CCA Flag and Burgee Etiquette
Submitted by Fleet Captain Ernie Godshalk
General
Flags are displayed properly or not at all.
Morning colors are made at 0800; evening colors at sunset; when in foreign waters, evening colors may be made according to local custom; evening colors are, subject to local custom, observed at 2100 hours if sunset is later.
As used herein, “may” means the routine is permissible; “starboard spreader” means the lowest, forward-most starboard spreader.
Each flag has its proper position; only one flag is displayed in the specificed position.
Ensign
As used herein, “ensign” means the national ensign or, if of US registry and in US waters, the (circle of thirteen stars around fouled anchor in field) yacht ensign, as granted by the Secretary of the Navy to distinguish pleasure from commercial vessels.
A yacht in commission and manned displays the ensign only as follows:
- When not underway, a yacht displays the ensign at the stern between morning and evening colors (a yacht that will be unmanned at color time makes evening colors beforehand).
2. Underway, a yacht displays the ensign when there is sufficient light for identification.
a) A power yacht or a sailing yacht under power alone displays the ensign at the gaff or, lacking a gaff, at the stern.
b) A yacht under sail, when not racing, displays the ensign preferably at the gaff or upper leech of the aftermost sail, or at the stern. The ensign shall not be displayed when racing.
3. The US national ensign
a) is displayed by a foreign-flagged vessel in US waters at the starboard spreader
b) may be displayed by a foreign-flagged vessel in non-US water from the port spreader when a US citizen is aboard the vessel
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The Cruising Club of America Burgee
Burgee etiquette afloat: The Club burgee is displayed only when a yacht is under the direct command of a Cruising Club of America member. The Club burgee is displayed at the mainmast truck of sloops and cutters; at the bow staff of single-mast power yachts, at the foremost truck of schooners and multi-masted power yachts. The Club burgee may be displayed at night.
Burgee etiquette ashore: “the speaker’s right”. When planning to display the Club burgee vertically on a wall or a podium, try using that phrase to remember that the top of the burgee (the crest of the wave) goes to the observer’s left, or the speaker’s right, as shown on the top of this page.
The Cruising Club of America Member Aboard Flag
A member displays the CCA Member Aboard flag at the starboard spreader when in command of a yacht lacking a flag halyard at the truck; when displaying the flag of the Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, Treasuruer, Historian, Station Captain, Post Captain or Fleet Captain in place of the burgee on his or her own boat, or, with the owner's permission, aboard a yacht as a guest. The CCA Member Aboard flag may be displayed at night.
Dressing Ship
On the appropriate occasions, a yacht may, when not underway (or when underway in a marine parade), weather permitting, dress ship from morning to evening colors. Any sequence is acceptable, but the following will give the best mix of colors: Starting from bow - AB2, UJ1, KE3, GH6, IV5, FL4, DM7, PO Third Repeater, RN First Repeater, STO (Zero), CX9, WQ8, ZY Second Repeater, Answering Pennant. The first two flags descend from the bow to the water, and the last two descend to the water from the transom/boom.
Private Signal
The private signal may be displayed by cutters and sloops sewn to the leech of the mainsail, approximately two thirds of the length of the leech above the clew, or at the truck in lieu of the burgee; by schooners and power yachts at the mainmast truck; and by yawls and ketches at the mizzen truck. The private signal may be displayed at night.
Commodore’s, Vice Commodore’s, Rear Commodores’, Secretary’s, Treasurer’s, Historian’s, Station Captain’s, Post Captain’s or Fleet Captain’s flags
Such flags are, on the respective flag-holder’s yacht or on a member’s yacht being used by a flag officer on official business, displayed day and night at the main truck of cutters, sloops, schooners and single-masted power yachts; at the mizzen truck of yawls, ketches and similarly-rigged power yachts; or, when a guest aboard a yacht, with the owner’s permission, at the starboard spreader. When such flag replaces the burgee, the Member Aboard flag may be displayed from the starboard spreader.
Past Commodore’s, Past Rear Commodores’, Fleet Surgeon’s, Judge Advocate’s, and Quartermaster’s flags
Such flags may be displayed at the starboard spreader at Club rendezvous and other appropriate occasions.
Union Jack
The Union Jack (U.S.) may be displayed at the bow, either on a jack staff or suspended between the jib luff and anchor chain, between morning and evening colors only when not underway and only on Sundays and holidays (legal or traditional) or when dressing ship.
Circumnavigation and Transoceanic Pennants
These may be displayed at the starboard spreader at Club rendezvous and other appropriate occasions, in accordance with the award rules.
Foreign National Colors
When in foreign waters, the national colors of the host country are displayed at the starboard spreader day and night. When displaying foreign national colors at the starboard spreader, other flags, except a quarantine flag, that would otherwise be displayed at the starboard spreader, are displayed at the port spreader. On yachts with no spreaders, foreign national colors are displayed at the truck.
Starboard Spreader
The starboard spreader is not an acceptable alternative to other flag positions set forth above. Its flag use is limited to foreign national colors; quarantine flag; flag officers' and similar flags; pennants, as set forth above; the Member Aboard flag; and signals such as owner absent, code flag hoists and the like.
Sizes of Flags
Sizes are optional, but the following is an acceptable standard:
a)The ensign should approximate one inch on the fly per foot of overall length.
b) The burgee, flags, and private signal, should approximate one half inch on the fly for each foot of height of highest truck above the water line on sailing yachts and for each foot of length of power yachts.
c) Hoists should approximate two-thirds of the fly.
