Hot darn, a whole batch of super critical proof readers. My lucky day.

Spelling and syntax errors aside, anybody see where I made a factual
faux paus in the following text? I believe this is completely accurate,
but I'd rather have a couple dozen people spot an error than get a
hundred nit-picky letters. :-)


**********

Unlubberizing Flags and Pennants
Part 1- The Ensign


Many boaters have difficult relationships with flags, banners, and
pennants. It isn't at all unusual to see a perfectly polished
multi-million-dollar megayacht charge past with colors inappropriately
selected or improperly displayed. There can't be a financial
explanation for the presence of a dinky little 24-inch flag, (flapping
like a shameful afterthought), on a 65-foot yacht, yet such a sad sight
will not be uncommon as more of the larger boats begin venturing out
from covered moorages and boat houses throughout the Pacific NW. We
often encounter boats flying flags in an arrangement hat historically
indicates "This Canadian vessel has been seized as a prize by an
American naval officer, who is now aboard and in command." No class
of vessel appears t be exempt from improper or inappropriate display of
national jacks and ensigns, courtesy flags, burgees, and private
signals. Large motoryachts, small runabouts, power and sailboats of all
descriptions are frequently guilty of lubberly flag and signal display.

Most of us have some lubberly little secrets; aspects of boating where
we have substantial room for improvement. In many cases, our lubberisms
are out of sight. The curiously plotted charts with the toddler's
crayon doodles and the breakfast cereal stains are tucked away in the
chart drawer. The rat's nest of wires with questionable connections
is stuffed up behind the helm. Hidden away in the engine room or the
lazarette are the quick and dirty patch jobs we have resolved to
"improve" as time allows, and we pretend to be entirely and
absolutely sure that nobody (or almost nobody like to recognize us)
really saw us go aground on that "uncharted" mud bank last summer.
A lot of our lubberly errors are expressed in quiet little whispers,
but a breech of flag etiquette is announced by brightly colored signals
hoisted high into the wind where the ignorance or mistake is called to
the amused or disdainful attention of one and all.

With the spring boating season approaching, many of us would benefit
from a quick review of flag etiquette. There's no reason to look more
lubberly than necessary.
We'll present a series of short refresher articles, beginning with
the proper selection and display of the national ensign, continuing
March 15 with courtesy flags, officer flags and private signals and
ending with a discussion of "dressing ship" in the April 12 issue,
(just in time for Opening Day).

Choosing the appropriate flag or ensign:

Pleasure boats in the US are not actually required to fly flags of any
sort. A previous rule that required documented vessels to fly the
"yacht ensign" has been relaxed, so a US pleasure boat underway
without a flag is not in violation of any laws or protocols as long as
the boat remains in US waters. Even so, the majority of boaters are
inspired by pride and patriotism to fly our national colors. One of the
first opportunities to run afoul of proper maritime flag etiquette
occurs at the marine supply store. There are no less than five
different "ensigns" to choose from. Members of the United States
Power Squadron (USPS) or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary may
fly specialized ensigns, with the one of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
Ensigns reserved for circumstances where the vessel is actually
operating under Coast Guard orders. Fortunately, boaters not affiliated
with the USPS or the USCG Auxiliary need only (and can only) choose
properly between the two most common ensigns.

The safest and most versatile selection is the "merchant", or
national ensign. This is the same 50-star, thirteen stripe US flag that
flies on all government offices, most public buildings, and that is
commonly flown at private residences on patriotic holidays. It is
appropriate to fly the merchant ensign on any US pleasure craft, and as
the official US flag it is the only choice for proper display when
cruising on the high seas or in foreign waters.

Many boaters prefer the saltier looks of the "yacht ensign", which
is essentially the US national flag with a fouled anchor and a circle
of 13 stars replacing the usual 50 white stars in the blue field. The
ensign is sometimes referred to as the "Betsy Ross" flag. At one
time, use of this flag was restricted to documented yachts in US
waters, and documented yachts were actually required to fly it. The
rules have been relaxed to allow any boat, Coast Guard documented or
state titled, to fly the "yacht ensign" and documented vessels may
now choose to fly the yacht ensign, the merchant ensign, or no flag at
all in US waters.

Puget Sound area boaters vacationing in Canadian waters should not use
the yacht ensign outside of US territory. This breech of flag etiquette
and international protocol ranks high on the list of lubberly flag
flubs. US cruisers who prefer to use the yacht ensign in local waters
should also carry the merchant ensign for use where it is the only
appropriate flag.

Following the selection of the proper design(s), a consideration of
almost equal importance is choosing an ensign of appropriate size and
scale for the boat. The national flag should not be so small that it is
difficult to see, nor so oversized that it looks undignified or perhaps
contacts the surface of the water. The standard rule of proportion
calls for the length of the "fly" (the long top and bottom edges of
the flag rectangle) to be about one inch for each foot of boat length.
A small runabout could use an 18-inch flag, while a 60-foot yacht will
require a flag about 5-feet in length to achieve a proper appearance.
The dimensions of the "hoist" (the vertical left and right edges of
the flag rectangle) will be proportional to the fly, so choosing the
proper length will automatically provide a flag with appropriate
height. In cases where no flag is available in the precise 1/12 scale,
it is customary to opt for the next larger size rather than to step
down to a flag that will look too small. Flags just barely too large
look far better than flags rather obviously too small.


Flying the ensign with honor:


A popular myth prevailing among a good many shorebound Americans is
that our national flag should never fly at a lower altitude than any
other flags or pennants displayed at the same location. In practice, on
most boats, the ensign will seldom be flown above yacht club burgees,
officer flags, or private signals. Aboard commercial or military
sailing vessels, the place of greatest prestige and from which the
ship's officers would customarily command was the quarterdeck, located
most aft. A ship's national colors would typically fly from the
rigging above the quarterdeck, where the officers literally "served
under" their country's flag. Commission pennants, officer's
pennants, and a variety of signal flags were customarily flown at the
mastheads, and all were considered of lesser stature than the national
ensign or naval "jack" flying lower and aft but directly above the
deck of greatest command importance.

Most powerboats and many sailboats properly display the merchant or
yacht ensign on a sternrail or transom staff. The staff should be of
sufficient length and appropriate angle. Most likely reflecting a
tradition that began when nearly all boats were hand steered with a
rudder; the stern staff is customarily offset somewhat to starboard.
The stern staff should not be located so that the flag will directly
subjected to the engine exhaust. Sloops can display the ensign about
2/3 of the way up the "leech" of the mainsail, while multi-masted
schooners, yawls, and ketches can use either a stern staff or display
the ensign in the aftmost rigging in a manner similar to that of a
sloop.

Some power cruisers are equipped with short signal masts on the
cabintop, or are rigged with spreaders for a mast and boom. It seems
tempting, and almost appears logical to fly the national ensign from
one of the spreaders, but unless the rigging includes a "gaff" the
proper location for the US yacht or merchant ensign remains at the
stern rail.

Offshore sportfishermen can properly display the ensign from a hoist
aft of the flybridge or "tuna" tower, a practical concession to the
fact that a stern staff would be a general nuisance when game fishing
from the cockpit.

Next issue, Part II: Burgees, courtesy flags, officer flags, private
signals.

On 26 Dec 2005 22:18:12 -0800, wrote:

Hot darn, a whole batch of super critical proof readers. My lucky day.

Spelling and syntax errors aside, anybody see where I made a factual
faux paus in the following text? I believe this is completely accurate,
but I'd rather have a couple dozen people spot an error than get a
hundred nit-picky letters. :-)


**********

Unlubberizing Flags and Pennants
Part 1- The Ensign


Many boaters have difficult relationships with flags, banners, and
pennants. It isn't at all unusual to see a perfectly polished
multi-million-dollar megayacht charge past with colors inappropriately
selected or improperly displayed. There can't be a financial
explanation for the presence of a dinky little 24-inch flag, (flapping
like a shameful afterthought), on a 65-foot yacht, yet such a sad sight
will not be uncommon as more of the larger boats begin venturing out
from covered moorages and boat houses throughout the Pacific NW. We
often encounter boats flying flags in an arrangement
that
hat historically
indicates "This Canadian vessel has been seized as a prize by an
American naval officer, who is now aboard and in command." No class
of vessel appears
to
t be exempt from improper or inappropriate display of
national jacks and ensigns, courtesy flags, burgees, and private
signals. Large motoryachts, small runabouts, power and sailboats of all
descriptions are frequently guilty of lubberly flag and signal display.

Most of us have some lubberly little secrets; aspects of boating where
we have substantial room for improvement. In many cases, our lubberisms
are out of sight. The curiously plotted charts with the toddler's
crayon doodles and the breakfast cereal stains are tucked away in the
chart drawer. The rat's nest of wires with questionable connections
is stuffed up behind the helm. Hidden away in the engine room or the
lazarette are the quick and dirty patch jobs we have resolved to
"improve" as time allows, and we pretend to be entirely and
absolutely sure that nobody (or almost nobody like to recognize us)
really saw us go aground on that "uncharted" mud bank last summer.
A lot of our lubberly errors are expressed in quiet little whispers,
but a breech of flag etiquette is announced by brightly colored signals
hoisted high into the wind where the ignorance or mistake is called to
the amused or disdainful attention of one and all.

With the spring boating season approaching, many of us would benefit
from a quick review of flag etiquette. There's no reason to look more
lubberly than necessary.
We'll present a series of short refresher articles, beginning with
the proper selection and display of the national ensign, continuing
March 15 with courtesy flags, officer flags and private signals and
ending with a discussion of "dressing ship" in the April 12 issue,
(just in time for Opening Day).

Choosing the appropriate flag or ensign:

Pleasure boats in the US are not actually required to fly flags of any
sort. A previous rule that required documented vessels to fly the
"yacht ensign" has been relaxed, so a US pleasure boat underway
without a flag is not in violation of any laws or protocols as long as
the boat remains in US waters. Even so, the majority of boaters are
inspired by pride and patriotism to fly our national colors. One of the
first opportunities to run afoul of proper maritime flag etiquette
occurs at the marine supply store. There are no less than five
different "ensigns" to choose from. Members of the United States
Power Squadron (USPS) or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary may
fly specialized ensigns, with the one of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
Ensigns reserved for circumstances where the vessel is actually
operating under Coast Guard orders. Fortunately, boaters not affiliated
with the USPS or the USCG Auxiliary need only (and can only) choose
properly between the two most common ensigns.

The safest and most versatile selection is the "merchant", or
national ensign. This is the same 50-star, thirteen stripe US flag that
flies on all government offices, most public buildings, and that is
commonly flown at private residences on patriotic holidays. It is
appropriate to fly the merchant ensign on any US pleasure craft, and as
the official US flag it is the only choice for proper display when
cruising on the high seas or in foreign waters.

Many boaters prefer the saltier looks of the "yacht ensign", which
is essentially the US national flag with a fouled anchor and a circle
of 13 stars replacing the usual 50 white stars in the blue field. The
ensign is sometimes referred to as the "Betsy Ross" flag. At one
time, use of this flag was restricted to documented yachts in US
waters, and documented yachts were actually required to fly it. The
rules have been relaxed to allow any boat, Coast Guard documented or
state titled, to fly the "yacht ensign" and documented vessels may
now choose to fly the yacht ensign, the merchant ensign, or no flag at
all in US waters.

Puget Sound area boaters vacationing in Canadian waters should not use
the yacht ensign outside of US territory. This breech of flag etiquette
and international protocol ranks high on the list of lubberly flag
flubs. US cruisers who prefer to use the yacht ensign in local waters
should also carry the merchant ensign for use where it is the only
appropriate flag.

Following the selection of the proper design(s), a consideration of
almost equal importance is choosing an ensign of appropriate size and
scale for the boat. The national flag should not be so small that it is
difficult to see, nor so oversized that it looks undignified or perhaps
contacts the surface of the water. The standard rule of proportion
calls for the length of the "fly" (the long top and bottom edges of
the flag rectangle) to be about one inch for each foot of boat length.
A small runabout could use an 18-inch flag, while a 60-foot yacht will
require a flag about 5-feet in length to achieve a proper appearance.
The dimensions of the "hoist" (the vertical left and right edges of
the flag rectangle) will be proportional to the fly, so choosing the
proper length will automatically provide a flag with appropriate
height. In cases where no flag is available in the precise 1/12 scale,
it is customary to opt for the next larger size rather than to step
down to a flag that will look too small. Flags just barely too large
look far better than flags rather obviously too small.


Flying the ensign with honor:


A popular myth prevailing among a good many shorebound Americans is
that our national flag should never fly at a lower altitude than any
other flags or pennants displayed at the same location. In practice, on
most boats, the ensign will seldom be flown above yacht club burgees,
officer flags, or private signals. Aboard commercial or military
sailing vessels, the place of greatest prestige and from which the
ship's officers would customarily command was the quarterdeck, located
most aft. A ship's national colors would typically fly from the
rigging above the quarterdeck, where the officers literally "served
under" their country's flag. Commission pennants, officer's
pennants, and a variety of signal flags were customarily flown at the
mastheads, and all were considered of lesser stature than the national
ensign or naval "jack" flying lower and aft but directly above the
deck of greatest command importance.

Most powerboats and many sailboats properly display the merchant or
yacht ensign on a sternrail or transom staff. The staff should be of
sufficient length and appropriate angle. Most likely reflecting a
tradition that began when nearly all boats were hand steered with a
rudder; the stern staff is customarily offset somewhat to starboard.
The stern staff should not be located so that the flag will directly
subjected to the engine exhaust. Sloops can display the ensign about
2/3 of the way up the "leech" of the mainsail, while multi-masted
schooners, yawls, and ketches can use either a stern staff or display
the ensign in the aftmost rigging in a manner similar to that of a
sloop.

Some power cruisers are equipped with short signal masts on the
cabintop, or are rigged with spreaders for a mast and boom. It seems
tempting, and almost appears logical to fly the national ensign from
one of the spreaders, but unless the rigging includes a "gaff" the
proper location for the US yacht or merchant ensign remains at the
stern rail.

Offshore sportfishermen can properly display the ensign from a hoist
aft of the flybridge or "tuna" tower, a practical concession to the
fact that a stern staff would be a general nuisance when game fishing
from the cockpit.

Next issue, Part II: Burgees, courtesy flags, officer flags, private
signals.


Nice article. Couple boo-boos.

Which side of the boat should the merchant flag be mounted (at the transom) if there
is no place to fly it in the center?
--
John H

**** May your Christmas be Spectacular!****
*****...and your New Year even Better!*****

Thanks!


On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 13:44:34 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 08:21:49 -0500, JohnH wrote:



Nice article. Couple boo-boos.

Which side of the boat should the merchant flag be mounted (at the transom) if there
is no place to fly it in the center?

Starboard.

--
John H

**** May your Christmas be Spectacular!****
*****...and your New Year even Better!*****

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On 26 Dec 2005 22:18:12 -0800, wrote:

Next issue, Part II: Burgees, courtesy flags, officer flags, private
signals.

Will you be covering the use of the Union Jack in the next
installment? I would think it should be covered in this installment.

I would also think that in this discussion, courtesy flags are
important because they are national colors.

I hope you understand that even if this article is bullet proofed
(relatively) here, flag etiquette will draw picky readers from
everywhere.

It's inevitable. :)


Good point about the courtesy flags as national colors- but I see them
falling into the second installment rather than the first by virtue of
being special circumstance items rather than the primary flag likely to
be flown every day.

As far as the Union Jack goes, AFAIK the Union Jack doesn't susbstitute
for the yacht or merchant ensign. You do see them flown from a bow
staff in place of a burgee, (most particularly the union from the yacht
ensign), so I'll have to cogitate a bit on whether the
considration that the Union Jack is comprised of a portion of the
national ensign begs its inclusion in this first installment or whether
it should be covered in Part II.