Who has code flags on board?

Is Medreamer a Weirdo for wanting to have his boat in rainy Northern England instead of in the med?

  • Yep, weirdo, no question- altho admittedly still has some redeeming qualities being from Yorkshire,

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No, not a weirdo, partly because he's from Yorkshire, also cos I fancy my boat much nearer in UK not

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Bit of a weirdo calling himself Meddreamer AND the sailing boat thing, the Yorkshireness only just s

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
B

BlueSkyNick

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Apr 2003
Messages
11,766
Location
Near a marina, sailing club and pub
Visit site
I keep a full set of flags on my shopping list but they always slip below something more important. This is mainly because I can't see the benefit. In particular, if there is an emergency, I am going to be too busy dealing with it or communicating by VHF to bother hoisting the correct pennant.

So am I in the majority or minority?
 
We carry them, but then they are essential if you want to dress all over.

A friend had an engine failure in Holland in a sailing boat a couple of years ago, and hoisted code flag D "Keep clear of me"; I am manoeuvring with difficulty". No one paid any attention!

Macmillan Reeds Almanac says "For many years flags were the only way to pass messages at sea, and although this function has now been largely superceded by radio, flags remain a useful way of expressing identity - by national ensigns, club burgees, etc." They don't seem to suggest you should use the code flags any more.
 
I once asked a friend who works on commercial freighter if they would care to answer a proper flag signal and he said they probably would - "just because it's so unusual today they would become curious".
 
Same as BigNick; I have them on the permament wish list, somewhere below the new engine (and I've put that off for 21 years now!)

Ships do use B, G and H all the time, along with Q but quite why, nobody seems to know. For example, any containership coming from East Asia is going to have a couple of boxes of fireworks on No 1 hatch; so she flies B...
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ships do use B, G and H all the time, along with Q but quite why, nobody seems to know.

[/ QUOTE ]
Don't forget Alpha. Usually made of tin-plate and fixed permanently to the back of big RIBs.
 
I have three sets (well two and a bit acshully) 'cos the look pretty, and MrFlag was doing a clearout at silly prices.

I use it to write rude messages to Authority - but nobody can read them. Even had a nice retired Senior Naval Person visiting some time ago; and he couldn't read a nice welcome message...

Until Mr Hollamby emasculated our signatures, there was a use for a signal flag at the bottom of my posts - but I expect nobody noticed....
 
strange to have a poll that doesn't allow votes /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

we picked up a set at a jumble. total usage to date is dressing overall a couple of times (it's one of the rules of the ARC that you must do it in port!)

i have a couple of separate Qs as they tend to wear out and/or fall overboard.

i also carry a copy of the international code so can translate the odd messages saddos like to fly. sometimes causes amusement like when a careless hand picked up the wrong red & yellow flag and instead of RY (pass at low speed) hoisted OY (the port is mined).
 
For years I carried a huge D flag. I used it as the heads 'door' and thought it might be useful one day. It was never used for anything other than the heads door. I think if you ever needed to signal with a flag it would have to be very oversized so that it stood out as not just another burgee.
 
Small commercial vessels are no longer required to carry them.Hardly anyone recognises them or pays any attention if they do

I think a book listing the flag signals would be of more use than the flags themselves.
 
At 60 odd quid a set, I think there is a gap in the market for some very cheap ones. I had them on previous boats, but I am not bothered anymore.
Now some smart @rse will give us a link to some reasonably priced ones I hope /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Jim
 
Yes .... full + few extras

Only cause I was at sea and also have a copy of Interntaional Code of Signals .... so I can actually know what the hell I fly or see !!!

Have dressed ship twice .... once for a Regatta, other for ex-wife's Birthday......(there was supposed to be a third - Day of official freedom - Divorce- but I was away on the day !!!!)

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Oh by the way - Poll is still locked and no voting .....
 
On the subject of flags, has anybody noticed that dive boats use "A" flags so small that your'e on top of them before you can identify them.
 
[ QUOTE ]


Until Mr Hollamby emasculated our signatures, there was a use for a signal flag at the bottom of my posts - but I expect nobody noticed....

[/ QUOTE ] do you mean this one?
----------
xray.gif
"Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals."
----------
hammer.thumb.gif
 
Got it in one Cliff, I'm glad there's someone awake.

I seem to remember that I Bowdlerised the description "slightly"...

I must try to do something more original.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top