MAY 2018 BEACON

With our flag raising ceremony just around the corner, I thought I would cover "Flag Etiquette". I have taken my information out of the 66th Edition of "Chapman Piloting and Seamanship" written by Charles B. Husick (2009) and internet other sites displaying US Flag and during Maritime. The flag pole or mast of a yacht club is considered to represent the mast of a vessel, and the peak of the gaff, if one is used, is the place of honor from which the U.S. ensign is flown, just as it would be on a gaff- rigged boat. The location of the gaff on the pole is opposite to the direction to the water-as if it were on a ship standing out to sea” (p. 859). On a gaff rigged flag pole it is acceptable to fly another flag, such as a yacht club burgee, at the very top of the pole. This is acceptable because the burgee would not be "directly on top of" the U.S. ensign. Even though this does not apply to N.C.Y.C., because we fly our burgee at the very top of our club house, I just wanted to point it out as proper flag etiquette. Looking sea ward towards the flag pole you will see a horizontal pole. This pole is referred to as "the yard arm". Foreign ensigns and other club affiliations may be flown to your right and flag officers would be flown to your left. For further information concerning flag etiquette for both land based or out to sea also piloting and seaman ship refer to your latest edition of Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship.

See you o the Island, R/C Bill

Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship Husick (2009, p 858)