Flag etiquette is defined here by two tables. The first table lists the flags in numerical order of precedence. Many members will have occasion to fly only the first three of these flags. Others may on occasion fly them all. The second table lists the locations in order of precedence annotated alphabetically.

To determine the correct location for each flag:

1. Identify the flags that will be flown and their order of precedence from the first table.
2. Determine the correct location for these flags from the second table

Flags in Order of Precedence

Locations in Order of Precedence

Members with sailboats are strongly encouraged but not required to have both port and starboard flag halyards. For flag etiquette or protocol issues not covered here, please refer to the section on proper display of flags in Chapman’s Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling.In the event of a conflict with Chapman’s, the Seattle Yacht Club Flag Etiquette shall control. Example: You are sailing your sloop and want to fly the club burgee and a registered private signal, in addition to the ensign. You have flag halyards on port and starboard spreaders. The ensign (flag precedence 1) would fly from the stern staff, the burgee (precedence 2) from the main starboard spreader, and your private signal from the main port spreader. If you crossed the border into Canada, after crossing into Canadian waters, you would fly the Canadian national ensign as a courtesy flag from the main starboard spreader and move the burgee to the main port spreader above your private signal.

Flag Size

Ensigns flown at the stern staff should be one inch on the fly for every foot of overall length. All other flags, including courtesy flags, are sized on the fly in accordance with mast height for sailboats (1/2” per foot) or overall length for powerboats (5/8” per foot). On Sundays and holidays, when anchored or moored, a boat may fly its National Ensign one size larger than described here (holiday colors).

Seattle Yacht Club Burgee

The burgee may be flown on a boat only when a Seattle Yacht Club member is aboard or when the member’s boat is unattended at a dock, mooring or at anchor. The burgee is not to be flown on a commercial vessel. The burgee must be flown at all Seattle Yacht Club outstations from arrival until departure. (It should not be struck for temporary absences of the member). Members in good standing who fail to display the Seattle Yacht Club burgee properly will not be allowed to stay at a Seattle Yacht Club outstation.

Courtesy Flag (Host Country National Flag)

Strict protocol and flag etiquette require that when a foreign national flag is flown as a courtesy flag, it be flown unencumbered (alone). However, recent custom allows that sailing vessels having only one flag halyard, may fly the courtesy flag at the top of that halyard, with the remaining flags in order of precedence below it. The courtesy flag is sized in accordance with the instructions above. It is raised on crossing into the host country’s waters and flown until leaving those waters.

Private Signals

Club By-Law 13.10 permits members to adopt a private signal to be registered with the Club Secretary. Design your signal, using either a rectangular or swallowtail and confirm your design with the Club Secretary. Then have your signal and plaque made to Club specifications, preferably using an approved vendor. The plaque will be hung in the Club and the design shown in the registration log. Fly your private signal properly and proudly!

1. An ensign need not be flown while racing, or on the high seas, unless required for national identification or flag salutes. USPS members should see USPS directives for flying the USPS flag. USCGA members should see USCGA directives for flying the USCGA flag.
2. An ensign may be flown after sunset if properly illuminated.
3. May be flown in lieu of U.S. Ensign (in U.S. waters only).
4. In the case of a sailboat with port and starboard flag halyards, the burgee must be flown on the starboard spreader halyard with only a Seattle Yacht Club Officer’s Flag (see footnote 7) beneath, with all other flags then being flown from the port spreader. The SYC burgee is not to be flown on the starboard halyard with “Other Flags” as described in footnote 10.
5. The Cheechako flag signifying a new member is always flown, if possible, immediately beneath the Seattle Yacht Club burgee. If this location is not possible, then choose the next location in order of precedence. The Cheechako flag is flown for the first twelve months of membership.
6. “While aboard” means the SYC member or spouse is either aboard or temporarily ashore, intending to return to the boat that same day.
7. Refers to current officers but also includes Past Commodore, Honorary Life Commodore flags, current and past Opening Day Admiral, Vice Admiral and Admiralette flags. The flag of the highest ranking officer aboard shall be flown. If other officers are aboard, their flags should be displayed below the flag of the highest ranking officer aboard in descending order of precedence.
8. Flags including but not limited to Grand 14, Sailboat of the Year, Powerboat of the Year, Women’s Group, Eight Ball, Half Vast, Commodore’s Cruise, NORPAC and official Seattle Yacht Club event and honorary flags.
9. As registered with the Club Secretary pursuant to Section 13.10 of the By-Laws
10. “Other Flags” include but are not limited to those flags authorized by naval, military or recognized yachting organizations, including other yacht clubs of which the skipper is a member. They may be displayed at the option of the skipper in accordance with their respective regulations. If a skipper has flags in this category to be displayed, they must be flown from a port spreader halyard. No flag from this category may be flown from the starboard halyard with the Seattle Yacht Club burgee.
11. No other flag but an ensign may be flown from these locations.
12. As an alternate, the burgee may be flown at the masthead. In that case, all other flags below the burgee move up one location in order of precedence.