Flag Etiquette
For those interested here is an excerpt on Flag Etiquette and link for more details.
F
rom: USPS Updated Flag Code for Recreational Boats
https://www.usps.org/f_stuff/etiquett.html#updated-code
The U.S. national ensign, sometimes called "50-star" or "Old Glory," is the proper and preferred flag for all U.S. vessels. Your boat should wear it from 0800 until sunset, and when you enter or leave port during daylight or at night, weather and rig permitting. While in port, if you leave your boat and will not return before sunset, lower and stow the national ensign before you go.
The national ensign worn by a vessel must be the flag of her registry—not necessarily that of the owner or operator.
Generally, the national ensign should be
displayed at the peak of the gaff, i.e., the outer end of the spar extending aft from the mast of your boat—if you boat has a gaff. If it does not, fly it from the
flagstaff at your boat's stern. If your boat has an overhanging boom or an outboard motor, your flagstaff may be offset to starboard (preferably) from your boat's centerline.
The U.S. yacht ensign - features a blue canton (the rectangle at the upper corner nearest the staff) having 13 white stars and a fouled anchor. Originally devised as a signal to identify documented yachts to relieve them of certain customs formalities, it is now flown on recreational boats of all types and sizes instead of the national ensign in domestic waters. Traditionally, the yacht ensign had a 10:19 hoist/fly ratio like the U.S. ensign. Today it is found with a 2:3 or 3:5 ratio. However, the preferred flag is the 50-star national ensign, especially since the yacht ensign must never be flown in international or foreign waters since it has no standing as a national ensign.
The USPS ensign has a red canton containing 13 white stars surrounding a fouled anchor. The remainder of the flag contains thirteen vertical blue and white stripes. The USPS ensign has a 2:3 hoist/fly ratio. [Design] It is flown as a signal to others that the boat is commanded by an active member of USPS.
The preferred location for flying the USPS ensign is the
starboard yardarm or spreader halyard. It may be worn there day and night. While in U.S. waters, the USPS ensign
may be flown instead of the national ensign, and in any position and at any time appropriate to fly the national ensign.
The USPS ensign may be flown on boats displaying the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (blue) ensign to indicate the owner is a member of both organizations, however when doing so, it may not be flown in lieu of the national ensign. The USPS ensign cannot be flown when the vessel is operating under U.S. Coast Guard orders and the USCGAux operational ensign is being worn.
Yacht Club Burgee - Generally triangular in shape, although sometimes swallow-tailed, the yacht club burgee contains a unique design symbolic of the organization represented. If you boat is a mastless or single-masted yacht,
fly your burgee from the bow staff. Boats without a bow staff should
wear a burgee at the truck (top) of a single-master yacht. On the other hand, if the truck is occupied with instruments or other conflicting gear, a pigstick can be affixed to a halyard so as to carry a flag above the truck. Alternatively, the
burgee may be worn at a spreader halyard. If your boat has two or more masts, fly your burgee at the truck (top) of the forward mast.
Do not display more than one burgee at a time. The burgee your boat wears should be that of the group in whose activity you are participating, or whose harbor you are entering, if you are a member of that group. Otherwise, fly the burgee of your home organization. Each yacht club usually has rules that determine when their burgee should be flown.
USPS Squadron Burgee - A distinguishing USPS Squadron burgee which has been authorized by USPS
may be flown in lieu of a club burgee and from the same positions. This burgee may be flown both day and night.
Owners Private Signal - This is a personal flag, often called house flag. It is usually swallow-tailed, designed by the individual owner to depict a personal interest, hobby, family tradition, initials, or the like. A private signal should be a unique design and always in good taste. It should not include or be the ensign of a foreign country, nor duplicate a design previously adopted by someone else.
On a mastless vessel,
fly your private signal from the bow staff. A single-masted vessel
may wear it at the truck of the mast (replacing any other signal normally worn at that point)
or from a spreader halyard.
