Jack Dale wrote:

I think it is a guideline. John Rousmaniere has this in The
Annapolis Book of Seamanship.

I think John should row through a crowded anchorage and get in touch with
reality. For example, it's easy enough to encounter 400+ foreign-flagged
vessels of various sizes in Exuma during the winter and spring seasons.
With few exceptions these boats are showing a typical West Marine (or
equivalent) Bahamas cheapo courtesy flag (and I include those boats beyond
the reach of most readers of this group). According to John (as represented
by Jack's attribution) each of these boats should have bothered to have
custom-sized Bahamian flags manufactured that adhere to his "rule."

John is a Connecticut person who was born into the life and has probably
never met a payroll. I'm not sure what he has actually done besides
writing for yachting magazines and lounging at yacht clubs and writing a
book or two. The majority of us will probably survive by ignoring his
"rules."

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/