Jack Dale wrote:

Chapman's Piloting has the same "rules"

Jack, have you ever actually met another person who has had courtesy flags
made according to this rule? I have not, and based on the circles I run in
I don't expect to.

I suppose I have 10 or 11 courtesy flags, and I have actually worn out my
Bahamas and Canada flags once or twice. As a "practical" sailor I just
cannot imagine obeying these "rules." I know from experience how much
custom flags and burgees cost, because in the case of burgees there is often
no other choice that a custom flag.

The "rules" mentioned are typical of what one might hear from the East Coast
"Yachting" set. The next time I'm invited to the annual NYYC Cruise I will
be sure to come prepared with the proper flags, but until that happens (and
that may be some time), I'll just scrape by with the West Marine versions.

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