgee here but many boats these days have masthead filled with electronics. Next is Stbd - burgee flown here when masthead occupied by electronics. If go abroad, courtesy Ensign goes on Stbd side and whatever you had moves to Port.

Ensign at stern - if have ketch rig sometime see at top of mizzen

 

[LeonF]

Peter what happens to those boats where they only have one flag halyard, usually starboard. I thought that the courtesy flag always took top precedence, followed by anything else ?? I am not a stickler for etiquette... as opposed to manners which I deplore the lack of...but has the flying of courtesy flags declined?? I know we had to bully a club member on a fleet trip to Holland into buying and flying one !

 

[Athene V30]

Leon

In my view the Courtesy Ensign would take precedence over any other flag. However I don't see why a club burgee shouldn't be flown UNDER the Courtesy Ensign.

Don't let me start going on EU ensigns!!

Peter