Part 2 from Active Captain
>>> The Flag Advisor - 2 >>>
A few weeks ago we did a newsletter segment documenting some of the
rules regarding flying flags on recreational vessels which was
unexpectedly well received. Many of us like to fly flags and appreciate
knowing some of the traditions surrounding them. Please remember that
unlike military and commercial vessels, the rules surrounding personal
yachts are not well defined. We'll research a topic and provide some of
the most agreed-upon rules. Eventually, we'll make a single guide to
reference all flag information in one place.
The subject today is burgees. These are flags often associated with a
yacht club but can represent any association. Related to burgee flags
are house flags. These are individual flags custom made for a particular
boat representing a personal interest, hobby, or something about the
owner. Burgees are usually triangular or swallow-tail. House flags are
usually swallow-tail.
On power boats, burgees and house flags should be flown on a bow staff.
There is some conflict about sailboat flying location. For single masted
boats, they should be flown from a bow staff. But some references
suggest that sailboats can fly burgees and house flags at the truck
(top) of the mast, on a pigstick above the truck, or from a spreader
halyard, generally the starboard one. When flying a burgee from a
halyard, only one flag should be present on a halyard.
Again, these are suggested protocols. There are no rules and no one is
going to give you a ticket for having 4 club burgees on a halyard. But
there is a certain tradition to being on the water and it's not a bad
thing to respect that tradition.
One thing we get asked often is, why don't we create an Active Captain
burgee? It would complement the hats we provide as you accumulate points
by writing reviews, updating markers, and adding new markers.
We don't believe we should be making a burgee to hang on your boat.
Instead, we should be providing you with the ability to have electronic
burgees - ones that show your location and movement. Keep your flags for
the formal organizations you belong to. We'll continue to enhance the
electronic boat card capability to give you an electronic identity that
others can see when nearby, perhaps even a few miles away.