Figure 25-01 It is courteous for a faster boat to slow down when passing a slower craft. Such passing will be accomplished most comfortably if the slower boat also slows down in order that the faster craft can pass at a true “no-wake” speed. This is not considered a violation of the Navigation Rules requirement that an overtaken vessel must “maintain course and speed.”
Courtesy Afloat • The Etiquette of Flags, Afloat & Ashore
Boating today is an informal kind of recreation, no longer bound to the ceremonies of “yachting etiquette.” However, there are many occasions when proper observances are expected, even if only as common courtesy to your boating neighbors.
You need not belong to a yacht club, but it helps to understand club practices that you might encounter. You should be able to recognize a race in progress, for example, and take steps to avoid it. Likewise, you should be able to drop your hook in an anchorage, or make fast at a marina, or raft up with other boats without causing friction. Every boater should know the proper procedures for displaying flags.
This chapter covers boating customs, as they exist today. In the main, they simply represent good sense and good manners afloat.
COURTESY AFLOAT
Except when cruising the high seas, or on some remote inland waters, you will generally be boating within sight of other boats. Often you will be close enough that any maneuvers you make, even activities on board your boat, will have an impact on others. Some actions are beyond those required by the Navigation Rules. The situations suggested below are a matter of good manners, of causing the least interference to the vessel with the most limited maneuverability.
When Underway
A faster boat overtaking a slower one in restricted waters, such as a channel or narrow river, should slow down sufficiently to cause no damage or discomfort. Often overlooked is that it may be necessary for the slower boat itself to reduce speed. For example, if the slower boat is making 8 knots, the faster boat can slow only to about 10 knots in order to have enough speed differential left to get past. But at that speed the passing boat may make a wake that is uncomfortable to the other craft. The overtaken boat should slow to about 4 knots, or even less, to allow the other boat to pass at 5 or 6 knots with little wake; see Figure 25-01.
If an adequate depth of water extends outward on one or both sides of the course, it is courteous for the passing boat to swing well out to a safe side in order to minimize the discomfort to the overtaken boat. A powerboat should pass a sailboat well to leeward, or astern if it is in a crossing situation, so as to not disturb the flow of air on its sails.
Near Regattas & Other Events
A fleet of sailboats all headed in the same general direction is a sure indication of a race in progress. While it might be possible to pass through such a fleet “legally,” observing the proper Navigation Rules, this action might interfere with the courses and tactics of the racing skippers. Stay well clear so that neither your wake nor your “wind shadow” will have any effect on the race boats.
Although cruising-type sailboats engaged in a long-distance race may not be as easy to identify as competitors in a local event, whether such a boat is racing or just cruising, it is best to take no action that would interfere with its progress.
Marine parades, powerboat races, and other such types of event may be held—with a regatta permit from the U.S. Coast Guard—in waters that are otherwise subject to normal marine traffic. The Coast Guard, USCG Auxiliary, or the organization sponsoring the event may provide patrol boats to keep nonparticipating craft clear of the event; see Figure 25-02. You must obey instructions given from any such patrol boat. In addition to the danger in blundering out into the path of speeding race boats, it is discourteous to interfere with the performance of any regatta.
Figure 25-04 When two or more boats are rafted, the boat at the anchor (according to plan, the last one to depart) must have adequate ground tackle. All rafted boats should be well protected by fenders.
Anchorages, Moorings & Marinas
Be a good boating neighbor when you drop the hook in an anchorage, lie at a mooring, or make fast at a yacht club or marina pier. Enter an anchorage dead slow; a wake that upsets someone’s dinner or drink will not win friends among other boaters; see Figure 25-03. In addition, refrain from the unnecessary use of your searchlight. Avoid anchoring too close to other boats: Keep in mind that when a wind shift changes the boats’ positions, anchor rodes can foul in a matter of minutes, and hulls can be damaged if they bang together. Remember the first boat to anchor has a right to an appropriate swinging radius. Also consider the state of the tide and the effect of its range on your swinging radius. If a guest mooring is open, use it only after you have obtained permission; it may be reserved for another boat, or it may be unsuitable for your craft. At fuel piers, make fast to them only briefly. When others are waiting, never use fueling time as an opportunity to make a trip to the store. Likewise, when boating in some saltwater areas, avoid using a marina’s limited freshwater reserves to wash your boat without first asking for permission.
Figure 25-03 When entering an area where other craft are anchored or on moorings, do so at a dead slow speed with no wake.
In the evening hours, take care not to disturb people on other boats in the area. Sound travels exceptionally well across water, and many cruising boat crews turn in early for dawn departures. You should resist the temptation to visit among the other boats with a dinghy and outboard motor. The quiet of using oars will be appreciated by others. Make sure that those aboard your boat keep their voices down and play music only at low levels. Remember that any comments you make about other boats will carry as well. If you are one of the early departees, leave the mooring with an absolute minimum of noise, and again, at dead slow speed.
When rafting, the boat that will be last to leave is the one to take the mooring, lie alongside the pier or wharf, or drop the anchor (provided that its ground tackle is adequate). The others should make fast in order of departure, so that the first to leave will be farthest outboard. This is only common sense—but it must be remembered; see Figure 25-04.
Figure 25-02 Boating waters are patrolled by many different law-enforcement craft. These may be boats of the Coast Guard, USCG Auxiliary, or state or local police agencies. Whatever the source of the patrolling craft, instructions and orders from them must be promptly obeyed.
Don’t throw trash and garbage overboard; even if it is biodegradable, it is unsightly and illegal. Secure any slapping halyards; they can be a most annoying source of noise (and can chafe the surface of the mast). Dogs should be well trained to avoid barking in an anchorage. Exercise them ashore in authorized areas, or well away from normal traffic areas; make sure you pick up after your pet; see Figure 25-05. When you go ashore, for whatever reason, leave the area as you found it—or even cleaner. Observe all signs and regulations, extinguish fires, and dispose of refuse only if permitted.
Figure 25-05 Whether on the water for a day, or departing for an extended cruise, taking the family pet along presents extra responsibilities. Fair weather or foul, you must be prepared to take a dog ashore periodically—and to clean up after it.
Cruising in Company
Your VHF/DSC radio’s group calling feature makes it easy to communicate with all the vessels in a flotilla. The group creates its own GROUP CALLING MMSI; the number 0 followed by 366 (for U.S. vessels), followed by 5 digits (for example, 036655555). A group call to this MMSI will alert all radios in range that have been programmed with this number, tell them the location of the calling vessel and cause them to automatically switch to the working channel designated by the calling vessel. Any vessel in the group can initiate a group call. Communication with individual vessels can be established by hailing them using their unique MMSIs. Using DSC hailing eliminates the need to call on Channel 16.
Clubs & Organizations
If you are a member of a recognized yacht club, often other yacht clubs will extend you courtesies—the use of guest slips, moorings, and clubhouse facilities, for example. Remember, though, that proper procedure requires asking permission to use such facilities, even if you wish to make fast briefly at the club dock to pick up a member who is planning to join you.
When visiting a yacht club of which you are not a member, take the time to inform yourself about the actions and routines of the local owner-members and club officers. This can be especially important in respect to evening “colors,” the lowering of flags: Remember that not all clubs strictly calculate the daily time of sunset, and some sunset signals for colors may be earlier than you would normally expect; see Figure 25-06.
Figure 25-06 The national ensign should always be raised briskly in the morning but lowered slowly and ceremoniously at sunset. Other flags are raised after the U.S. flag and lowered before it.
Yacht clubs and organizations such as the United States Power Squadrons generally have by-laws or handbooks that spell out requirements for ceremonial procedures, such as the exchange of salutes, daily color ceremonies, salutes between vessels, precedence in boarding or leaving launches, and flag courtesies.
In many cases an 0800 gun is sounded as a signal to raise colors and a sunset gun for lowering colors. If you expect to be away from your boat at the time of sunset, take in the applicable flags before you leave the boat.
If hired personnel are not on hand when a boat is coming in to make fast near your position, it is good manners to offer to help with the docking lines; see Figure 25-07. Always ask permission before boarding another boat. As for approaching an anchored or moored boat in your dinghy or tender, traditional naval practice suggests pulling alongside that boat’s starboard side.
Figure 25-07 If there are no club or marina employees around, it is always a friendly and helpful action to take a line from an arriving craft—many fine friendships have started from this simple act of courtesy.
THE ETIQUETTE OF FLAGS
There is no legislation governing the flying of any flag on noncommercial vessels. However, through the years, customs have been established for the types of flags that may be flown and when and where they are to be displayed. In recent years, new procedures have evolved, such as flying the national ensign from the stern staff of a sailboat underway.
The term “colors” strictly applies only to the flag at the stern of a vessel to denote the boat’s nationality. In practice, however, it has come to be used for all flags flown and will be used in that context in this chapter.
In general, it is not considered proper practice to fly more than one flag on a single hoist. There are a few exceptions, however. Many vessels, because of their size or construction, cannot accommodate single hoisting; these may have a multiple hoist where necessary, with proper order of precedence observed—the more “senior” flags are flown above the others. If there is more than one hoist on a starboard spreader, they can be used, with the more “senior” flag on the outboard hoist.
U.S. Power Squadrons guidelines for flag display are given in Table 25-1. See “Flag Display Afloat,”, which shows the flags, pennants, and burgees that may be flown from American-owned recreational boats, and the proper methods for their display.
Table 25-1 The United States Power Squadrons fulfills its mandate to provide information to the boating community at large by designing education aids, including the table above. This quick-reference guide identifies flags, pennants, and burgees that may be flown from U.S.-owned recreational boats and the proper methods for their display.
Flying Various Flags
• The United States ensign is proper for all U.S. craft without reservation. This is “Old Glory,” with 50 stars and 13 stripes. It is flown from the stern staff of powerboats underway on inland waters. On the high seas it need be flown only when meeting or passing other vessels. If the powerboat has a mast and gaff, the proper display is at the gaff. On a sportfisherman, where a stern staff would be in the way of the action, the practice is to fly the ensign from a halyard rigged just behind the tuna tower, often on a short gaff.
On Marconi-rigged sailboats under sail alone, the practice for many years has been to fly the ensign from the leech of the aftermost sail, approximately two-thirds the length of the leech above the clew. This puts it in about the same position it would occupy if the boat were gaff-rigged, and on gaff-rigged sailboats it is still proper to fly the ensign from the peak of the aftermost gaff.
The advent of the modern high-aspect-ratio rig, with the boom end well inboard of the stern, has made it possible to fly the ensign from the stern staff of a sailboat underway, and this is now accepted practice. However, the ensign should never be displayed while the boat is racing. Under power alone, or at anchor or made fast, the ensign should be flown from the stern staff of all sailboats. If an overhanging boom requires that the staff be off-center, it should be on the starboard side.
• The United States yacht ensign is the red-and-white striped flag with a foul anchor in the blue canton within a circle of 13 stars. Originally restricted to documented yachts, it is now flown on recreational boats of all types and sizes instead of the national ensign. Some yacht clubs now have bylaws requiring that the U.S. yacht ensign be flown regardless of boat size or documentation status. However, when a boat is taken into international or foreign waters, the 50-star U.S. ensign is the proper flag to display, not the yacht ensign, which is not a “national” flag.
• The United States Power Squadrons ensign, blue and white vertical stripes with a red canton having a foul anchor in a circle of stars, is flown as a signal that the boat is commanded by a USPS member in good standing. The USPS is a national organization of boaters dedicated to better and safer boating through education and civic service.
The preferred location for flying the USPS ensign is the starboard yardarm or spreader, underway, at anchor, or made fast to shore, on both motor and sailing craft. It may be flown from the stern staff in place of the U.S. or yacht ensign, but this is only for U.S. waters, and is usually done only on smaller boats that lack a mast. On sailboats underway, it may be flown from the aftermost peak or leech in place of other ensigns.
The USPS ensign may be flown at its proper location on boats displaying the USCG Auxiliary ensign to indicate that the owner is a member of both organizations; however, it cannot be flown if the craft is under U.S. Coast Guard orders.
• The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary ensign, known as the blue ensign, is flown on a boat that has been approved as a “facility” by the organization for the current year. This flag is flown both day and night.
On a vessel without a mast, the blue ensign is flown at the bow staff; if there is one mast, it is flown at the masthead. On a vessel with two or more masts, the USCG Auxiliary ensign is displayed at the main masthead. It is never flown in place of the national ensign.
When this ensign is displayed, it is improper to hoist a guest, owner absent, cocktail, or other novelty flag. (Guest flags are rarely used.)
• The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary operational ensign is only flown by the boat of a member of the USCG Auxiliary that meets a particularly high standard of equipment and availability, called an operational facility, and that is called on for use under Coast Guard orders in assistance and patrol missions. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary operational ensign is white with the Coast Guard’s racing stripes of red and blue—in place of the blue ensign.
• The yacht club burgee is generally triangular in shape, although sometimes swallow-tailed; a yacht club burgee may be flown by day only, or by day and night, as specified by the individual club. It is flown from the bow staff of mastless and single-masted powerboats, at the foremost masthead of vessels with two or more masts, and the main masthead of ketches or yawls. The burgee may be flown while underway (but not racing) and at anchor. You may substitute the owner’s private signal (see below) for the burgee on singlemasted yachts without bow staff, when the boat is underway. See also www.burgees.com.
• The burgee of a specific power squadron, which has been authorized by the USPS national secretary, may be flown in lieu of a club burgee and from the same positions. It may be flown by day only, or both day and night.
• An owner’s private signal is generally swallow-tailed in shape, but it may be rectangular or pennant shaped. It is flown from the masthead of a single-masted motorboat or sailboat, or from the aftermost masthead of a power or sailing vessel with two or more masts. It may be flown by day only, or day and night.
A mastless motorboat may fly this signal from the bow staff in place of a club burgee.
• Officers’ flags designating yacht club or USPS officers are rectangular. They are blue (with white design) for senior officers; red for next lower in rank; and white (with blue design) for lower ranks. Other officers’ flags (except fleet captain and fleet surgeon) may be swallow-tailed or triangular in shape, as provided in the regulations of those organizations making provisions for such flags.
An officer’s flag is flown in place of the owner’s private signal on all rigs of motor and sailing vessels except single-masted sailboats, when it is flown in place of the club burgee at the masthead. On smaller motorboats without a signal mast, a USPS officer flag may be flown from a radio antenna either singly or beneath the USPS ensign.
• AUSCG Auxiliary officer flag flies day and night when the officer is on board. On a vessel without a mast, it is flown at the bow staff in place of the Auxiliary ensign; on a vessel with a mast, it is flown at the starboard spreader. Past officers’ burgees are displayed in the same manner.
Only one officer’s flag may be flown at a time, and an incumbent officer’s flag invariably takes precedence.
Size of Flags
Although flags come in a fixed, standardized series of sizes, there are guidelines that will help in selecting the proper size for your boat.
Keeping in mind that flags are more often too small than too large, use the rules given below and round upward to the nearest larger standard size:
The flag at the stern of your boat—U.S. ensign, yacht ensign, or USPS ensign—should be one inch on the fly for each foot of overall length. The hoist will normally be two-thirds of the fly, but some flags such as the USCG Auxiliary ensign have different proportions; refer to Chapter 1, Figure 1-32.
Other flags such as club burgees, officers’ flags, and private signals for use on sailboats should be approximately 1.2 inch on the fly for each foot of the highest mast above the water. For flying on powerboats, these flags should be roughly 5.8 inch on the fly for each foot of overall length. The shape and proportions of pennants and burgees will be prescribed by the appropriate organization to which they relate. A Union Jack should be the same size as the corresponding portion of the national ensign.
Not all flags available for purchase in the U.S. have the correct proportions—this is particularly true of the flags of some foreign nations; a ratio of 1:2 for hoist to fly is quite common. Information on the proper dimensions can usually be obtained from encyclopedias, from consulates or embassies, or on the Internet. If you intend to purchase a foreign flag to be used as a courtesy flag on arrival in that country’s waters, try to get one that is of the correct shape; also remember that some nations, such as the Bahamas, use a different flag for vessels than the one flown on land. Federal law prescribes the dimensions of U.S. flags to be used by governmental agencies in terms of 11 numbered sizes. The basic proportions of the U.S. national flag are 10:19 (not 3:5 as you will find in most stores), but there are some numbered sizes with quite different ratios.
Raising & Lowering Flags
“Colors are made” each morning at 0800; as mentioned, at yacht club and similar organization docks or anchorages, this may be signaled by a morning gun. The national ensign or yacht ensign is first hoisted at the stern (or set in place on its staff). This is followed by the USPS ensign at the starboard spreader (if not already flying on a day-and-night basis), provided the skipper is a USPS member. Then comes the club burgee or Squadron pennant at the bow, and the private signal at the masthead. (An officer’s flag, if flown in place of a private signal, would be flown continuously.)
If the boat bears a valid USCG Auxiliary Facility decal, it would be flying the Auxiliary ensign at the masthead, day and night. The USCG Auxiliary officer’s pennant or burgee may be flown, day and night, at the starboard spreader. On smaller craft, the same sequence should be followed, with the flags on their staffs being set in the appropriate locations as illustrated in the sidebar, “Flag Display Afloat.”
At sunset, colors not properly flown on a day-and-night basis should be lowered in reverse sequence, the ensign at the stern always being the last to be secured.
Dressing Ship
On national holidays, at regattas, and on other special occasions, yachts often “dress ship” with International Code signal flags. Officers’ flags, club burgees, and national flags are flown normally. A vessel is dressed at 0800, and remains so dressed until evening colors (while at anchor only, except for a vessel’s maiden and final voyages, and participation in a marine parade or other unique situation).
In dressing ship, the national ensign is hoisted at the stern staff, and the Union Jack may be displayed at the jack (bow) staff. A rainbow of flags of the International Code is arranged, reaching from the waterline forward to the waterline aft, by way of the bowsprit end (or stem if no bowsprit exists) and the masthead(s); see Figure 25-08. Flags and pennants are bent on alternately, rather than in an indiscriminate manner. Since there are twice as many letter flags as numeral pennants, it is good practice, as in the Navy, to follow a sequence of two flags, one pennant, two flags, one pennant, throughout. The sequence recommended here provides a harmonious color pattern throughout. Staring from the bow: AB2, UJ1, KE3, GH6, IV5, FL4, DM7, PO Third Repeater, RN First Repeater, ST Zero, CX9, WQ8, ZY Second Repeater.
Figure 25-08 “Dressing ship” can add a fine touch of ceremony to the proper yachting event. International Code flags and pennants are strung from the water’s edge at the bow across the boat to the water’s edge aft. The proper sequence of flags and pennants is given in the text.
Honoring Other National Flags
As a matter of courtesy, it is proper to fly the flag of a foreign nation on your boat when you enter and operate on its waters. There are only a limited number of positions from which flags may be flown; consequently, when a COURTESY FLAG of another nation is flown, it usually must displace one of the flags commonly displayed in home waters. It is normally not hoisted until clearance has been completed and the yellow “Q” flag has been removed.
The following are general guidelines to follow regarding courtesy flags:
• On a mastless powerboat, the courtesy flag of another nation is now most commonly flown from a radio antenna on the starboard side (the most forward antenna if there is more than one on that side). This approximates the location of a starboard spreader of a mast.
• When a motorboat has a mast with spreaders, the courtesy flag is flown at the starboard spreader.
• On a two-masted motorboat, the courtesy flag displaces any flag normally flown at the forward starboard spreader.
• On a sailboat, the courtesy flag is flown at the boat’s starboard spreader, whether the United States ensign is at the stern staff or is flown from the leech. If there is more than one mast, the courtesy flag is flown from the starboard spreader of the forward mast.
• No other flag should ever be flown on the same halyard as a courtesy flag, nor on a halyard outboard of one.
Although these points serve as protocol in most waters, keep in mind that customs observed in various foreign waters differ from one another; in case of doubt, inquire locally or observe other craft from your country.
As noted previously, it is proper for U.S. vessels while in international or foreign waters to fly the U.S. ensign (50-star flag) at the stern, gaff, or leech, rather than the yacht ensign or the USPS ensign. When the starboard spreader is used for the courtesy ensign of the foreign country, the USPS ensign or similar flag may be flown from the port spreader; if the vessel has multiple flag halyards on the starboard spreader, the USPS ensign is flown there, inboard from the courtesy ensign.
The U.S. ensign, club burgee, officer’s flag, and private signal are flown as in home waters.
Do not fly a foreign courtesy ensign after you have returned to U.S. waters. Although this may show that you’ve “been there,” it is not proper flag etiquette.
Display of State Flags
Any citizen of any state may fly the flag of that state, unless doing so is specifically prohibited by state law. On a vessel with one or more masts, the state flag is flown at the main masthead in place of the private signal, officer’s flag, or USCG Auxiliary ensign (and in this case an Auxiliary officer cannot fly the officer’s pennant from the starboard spreader). When the state flag displaces a yacht club or USPS officer’s flag, the officer’s flag cannot be flown from any other hoist. On a mastless boat, the state flag can be flown at the bow staff in lieu of a club burgee, or it may replace any flag flown from a suitable radio antenna.
The flying of a state flag at the stern of a boat is not proper, nor is it proper to fly from this place of honor any Confederate, “pirate,” or other “gag” flag, and certainly not the flag of a foreign country of one’s heritage.
FLYING NATIONAL & YACHTING FLAGS
Flags are flown aboard boats and on shore to convey a variety of information to the boating community. An ensign—the national flag—identifies the country of registration. A burgee indicates a yacht club or boating organization of which the boat owner is a member. Other flags give information about the owner—office held in a club or organization, for example. A pennant, such as some of those shown in “Flag Display Afloat,”, is generally a signal flag. The flags shown below include flags commonly seen on boats in North America.
Flag Display Ashore
The flagpole or mast of a yacht club is considered to represent the mast of a vessel, and the peak of the gaff, if one is used, is the place of honor from which the U.S. ensign is flown, just as it would be on a gaff-rigged boat. The location of the gaff on the pole is opposite to the direction to the water—as if it were on a ship standing out to sea. The flag should be hoisted briskly but lowered slowly and ceremoniously.
There has been some confusion because proper flag etiquette requires no other flag to be flown above the U.S. ensign, and obviously another flag, such as a yacht club burgee at the masthead, will be higher than the U.S. flag when the latter is at the gaff. This is entirely proper because “above,” in flag etiquette, means “directly on top of.” The illustrations in “Flag Display Ashore,” show the standard mast and pole displays as if you were ashore, facing seaward.
Note that signal flags should be flown from a conspicuous hoist; and that on national holidays and days of special yachting significance you may fly the flags of the International Code. Flags flown ashore at private homes may follow the code used for yacht clubs and similar organizations.
FLAG DISPLAY ASHORE
Flag displays at yacht clubs or similar shore installations.The officer’s flag is that of the senior officer present on the grounds or on board his boat in the club anchorage. Storm signals may be substituted for the International Code flags, which are displayed on national holidays or other days of special significance.
Half-masting Flags
A flag is flown at HALF-MAST (or HALF-STAFF) in respect for a deceased person. Although there are no laws governing the half-masting of flags on private vessels, or at private homes and clubs, most citizens follow the flag display customs used on U.S. government buildings and ships. The U.S. ensign should only be flown at half-mast by direction of the president or a governor of a state. The duration varies from a few days (usually until sunset on the day of burial) to 30 days, according to the deceased person’s position. It is not correct for a yacht club commodore or similar organization official to order the U.S. ensign halfmasted—only the burgee or organization flag. On Memorial Day, the U.S. flag is flown at half-mast until 1200 (or if a 21-gun salute is fired starting at noon, until 1220, the time of the final shot).
On a simple flagstaff—as at a vessel’s stern or flagpole ashore—half-mast position is about three-fourths the way up to the top. If the flagpole has a yardarm, or yardarm and gaff, halfmast position is level with the yardarm. When the U.S. flag is displayed at half-mast on a vessel, other flags remain at their normal position. When it is half-masted ashore, fly only a private signal or club burgee at the masthead of a gaffrigged mast with it.
When the U.S. ensign is flown at half-mast, it should be hoisted fully and smartly, then lowered ceremoniously to half-mast position. Before lowering, it is again raised to full height and lowered from there. Some yacht clubs fly their burgee at half-mast for a period of mourning on the death of a club member. A private signal may be flown at half-mast on the death of the vessel’s owner.
Flag Display at Meetings
The flag of the United States should be displayed either from a staff or flat against the wall above and behind the speaker’s table or lectern.
The flag of the United States should never be draped or laid over anything except a casket, at which time special rules apply.
When displayed flat against a wall, it should be fastened by the upper edge only, with union to the flag’s right (to a viewer’s left). This is applicable whether the flag is hung with the stripes horizontal or vertical; a horizontal position of the stripes is preferable.
When displayed on a staff indoors, the U.S. national ensign is stood at the right of the speaker regardless of whether or not there is a platform or stage at the front of the room. A state or organizational flag, if displayed, is placed at the speaker’s left. (If the flag of another nation is displayed, it should be at the speaker’s right, just inboard of the U.S. flag.) If the flag of the United States and another flag are displayed with crossed staffs, as at the head of a room, the U.S. flag should be at its right and with its staff in front of the staff of the other flag.
If the flag of the United States is flown with other flags in a group, it should be in the center and slightly higher, or it should be in front of the other flags.
GUIDE TO MISCELLANEOUS FLAGS
• Diver Down There are two flags flown in connection with diving operations: a red flag with a single diagonal stripe of white, indicating divers in the water, or, as required by the Navigation Rules, the International Code Flag “A,” indicating the limited ability of the vessel to maneuver. It is not proper for them to be flown on shore or by any boat not engaged in diving operations.
• Race Committee or Regatta Committee Flag is a blue rectangular flag with a single vertical foul anchor in white with the letters “R” and “C” beside the anchor in white or red. It is often large, and may be flown at any position for greatest visibility. Often other flags are taken down to avoid confusion.
• Transportation or Tender Flag is used in many harbors where boats lie at moorings, and where yacht clubs or commercial operators provide launch (water taxi) service to and from the shore. This is the International Code flag “T”; it is used to request service and may be used with a sound signal; it may be flown by craft providing such service.
• Quarantine Flag, the International Code letter “Q” (plain yellow, rectangular), is flown when entering a foreign port (except Canada and a few others), or returning to a U.S. port from a foreign cruise. It signals that the vessel is “healthy” and requests clearance into the port; it is taken down after customs and immigration formalities have been completed.
• Protest Flag, the International Code flag “B” (plain red, swallow-tailed), is seen at sailing or other contests. It signals that the vessel flying it will file a protest on another vessel (or vessels) at the event’s conclusion.
• Man Overboard Flag is generally recognized as the International code flag for the letter “O” (red-and-yellow divided diagonally; rectangular); this flag is often fixed to a staff, which in turn is attached to a life ring.
• Union Jack is a rectangular blue flag with 50 stars (the equivalent of the upperleft quadrant of the national ensign). It may be flown only at the jack staff on sailing yachts or the jack staff of motor yachts with more than one mast, only during the day, and only while not underway on Sundays and national holidays, or when “dressing ship.” On modern craft, the normal bow staff is used as the “jack staff.” It should be the same size as the corresponding portion of the national flag being flown.
• Owner Absent & Guest Flags Some larger yachts will fly a rectangular plain blue flag when the owner is not on board. This is flown at the starboard main spreader; a blue light is shown at night.
When an owner is not present but guests are on board and in charge of the yacht, the flag flown is blue with a diagonal white stripe and is flown from the port main spreader.