Signal Flags

[LONG_KEELER]

I'm looking to see what flags are required for " I have shallow draft" or something like it.

To do it in alpha format would require a full length washing line. There are lots of flags for things like " I am on fire" or "I am sinking " but not for the above. I believe Charles Stock flew one on his engineless lifting keel gaffer.

Ta

 

[Poignard]

I'm looking to see what flags are required for " I have shallow draft" or something like it.

To do it in alpha format would require a full length washing line. There are lots of flags for things like " I am on fire" or "I am sinking " but not for the above. I believe Charles Stock flew one on his engineless lifting keel gaffer.

Ta

Is that a kindness to deter the unwise from following you into the shallows? ?

 

[chrishscorp]

Is that a kindness to deter the unwise from following you into the shallows? ?

If the unwise cant be bothered to look at a chart they are unlikely to decode some signal flags

 

[CM74]

Although it's probably not a very good idea, they would probably go aground before they could dig the book out!
Single letter signal "U" would be easiest - "You are standing into danger" if that were the case...

Or in the International Code of Signals:
Your could use NU "My draft is"
Or NK "There is not sufficient depth of water" perhaps?

Although anyone daft enough to follow an unknown boat into the shallows with no idea of the draft and depths probably wouldn't be decoding any signal flags!

The code is interesting though, it does have most things for most occasions... It's a big file though, and this is the American version that I found:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...gQFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3PAhi-iH9z1gyv_jLRWGqz

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Although it's probably not a very good idea, they would probably go aground before they could dig the book out!
Single letter signal "U" would be easiest - "You are standing into danger" if that were the case...

Or in the International Code of Signals:
Your could use NU "My draft is"
Or NK "There is not sufficient depth of water" perhaps?

Although anyone daft enough to follow an unknown boat into the shallows with no idea of the draft and depths probably wouldn't be decoding any signal flags!

The code is interesting though, it does have most things for most occasions... It's a big file though, and this is the American version that I found:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...gQFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3PAhi-iH9z1gyv_jLRWGqz

That link is brilliant.
There is a section titled "Draft".
I think this one might suit me.

OB "My least draft is................. then feet or metres as a number flag.

I could keep it up all Summer and it could add some colour to my lonely flag halyard.

You can even nominate a Winter or Summer draft if you want to.

I'll look a bit further and see if there are any for have a nice day, or unable to communicate by radio due to dunking.

 

[Neeves]

Flying more than one, or even one, signal flag is almost a complete waste of time. If you fly 2 flags you are assuming that the vessel you are trying to warn has a compendium of the archaic use of flags. If you are flying one flag (or more) the use of signal flags is so unusual (and most signal flags so small) that no-one will notice.

The use of signal flags today, or our size of vessel, is limited to their being decorative and meeting archaic legal requirements.

Jonathan

 

[Povremeni pomorac]

O tempora! O vexillia!

 

[Buck Turgidson]

The one time I went through the Swellies the boat in front of me was following a rib rather than the yachts in front of him. We were in a convoy of about 10 yachts all heading south on the tidal gate. My first mate pointed out that I wasn't going the same way as him. I showed him my pilot notes just as the yacht in front made a 90° turn to starboard and headed back towards the channel

 

[tillergirl]

Can't make out Charles' pennant

124-2419_IMG by Roger Gaspar, on Flickr

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Flying more than one, or even one, signal flag is almost a complete waste of time. If you fly 2 flags you are assuming that the vessel you are trying to warn has a compendium of the archaic use of flags. If you are flying one flag (or more) the use of signal flags is so unusual (and most signal flags so small) that no-one will notice.

The use of signal flags today, or our size of vessel, is limited to their being decorative and meeting archaic legal requirements.

Jonathan

And I was just about to start interviewing for a Flag Officer.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Can't make out Charles' pennant

124-2419_IMG by Roger Gaspar, on Flickr

Nice Pic.
I seem to remember reading that someone followed him cutting across the Foulness Sands and him mentioning the flag.

 

[Neeves]

And I was just about to start interviewing for a Flag Officer.

If you need your own Flag Officer on your yacht then your yacht is bigger than ours

Jonathan

 

[Stemar]

I'd be tempted, but if someone follows a cat into shallow water, there isn't a lot of hope for them.

TBH, I'd recognise a diver down or U, but I'd be stuffed if someone started waving any other flags at me. I've got a list somewhere, but by the time I've found it and worked out what they mean, it's probably going to be too late to matter.

As for what flag, is there a Southerly Owners' Club burgee? I've heard a few stories of them leading other boats astray.

 

[DanTribe]

I once had a book by Libby Purves and Paul Heiney about esoteric signals from an Edwardian yacht club. Full of useful stuff like "can you supply some quince preserve?" That would have had a code to cover your needs.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

As for what flag, is there a Southerly Owners' Club burgee? I've heard a few stories of them leading other boats astray.

 

[johnalison]

We were shouted at by a dinghy in Braye once "Can't you see - we've got a diver down". I pointed out that their signal flag was hanging down and wrapped round its pole in the windless conditions and was invisible to me. When we returned they had added a stick to hold it out.

The only two-flag signal I can remember from the Yachtsman's Weekend Book is OL = 'heave-to or I will open fire', which I am longing to use.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I once had a book by Libby Purves and Paul Heiney about esoteric signals from an Edwardian yacht club. Full of useful stuff like "can you supply some quince preserve?" That would have had a code to cover your needs.

I've been looking at CM74's link. There are some great ones we can use right now.

I have struck a mine.
Keep away.
Icebergs.
Tsunami.
Do not overtake.
My Radio Direction Finder is inoperative .
Please report me to Lloyds of London.
Icebergs.
Hostile vessel sighted.

 

[Neeves]

The 2 flag signal I recall was 'N' over 'C' - I am in distress and require immediate assistance ( or words to that effect) - it was part of the required learning process, then, to obtain a licence to be Master of a, small, vessel in Hong Kong. There was a separate 'exam' to gain the Marine Engineers licence.

Jonathan

 

[Stemar]

The only two-flag signal I can remember from the Yachtsman's Weekend Book is OL = 'heave-to or I will open fire', which I am longing to use.

What's the jetski equivalent of heaving to?

 

[Povremeni pomorac]

What's the jetski equivalent of heaving to?

Pulling out the spark plug I think.