This page comes to you courtesy of the Los Angeles Yacht Club and was compiled into pamphlet form (and copy righted in 1982) by Bud Warden.
Contents
All boat owners should have on board an inventory of the proper
flags and signals. The following is a list of suggested flags.
Ensign (mandatory)
The Yacht Ensign of 13 stars encircling an anchor was
established by Congress in 1849. Also, the National Colors (traditional Stars &
Stripes) may be displayed in lieu of the ensign, particularly in foreign waters.
Union Jack (optional)
A rectangular flag of the union of 50 stars on a blue
field.
Yacht Club Burgee (mandatory if a Yacht Club
member)
Usually a triangular or swallow-tailed pennant which
represents the owner's yacht club.
Association Burgee (mandatory if C-42 Association member)
The Catalina 42 International Association Burgee may be flown in place of the yacht club burgee or beneath a yacht club burgee. The design of the International Association's Burgee was created in 1992. Detailed design information will be provided in an update to this page.
Officers' Flags (mandatory, if applicable)
A rectangular flag which represents the rank of the yacht
club or association officer. Four flags are generally recognized in yacht clubs:
Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, and Fleet Captain. The Catalina 42
International Association
has the following positions: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Secretary/Treasurer, and
(currently 9) Fleet Captains. NOTE: the Rear Commodore position in a yacht club and the
Secretary/Treasurer position in the Catalina 42 International Association are responsible for
club/association administration, and therefore their flags are the same. The
Commodore's flag consists of a field of dark blue with a white fouled anchor surrounded by
thirteen white stars. The Vice Commodore's flag consists of a field of red with a white
fouled anchor surrounded by thirteen white stars. The Rear Commodore's flag consists of a
field of white with a red fouled anchor. The Fleet Captains' flag consists of a field of
white with a dark blue fouled anchor.
Private Signal (recommended)
Usually a tapered, swallow tail pennant, but sometimes a rectangle or triangle. The tradition of the private pennant signal, or "house flag," currently used dates back to the 18th and 19th century when the sailing ship lines were at their peak. Many line owners were yachtsmen and carried their "house flags" to their yachts. Many members of the older yacht clubs have "house flags" that have been passed down for generations. If a member does not have a private signal, one is recommended that is both simple and timeless in design and easily recognized from a distance to insure its continued use for future generations. Traditionally, initials were not used.
Other Signals
Owner Absent (recommended): A dark blue rectangular signal. When hoisted, it can often save the frustration of rowing across the cove or harbor only to find the owner gone ashore.
Owner Absent, Guest Aboard (optional): A rectangular dark blue signal with a white diagonal stripe starting from the upper corner at the hoist.
Owner at Meal (optional): A white rectangular flag for those who care to dine undisturbed.
International Code Flags (optional)
A set of these signals is both practical for cruising and necessary for dressing ship. May be displayed for signaling using the "International Code of Signals" for definition of the codes.
Yachts and shore stations shall make colors at 0800 and at sunset. When making colors, the Yacht Ensign or National Colors is hoisted first, followed by the Club or Association Burgee, club officers' flags, and private signals, respectively, and lowered in reverse order. The Union Jack may be displayed on a bow staff when at anchor on Sunday, holidays, or when the vessel is dressed.
Note: Yachts that will be unattended at sunset should make colors before leaving.
The tradition for over the past 100 years in yachting is that the Club (Association) Burgee be displayed on the bow staff or the truck using a staff or "pig stick." The reason for these locations is for maximum visibility under sail, as well as at anchor.
In recent years, yacht clubs have adopted the starboard spreader as an alternative location for the Burgee to accommodate yachts whose trucks are encumbered with wind indicators and electronic gear. However, the Burgee must be hoisted to the spreader (or "two-blocked"). Other flags may be hoisted beneath the club Burgee, in the following order: Association Burgee (if a yacht club Burgee is also being flown), Officer's Flag, Owner's Flag, other message flags.
Yachts at anchor must display the Ensign on a staff placed in a socket located on the starboard stern rail or pulpit as close to the center line as feasible.
All flags should be of the proper size for easy recognition and identification.
Yacht Ensign or National Colors
The fly (horizontal direction) shall be a MINIMUM of one inch per foot of overall length of the yacht, with the hoist (vertical direction) equal to two-thirds of the fly. Length overall should include bow platforms for better proportions. For the Catalina 42, its L.O.A. is 42 feet, therefore the minimum fly dimension is 42 inches; therefore, the standard size flag with a fly equal to or greater than 42 inches is 48 inches (with a hoist of about 30 inches). This flag should be flown on a staff that measures at least 60 inches long. Unfortunately, Catalina 42s come equipped from the factory with a one-inch socket, which is too small for such a large staff. The staff base can be shaved to fit into the one-inch socket (which is probably not a good idea in terms of strength), or the factory socket can be removed and a one-and-a-quarter- or one-and-a-half-inch diameter socket installed.
Burgee, Private Signal, Owner Absent, Owner at Meal, Guest, and International Code Flags
The fly shall be a MINIMUM of one-half inch per foot of the height of the highest truck, measured from the waterline, and with the hoist two-thirds of the fly. For the Catalina 42, the waterline-to-truck measurement is 58' 7"; therefore, the minimum fly for this class of flag for the 42 is about 30 inches; the minimum hoist should therefore be 20 inches.
On the Fourth of July and other special occasions, yachts may dress ship when at anchor. The International Code Flags are displayed from the waterline forward to the waterline aft, using weights at the ends in the following order arranged to effect color patterns throughout:
Starting forward: AB2, UJ1, KE3, GH6, IV5, FL4, DM7, PO 3rd repeater, RN 1st repeater, ST0, CX9, WQ8, ZY 2nd repeater.
Catalina 42s look really sharp dressed with code flags that measure 24"x24". About 15 flags (AB2...LV5) can hang forward of the mast; flags FL4...STO hang aft of the mast; the lower-most flag in each string should be weighted and hung over the stem or stern (almost touching the water). The main halyard works well for hoisting the flags, don't forget to attach a tag line to the halyard shackle so that the halyard can be returned to the deck.
The gear and U.S. Ensign necessary to comply with the Flag Routine are available at most marine hardware stores, such as BOAT/U.S. or West Marine. Other Flags can be custom made at flag/banner shops. In Southern California, Nikki's Flag Shop in Newport Beach caters to to yacht clubs and can make complete flag sets, including signal flags, officer's flags, burgees, and house flags. Prestige Flag makes our Catalina 42 International Association burgee.
| Prestige Flag 591 Camino de la Reina #917 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 876-5155 |
Nikki's Flag Shop |
Last Updated on September 12, 1999