Flag Etiquette??

[Dmarina]

Is it proper to display the U.S. Flag from the stern while sailing (underway)??? According to Chapman, it is to be flown 2/3's up the sail. Thanks for any imput.

[Delirious]

A staff on the transom is the place of honor on a sailboat. If you feel so inclined you can attach a flag to the leech (and then remove the transom flag - only one U.S. flag on a boat at a time). Generally this snags up the flag on the backstay when tacking with modern sloops so we've gotten away from this practice as a group.

[camaraderie]

This article should prove helpful...
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/seaman...ying-flag.html

[vega1860]

In earlier times the ensign was customarily flown from the gaff peak of the aftermost sail while at sea and from a staff at the stern while moored or anchored. On modern marconi rigs obviously, there is no gaff so yachtsmen either flew the ensign from the backstay or sewn to the leach of the aftermost sail at a position approximating the peak of the gaff on a gaff rig.

Custom has evolved with boat design. Today, most fly the ensign from a stern staff at all times. On my boat the solar panels interfere with the flag on the stern staff so I hoist it to a block seized to the backstay two thirds of the way up.

There are no hard and fast rules but the national ensign should always be flown aft of, not necessarily above, all other flags. If you travel internationally, the cortesy flag of the host country goes at the starboard spreader. If not, you may fly your state flag or yacht club burgee there but never the national ensign. It is also said that you shold not fly two flags on the same hoist but this may not be practical on a modern sloop. (Where would you put the jolly roger and cocktail flags)

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by vega1860

In earlier times the ensign was customarily flown from the gaff peak of the aftermost sail while at sea and from a staff at the stern while moored or anchored. On modern marconi rigs obviously, there is no gaff so yachtsmen either flew the ensign from the backstay or sewn to the leach of the aftermost sail at a position approximating the peak of the gaff on a gaff rig.

Custom has evolved with boat design. Today, most fly the ensign from a stern staff at all times. On my boat the solar panels interfere with the flag on the stern staff so I hoist it to a block seized to the backstay two thirds of the way up.

There are no hard and fast rules but the national ensign should always be flown aft of, not necessarily above, all other flags. If you travel internationally, the cortesy flag of the host country goes at the starboard spreader. If not, you may fly your state flag or yacht club burgee there but never the national ensign. It is also said that you shold not fly two flags on the same hoist but this may not be practical on a modern sloop. (Where would you put the jolly roger and cocktail flags)

A port flag halyard???

[vega1860]

That's where my radar reflector is and it specifically states in Chapman's that one should never fly the jolly roger under the radar reflector. That is where the fish flags go.

[sailingdog]

Vega-

DUH!!! Fly the Jolly Roger ABOVE the Radar Reflector then...

[xort]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Vega-

DUH!!! Fly the Jolly Roger ABOVE the Radar Reflector then...

that way when ol jolly spills beer, your radar reflector will catch it. assuming you have it in the rain catch position.

[sailingdog]

eggzackly

Originally Posted by xort

that way when ol jolly spills beer, your radar reflector will catch it. assuming you have it in the rain catch position.