Yachtmaster - Flags

[steveej]

Hi all,

Halfway through an on-line theory course at the moment.

Does anyone know if extensive knowledge of flags need to be memorized? I'm sorted with lights and dayshapes, still learning the more advanced sound signals. But haven't really looked at the flags and they scare me.

Cheers

 

[awol]

 

[fisherman]

I had to do Hamlet's solililioquoy.......

 

[Deleted member 36384]

You need to know the code flags associated with distress and warnings.

 

[JumbleDuck]

You need to know the code flags associated with distress and warnings.

Has anyone used them in the last twenty years or so? Apart from Q and A, that is.

 

[[163233]]

Has anyone used them in the last twenty years or so? Apart from Q and A, that is.

I was wondering that. I don't imagine NC would get a response at all.

 

[awol]

Has anyone used them in the last twenty years or so? Apart from Q and A, that is.

I fly AL when I have one in the crew, then there's the numeric on the backstay when racing, and, of course, dressing overall.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Has anyone used them in the last twenty years or so? Apart from Q and A, that is.

Yes lots of people still use them.

 

[alant]

Hi all,

Halfway through an on-line theory course at the moment.

Does anyone know if extensive knowledge of flags need to be memorized? I'm sorted with lights and dayshapes, still learning the more advanced sound signals. But haven't really looked at the flags and they scare me.

Cheers

No, they are not part of the syllabus, which you can check in your RYA logbook.

 

[Poey50]

... haven't really looked at the flags and they scare me.

Vexiphobia - rare but treatable.

 

[prv]

I fly AL when I have one in the crew

I don't know what AL means (guessing "doctor on board"?), so I idly put "International code AL" into Google.






It told me the telephone dialling code for Albania

Pete

 

[alant]

I don't know what AL means (guessing "doctor on board"?), so I idly put "International code AL" into Google.






It told me the telephone dialling code for Albania

Pete

Useful then.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yes lots of people still use them.

Who and when? Apart from racing class numbers and an occasional A, I don't think I have ever seen a code flag in use. Chandlers rarely have them and if they do it's just a few odds and ends.

 

[awol]

Who and when? Apart from racing class numbers and an occasional A, I don't think I have ever seen a code flag in use. Chandlers rarely have them and if they do it's just a few odds and ends.

 

[Ric]

I wonder whether you would receive a pass from a YM examiner if you insisted on writing all written answers in flags, and answering all verbal questions in semaphore?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Both B and H are used regularly on the Clyde in addition to A

 

[[3889]]

Vexiphobia - rare but treatable.

As is vexillophobia:ambivalence:
But why would you want to treat it? Vexillophilia is a far more worrying condition.

 

[laika]

No, they are not part of the syllabus, which you can check in your RYA logbook.

I was asked (although my YM was 12 years ago). My impression from what instructors asked, what others I've spoken to were asked, and the order in which my exam questions were asked, the most important to know are:
- NC because it's one of the recognised distress signals
- N and C because you're frankly a bit of a dullard if you know NC but never asked yourself what they mean individually
- The common ones
"common ones" seem to be, (as others have mentioned), A, B, H, O and Q. You see the two flag RY ("You should proceed at slow speed when passing me") a fair bit too.

Having memorized the single flag codes (flip cards were helpful here) I was caught out when the examiner asked me what I'd fly if my vessel *wasn't* healthy and I required health clearance. Never forgotten that since of course....

The International Code of Signals can be found online if you're interested in more than just the single flag codes.

 

[bigwow]

Good luck with the morse code test

 

[JumbleDuck]

Having memorized the single flag codes (flip cards were helpful here) I was caught out when the examiner asked me what I'd fly if my vessel *wasn't* healthy and I required health clearance. Never forgotten that since of course....

As a mathematician I'd fly a Q flag with a bar above it. Is that the right answer or should I be thinking of Winter Holiday?