Flags - How Big ?

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Bash

I use the smallest ensign I can get away with. The one-inch-per-foot recommendation must have originated with a flag company at some point; it certainly didn't come from someone who kept a tender on davits.

An inch per foot LOA doesn't appear too large to me.




(Don't hassle me about the sails' trim. Was in the process of making a 360.)

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by markpierce

An inch per foot LOA doesn't appear too large to me.

Exactly. I even consider it skinny




cheers,
Nick.

[markpierce]

Here, properly sized, and not touching the water.

[nhschneider]

We, too, subscribe to the 1" of 'fly' (length of the flag) for every foot of boat length. However, protocol says that the boat's country flag should be no larger than the courtesy flag. Nor should the country flag be hoisted higher than the courtesy flag.

By the way, we were just in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and we heard the Port Captain deny a freighter entry into the harbor because they didn't have an American Samoa courtesy flag. Pretty harsh.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by nhschneider

However, protocol says that the boat's country flag should be no larger than the courtesy flag. Nor should the country flag be hoisted higher than the courtesy flag.

I had only heard the second one about not being hoisted higher. I have never seen courtesy flags bigger than ensigns and still think it was written wrong somewhere...

cheers,
Nick.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by nhschneider

We, too, subscribe to the 1" of 'fly' (length of the flag) for every foot of boat length. However, protocol says that the boat's country flag should be no larger than the courtesy flag. Nor should the country flag be hoisted higher than the courtesy flag.


Fair winds and calm seas.

I'm curious: whose protocol are you quoting here (re relative size of ensign and courtesy flag)? The only place we've ever heard this rule was Indonesia some years ago... possibly not true today. And it is certainly not followed anywhere that we've sailed so far. Really, if you think about it, flying a flag larger than your 1" per foot of length standard from the starboard spreader would look pretty strange to most observers.

Cheers,

Jim

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by markpierce

An inch per foot LOA doesn't appear too large to me.




(Don't hassle me about the sails' trim. Was in the process of making a 360.)

Finally, a motorsailer than makes MY motorsailer look like a Volvo 60!

Nice ship, there, Skipper, but I think you're over the 50/50 rule.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Finally, a motorsailer than makes MY motorsailer look like a Volvo 60!

Nice ship, there, Skipper, but I think you're over the 50/50 rule.

Thanks, but the boat is not intended to be a motorsailer. It's a pure motorboat with a small fore-and-aft sail rig added for stabilizing and a bit of "free" motive power. It's described as a sail-assisted trawler.

[S/V Alchemy]

Fair enough. I've seen "riding sails" on some trawlers that are raised to lessen roll/increase stability, but not with a rig substantial enough to actually move the boat unassisted. That looks as if it could give you 4-5 knots in 20 knots of wind...which would certainly reduce one's diesel bill.

Very "shippy", in any case.

[dennisail]

I ended up with a blue flag that is 90cm. According to the 1" per 1' rule I need a 100cm flag so it seems pretty close. Bias boating did not have a red one but it seems I can use both, well I hope.