Are signal flags still relevant?

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by jspla1

Thank you all for the replies. I've now washed and repacked this set for a second time. My concerns were both storage space and mildew. I will vacuum seal these and send into bilge storage.

While I concur that few coastal sailors in North America understand them, this is not the case everywhere. An analogy might be dayshapes: few recreational boaters use them; it's been some years since I've seen even an anchor ball on the Great Lakes, but they are certainly very common in Britain and France and you are obliged to use them as per COLREGs.

I suppose that's true here, too, but it's not enforced locally.

So keep the flags for "inspection purposes"?

[Lihuedooley77]

Our solution to the Flag question.

Having a reference book that lets us know what the heck they are trying to tell us.
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Such as loading or unloading munitions.

Added safety in addition to flags , near home.

Actually, here at the Los Alimitos Naval Weapons Station, the destroyers and cruisers
are loaded up with munitions and missiles. The pleasure boats pass fairly close,
but there are buoys laid out, and two armed patrol boats to make sure that
we all keep our distance. S.O,P.
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Back to the fun factor :

We have on board..... different flags.

1. Calif. State Flag
2. State of Hawaii Flag
3. Happy Harrrr ( happy hour pirate flag )

The above are displayed for fun and identification in the BVI
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4. Q flag ( When required )
5. American Flag, if U.S. Flagged vessel.
6. Courtesy Flag in foreign ports .
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1. Our Caif, Hawaii, and pirate flag, Help us in the BVI to separate our boat from all the others out in the mooring field. 36 ft Jeanneau from Conch Charters, now. Use to be moorings and sun sail. Helps to find the right boat after rumming on the sand.

2. Should friends be moored in the same anchorage, they can I.D. us, and are welcome to dink over for a libations , snacks, music and talk story.
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i think the yacht clubs like to full dress decorate their sailing vessels with the whole
line of flags and pennants for their opening day parade. Might be able to
sell, loan or give away the flags to a good cause, and not just toss them out
should a skipper decide not to keep the full set on board.

Hmmm, maybe a few rounds as a guest at the YC, and meet new sailing friends.

[Dooglas]

Are they still relevant? Sure. Toggle them all to each other and run them up the forestay as a decoration on Opening Day. Very nautical!

[CarinaPDX]

My Q flag out of the set started to fray so I bought a separate Q flag - wish I'd done that sooner. It is nice to dress ship on the 4th but otherwise mostly useless. I recommend buying only the specific flags you need unless you enjoy dressing ship. Around here it is hard to get people to replace their tattered U.S. flags; respect for Old Glory is a thing of the past I'm afraid. Some of the vets here aren't impressed...


Greg

[taxwizz]

Originally Posted by LoudMusic

N - Negative
O - Man Overboard
V - I Require Assistance
A - Keep Clear

Oh well ...

NOVA is French for "My boat will not go"
LOL

[taxwizz]

I purchased my first sailboat in 1960 at the age of 15.
Then I made a set of signal flags out of coloured nylon, myself, on my mother's old treadle operated Singer sewing machine. I never actually used them, but I learned how to use a sewing machine, and felt very proud of myself. And I still have them !

[Scotty Kiwi]

Originally Posted by StuM

> Charlie Oscar First Substitute Kilo Tango India Lima Sierra Space Alpha Second Substitute One Seven


What's a cocktil ?

A till for cocks. Old fashioned cash register used on boats plying the worlds oldest trade.

?

[Lihuedooley77]

lordy, this thought just zapped into my mind.

Maybe you all have an idea what the flags were for the following ship to ship signal

Decades ago, there was a shirt and embroidery shop, in lido village, newport beach,
ca. Just down stairs from our sailing club where I instructed.

The shirts were quality, and they would embroider any flag or flags signal that
you requested, and they had a book to refer to.

I picked

STOP YOUR VESSEL, DO NOT USE YOUR WIRELESS, AND DO NOT ABANDON SHIP
OR I WILL OPEN FIRE ON YOU.

I searched today, no luck.

Any clue from you all.

Thank you

[StuM]

You should stop immediately. Do not scuttle. Do not lower boats. Do not use the wireless. If you disobey I shall open fire on you.


Sierra November.

[CarinaPDX]

You too can waste time finding flag codes here: http://www.seasources.net/PDF/PUB102.pdf

It is a whole lot easier to look up the meaning from the code letters than finding the code letters for the meaning.

One favorite: QR 1 (request permission to lie alongside)

Greg

[StuM]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

You too can waste time finding flag codes here: http://www.seasources.net/PDF/PUB102.pdf

It is a whole lot easier to look up the meaning from the code letters than finding the code letters for the meaning.

One favorite: QR 1 (request permission to lie alongside)

Greg

I'v got a neat little app on an Android tablet that lets you do both easily, but it doesn't seem to be available any more: ICS by Jozsef Lazar.
There do seem to be quite a few similar apps.

[Seymore]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

You too can waste time finding flag codes here: http://www.seasources.net/PDF/PUB102.pdf

It is a whole lot easier to look up the meaning from the code letters than finding the code letters for the meaning.

One favorite: QR 1 (request permission to lie alongside)

Greg

Good posting.

The Code of Signals is the same for ships of all nationalities, no matter what language they speak, so they communicate with the flag signals. Accordingly, if you ever head to a foreign country, you might consider carrying a Code of Signals and signal flags.

They're useful in other situations too, for example by the warship taking on munitions who has to tell other ships to keep clear. That would be impractical by radio.

Every cruising sailor should know that the Code of Signals publication exists.

[jmorrison146]

When I was single and living aboard Mojo, my Jeanneau 36i in San Diego, I had this flag at the spreader, ready for breaking should the need arise.

[Donald Bryden]

We use our signal flags when there is a national holiday either domestic or foreign. I think the local people appreciate seeing a vessel dressed in signal flags acknowledging the holiday. It is surprising how many national holidays foreign countries have. As a guest in their country, I think recognizing their holiday creates good will. As for the Q and the A flags, I have a separate one of each of those so I don't have to open the flag pack every time I want them.

[CarinaPDX]

StuM: I couldn't find an app that provided anything like the full set of codes. If you could install "APK Extractor" from the Google Play store you could use it to copy and make it available... OTOH I can't imagine needing it either.


Greg