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Subject: TWL: Flag EtiquetteQ
Thataway@XXX.XXX
Date: Sun Dec 02 2001 - 13:01:30 EST
The question of what a burgee is and how it is flown has been raised.
Generally a burgee is a yacht club flag as noted by other posters. A private
signal or flag may also be a burgee. This may be pennant or swallow tail
shape.
The U S Power Squadron web site:
http://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.htmlhttp://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.
html
and Chapman's state that a burgee can be displayed from the bow staff. (some
boats have provision for two or three bow staffs). They also state that the
Burgee can be displayed from the top of a main or single mast.
At this point current practice differs:
http://www.yachtworld-sailonline.com/html/flag_etiquette.html
Whereas most sail boats and trawlers with masts fly the burgee (and at times
a host of other flags) from the lower starboard spreader (a place that USPS
reserves for their flag).
A yacht club burgee or private signal should only be flown when the owner or
a member of the club is aboard--not left flying as often observed.
The National flag (U S 50 stars--some other nations have a specific marine
flag) should not be flown from a spreader, unless flown as a courtesy flag,
by a foreign flagged vessel in U S waters. The National Flag should only be
flown from dawn to dusk. When at sea only the national flag (not the Yacht
Ensign)
should be flown. Practice is to fly the National Flag night and day. Also
when in many foreign countries tradition is to fly the National Flag day and
night, as well as the courtesy (flag of the country visited from the
Starboard spreader or side of the mast)--some times antennas or fishing
outriggers on motor vessels are used. Chapmans other sources suggest that the
courtesy flag should not be flown until the vessel has cleared into a country.
The "Q"--all yellow--flag is flown from the port side until the vessel is
cleared into a country. Some countries will fine a vessel if the courtesy
flag is not flown immediately upon entering their waters. We always made a
bit of a ceremony when we entered or left a countries waters and raised,
lowered or changed courtesy flags.
When flying a courtesy flag of a nation you are visiting it should be the top
most flag. I always put the Q flag on the port side, and flew no other
burgee when checking in.
After checking in and removing the Q flag I put the burgees of international
cruising clubs on the Port spreader hoist.
One day in Copenhagen, the police came to visit me, since our National Flag
was seen flying after the Danish flag was lowed at sunset. We had not been
aboard at the time, but were remanded for not having lowered the flag before
we left, since no other national flag was to be flying after the Danish
national flag was lowered. I asked about keeping the Danish courtesy flag 24
hours a day from the Starboard spreader--that was all right.
Bob Austin
Pensacola, FL
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