rya flag etiquette & visual signals

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C4/01



8

International Code l of Signals

Code & 'm~ring I"endianl:

(II Oscar

UUnilorm

1

V V'l'Ctor

IEEdlo

Ie Klla

Da Quebec

WWhisJcey

[IA Alii!

:K .X-ray

Numera,IIPendants

B lk'.vo

;1

MMI1ce N NovemMr

T Tan g.o

Zlu1u

Subsllitutes

II



flag etiquette& visual signa s

Wri~tfel'!by the RYA andCommander R' l: Hewitt MVO fiN

First Pubrished (~969) as Aags,and Signals.

Reviset1lttto an .RYA bOCk 1975.

R@riJ1l'ed June 1987 ami 19S5;

This editJ on r,qxJ ated Octl;1be l'2001.

An R,YApll.Iblication

IPnl1ted by The JPS Groop

A Y APt.ibllshed by

Tile Royall "tackling AssociationAVA H~ ' E r t s JQnWa'i H;:u'llt>leSaJt~pton 5 0 :1 01 4 lJ 'Afel: 1'l845 3IUi 0400fa:>:.; 0945 345 002"9Emai~; mIo@oyH_ory.iJi\IVeb: www.l) 'B.org.uk

CI ~I !IiI\!iII' fo. .IIti '! l ~ n IIn....,g,,- ~ L _,.r;n RO ....ng Il: ;I ~ '*'OlfIci r.s p.Uo:aUl[i11" . . . ,re ~....,.tillo!P>tIl ",.~.."., ...... - IkIaI 'rli :mD"1I I, ~ ,".- .~~ rt-~'Ill __ l":gtii"""'--'~'"

kII lI'Ii" i J!



co

FOREWO.RD

PART I FLAGISfJags worn by a t ' 1dflownfromBntish yachts

The Ensignnmes cluJi1g \MtlchEnsigns shouldbe wOIn

Posil1:lrtS!rom~h IewearEnsignsThe Red EnSlgf1

The special EnsT!1'I$

Condrtbns governing !lie Issue of yachl pem'lits

ForeIgn O roowtesyEnsigns

Club burgees and flags of f·lag officersQlubburgee

Flag OIflCSr 'sftags

SpeCIaln a gof Past Dorrmodore .VlooPresident, e tc

General

Posit iOnof burgee o r F lag O fflC ei"s flag

MerrtJefSlllpofmore1tlan one club

House flagsEl.lOnagRVA~ag

The owne r's hcus e nag o r cIIs tln goo h/1gflag

Chartered yesselsSpecial flagsThe Un " r o nR agThe Pilol JackF l a g0

The 1JiW1gR ag

Racing flagsRetlremeniP l ID tE l s t

Quick reference guIde for fJag posltlonlnglPlI'ize flag.sMourningNationalli" 'DJlTIlngPr.vate . - n o um n gHo is ttng IO f1d~ng &1slgns a nd b.Jrg e eson 0CCBSi0l"lS vrIli!!f1lhey

a rtl be ing'NCIm at hal1 rT"aSI

5

6666ii i

B

9

9

11

1212

1212

12

13

13

1313.

13

14·

14

1414151515

15

15

15

16

18

18

18

19

19



SolutesDressing shipDressing O\I8ra1l

OnlsslrlQ ! I ! I iU1mast-head flags

Dates!or ~ng Sh IP

1'9

1919

20

20

PART II YACHT SIGNALLINGInterna'tional Code of ~Signals(1969)General instructiOnsIMorseoode

ProrlE!!lctables

PmoadIXa signais

S 1n gle le ite r s ig nals

S:1ngIeletIersJ;jnals withcornplerlQ'ltsTatjss of comple'n9nls

Flag sig:nallill1g[)elin1l:~ns

Equipmllflt rBQUII"8d

Pr I : . J . oodu re

Identity of wss~

SUb!ilitulusAl1s .we r i r 1gPerIdarn

M:orse·code by fl.ashing lightSpacirg

Prcx:edLX8signals

:MOISe~cedlJre (1\eMlI1g RghtJ

No::e s onproood.Jre signals

TiTinsmirtingmorseLearning the moo;e ceee

MIlIE8 code by o!he~ methods

Sound signalsSound sigoolS in rwtricted \iisjblify

Vesl!BIsIfI slght 01 each othrl-

SoIIldsigns!s rer distress purposes

U rg uC iI M di~ant Sigl"lalsSo. .nd' 99MS - procedureWlBnirg s lQ! ' l a l

2122

2324

2 5

2 .5

2S

2627

2828

2829

29

. 29130

.:30

30

31

31

32

3233

33

33

33

34

34

3434

35



D,lstress signals ~ generalReplie s '10 d IS tre s s~gna~Landil'lg signals f o e -boots With rescuad personsSignals,used by aircraft o n s earch;n:I /!8SOJeoperali(li1s

Miscellaneous siign.alsPr :a t lQlJ ! I !mo o . S < l g e s

Pilot sfgnalSRsha"y pmlOCLJOnships and listung ~

Port sfgnalsIntemalbr12l pat !ra ffic s (g na lS

Tide signalsInlemallooal pert traffic signals - exarrr_

AppendixInternatIOnal CorJe - se1ected gro~s

35

36

36

36

36

36

ID37

37

sr36

38

3939



FOREWORD

flag etiquette, as, B whOlB, is a mixture 01 law and good l'flaFInerswhich MVo rigetI 001of tradition. The sooond poInt IS Important as bad l'fIBJ"IIefS can offend and IJpSeI:others. lit is good. lhefe1me,to ma:ke the effort to understand and observe the tradi1ioosand QlStoms of motor or sailcrulsing, ThiS book aims to clarify the main points of flagetiquette and olhervisual signalling methcids. Rag _w t t eIs no t difficLill, tile basicflJIe s are s imp le,and the sa ti$f<K;'! iQnQaIned from doingi1 rig ht s<hoold I'lG Ibeundarestjm a.ted. - -

~krlow'foog~t rrIllSlbe given to those people who have helped !l:1e' AVAto prodllCethis ti:lookO'iier ils various edit~rn;. "fuese are 'Ille late Major Heckstall...smith, 0F'Ie timee ditor ,ofYacnllng World , : :md lCaptain fMC Bam ldoug'Jil OBE IFIN(leW}. A11.11OugtitHsbook contains a grea~ deal ol' additional material which wlllb,e useful to sailors, theCOffIPilers of the firet edition leaned heavi1y00 captain Barraclough's ,book entitledY&Ch1F lag sao o E rn ifg flS ,later (ll'-titied Rag E tlqu etle for Yac.f)I'S..

\NIl,11000eo u e fIJOy Illis bo o'k and gain'the SBtlsfactJOon of knowing lhat yoor Ila.g-~~~~ -



Flags WOIiJ!1 by and flown "rom

Br1tJsh yachtsTha flags and E nsigns ~ w<m

Dj and I l owInfrom Bri1.ishyachts c:cmprise:

t. Tne Ensig 1 ' '1 .

2. The club oorgee or spe cia l flag ofoffioo;s of a yacht club.

a House !lags .4. Special R a g s .

5 Racing Ilag9 QGCa : ! ; JO r 1 a J y,

6. Prize flags.

The l; slcry of the use of EnSigns dale sright back kl a:I : lol i i !1510. In lhose days,Ille Enslgl'ls almost ~ariabIy had Itie51 Gool 'gE'sCross in 1M ca.n tnn whereth eUnion F I 8gis in the present E nsign.The~nder 0 1 ~ E rJ S IQ n 's a re a ~covered wilh tntzontalsirlEs tl'1cfiC8~~

the I JO I 1from ~ the vesseil'lall!d, TheI.ffl of Sl.(:h rrr;;igns d@dir:ed and early InIre severtl'ei3rJ11h r;ootlolry-the Red . \lVhiteand Blue Ensigns began 10 tE used- In1674 the Rad Ensign ~ l.he EnsIgn0/ ,BriLlshI1"I!l«:hanI sOps.

Yacht dubs started !;KlinglormedSOI'TiI ' lwfweroorC abo>J 1120, ard it tS00I\wed 1 f 1 6 1me RO ) 'il.I CO IfI< ;YB lC f rl C lJ D ,origirlally called IhIl \Nale r O i.Jb 01 lheHartlou' 01 Cork .was Ihfl first It wasreforrrJOO II\ nl.22 as the Colt. Yaclll Club.

Tre CurnberIer!d Socittty was fooTe d byftIe !Juke of Cumbef\af1d in -1775 and in1823 be cBmette Tham:!sYachl Club. Thepre fuo: •Royal' YIIasgranted in 1830 and IJfl

1 9 Fe brl;< \J)' 1 B35 ~he ch.b wllS ~ Ie d an

Admm3.J tywanant ro wear a plaln W h Iefns:Qn bearing In the n ya crown m ertilerelters RT'YC In red. Poor 10, Md after thatdate. a rum'ber of cl\.bs """'Ie- h<lppilywesring Ensisn~Without authority. Therecords M O llY !N o lthe F10va IYachtSqwdn:rl was gmnled the i'lgl'itlo we a r -tha VVhitBEf'Isign in113 29, but, althai dais,the Red EnsIgnwas slil the senior Enaign.

-

~ 1859 lhe Admlrall)' w~ afl Warrat115

10 V I I OO rthe \M 'Il:e EnSIIQnsllll 9JU$Lingexcept from the. Roya ' 'I1Jchl Squadron.The~"I to WMr t f1e8lu€I EnsJgn ls dealtV!li thlater ! r 1tillS book.

THE ENSIGNGeneralfv, Ihe uOO 01 the Nlbooal ~

IS governed IJ y statutes and statutoryregu~tions (The~ Stli~!'lg .Acts

and CJveen 'sReguJat ioosfa Itle RbyilJNavYI, a lth ough ,inlpen It is ~oo bycustOJTlardtraditionexcep t thaf thed es ig n an d m < lIT ll!l' o fU!lIe of the se nllgs

moo !1101 conflictwill'1i'lr'I)l BxlsringrsgJlallOl1 Of!liCOglVSBdsignal code.

The EMgn ~Ihe na~ona:Iflag m denotesthe CClUflI1)o'of reg~tl("')f'L G ena :a lIy t1 isVIlLIJof IooNthe MtionaiitY 0 1 tile OWf8,

ailllO'!.!gh Spain 10r ~Ie, bas ! ' lJI1;$fu r!'he rngis\TBIn"1 in SpaJn o! y.acn1'!IO!Mledby resJOOnI. Ibreignern. IndM:;lUBi5 afleo:;;ledb y .$IJdl nies WI JO I dbe mqulredlo f ly theSpilllISh ens ign . ! )f llngthe Ilag 01 thecountry o fregistrationratl"8- than thai 01lhe owne r's n3IJ ooaity.

nmes, during whichEnsigns should be wornAt seaThe rUles fur pe ace tim e are se twin rutl,

althoug.h II IS oo \l'lOus ly un like lythai a yachlWJ I !I l1cl u tse llIn ItI;! situalCiOde scribed 111subseClloo 1 Delow:1. TheEMign should be VIQll

cooom JWS iy at se aby o a yand by riglltby a \If!SSe1,llying or esc :o rt ioga RoyalSlandard or Flag of a ~d of Stale,

.2 , The E nsign is 10 .be hois!ed If there issufliciEnl/IgtIt frY il to be seen, IJponpassing 01 ~g me 01 H er(y fa je s zy's S iJ /j'lS ,and also, IlnIess thereslTooldbe · same raaso nfa Itle conlral).Cfl failing In wrl,h a r r yalher ship or ~at SM, rN wh£in wMJn sIgtIt of or t1f!<lr1.0 IWld. and cspeciafy when passmg IX



a~ IOtts. bali'~ signa! orOO<isttjpJIUd sJations. ~th£Mses or,~. Th~ Is the strict rule 9ildappears 10 IJrS·StJppO!l8 IMI thelre is noobjectlon 10 tlao'lll1g1M Ens ig n oownd t.n tlg dBl"llr1le s sor when cut 01 slgnl Cil'fand 01 oIher ships .

3. Vllhen mang, Ihe RaRC la"jI oownlherure Ihat an Ens ign shou ld001" 00 worn

at le .-the live miriU le gun.and dU'W"ogaraea (lSIless tile yacht has rel'lred) art'!shoUld be . . . .omafta' the yacht hascrosser! !he 5lis.hing m.

4. It used to m eeospted procedure atI l ' l I ' lS tmgattas Ioryaohlslargerthllndinghies 10 IeINetheir moo:ings 'INI3~

an ErnlIgI'1wi this praotitJe has 1Iif1uefyceased. 1-bweYet.i~ ll!! Ensign is WCIm.il and irs steff s110uId be I\eirrIO\iad beforeor sllO O ~ve m inute gun 10Sigrtfy thatthe yacht Is subject to ISM ru J e s .

'n MFbourInBr~iSiIlWOlters, the proper 11mBItli

heisting 1he Ensigi1 'S 0800 (09CJ0 in t'I1ew ln tE :! mon lh SI : : ie l IJ lJOOl ' l1 Novemberand14 February fldusIve). EnSigns.aI@ alvilaystov.enIDat SlJl'ISel orat 2100 local time. ife c u1 i e f .

Wtien abroad. lhe local rus'lcrn shook! beIn llowed; gener< lll,. th Is Io 'I IilI00 Iow)rl to bethe sal'T'l'lllS m BntlshWillers. oIfho.Jgh,Inmost pj<lCeSwr.lh a ternpl!fate dlrn<lle,cobn: are hoisted at 0000 Itm\.Ighrul the

year. wnfte in edIel'OOnOfthem and

S(;Ifthem 1a11l1.Jdes.when SlJ1rlse IS laterman 0000 coIaJrS are r l " l l adeat sunriS!:l.

S lm latly , dllf irl_ g!he slJl11(l'i l: l' m onthsill hrghlatoh.d&i, wl'1en Sl .J1 . ! i I9 tm ay not OCGJf untlia "91)' ~te hour, II IS CUS!Of1lBI)' 10 I t> !anaroltr.Jry lime (rom.a1Iy21{lO ) lo rIowerlrJg'the ccIoors .

YechlB shoikl takB !he irtlrTl! lot I'loisting<II"(j ~nng colours f rornt l'1e~I()( stlippresent. II s tMp so! the Royal NaV}' ampfe5e!ll. tt1e ship of!he serIOI'OS'liel afflC€f,~ Ih I !senor $hip presen!; I I I " 1O t l eoj HM:st1ips are present, the principal yacht clubIn the·porI shaJd give!he lime by hdshngand ~ring lI'Ie Ensign at It9 t r a gsraff, andon oe l'E n'looia:l OOGaS ionsby a ! rpg[" l1 l1. SL . JCh

as lhe &1ngot a g..Jn.

F am "ll ell~ df the aOO~, ~ s sI1ou1de~'-'O\$ 10 fellow lhe aC'!ions of the~ 1189offiosr 01 a yoctrtGllb, jI one ispresent The !lag cffroers of dubs sMoUdap~le Ina! ~ tlSve Ihis Il'lSponsibillty.

As wlH be seen in lhe (;c:o(i~ about !he~ng of speoal Ersgns!P<\ge 10 pam. 7)

a special cl'lSlQ!'1can onJy be worn w nenthe 0I0IIITier-is in effectNfJ conlro/ of t~yacht lithe holder oI the 1pem1~ is absentlrom \he pori -such2. yacht can .~ wearIlle Rad Erisig'I.

The OreN (paid rs 1I1p.8Jd) . s h o u J dlhereforehoist the R ed EIlS~ at 0800 (0900 W lW II 'lte r l .If .dllnng the day, tn e O 'o IY I'le rwooholds a permi!.to wearE!$pOOiaIEnSl9"

comes ai:Joafd I h e J I I1M Red Ensignm3)l bereplaced with It!s &1S1fln 10 whleh he ise n titlB 'd . S (rr1lla 1y, il!"le le aws'~)'ad1t nOl..nlen:lrg to ,remain in 1M port. liren !heRed EnSIgn sIloUd besubslllLJ!ed lor the

special~.C IBa r J ) /!he circumslances of the use 01

!l'I:l'.J\yadl1s prOOude &IJict ~BVll i ththe linirg 0 1 misting Ensigns. 1 1ie

accepted !hat as soon as the aE:MIjoin lheyad'l! WlthJl"I!he pr9Scnbea hotn, then lh!!

co rreet E nslgn\MIlbe hOISted.

Ashore

TIlE! Whii!'!.and Blue Ensigns o! Her

Ml!.)E5ly"sAre! are PLftiy r Tw t t r n efWgsand In gene ra ltteir \.lSe on ~ k sInr:on'eCLTherehas, howe\ .rw, been aaJstommy externloo of Ihe ~ oIlhe\Nhlta &$gn (from It¥! harbour ship use das <I ReM estabilShm!!n~ to ~ 3I1dOIh~ bui',(lH'gS.00 shOre servif1gthe samepurpose. T h eA ! !has beEl ' l a para lle lex tl;ll '1S1()f1 ofthe use of ·Ihase from yachts,Cus tom s ve ss elsancIlhe like, 10 t h e i 1 "

~ers en 1M coasl . the dub house01 CuSioms office.

It is common also · r o rlhe While s1"IdB lueEnsigns to be used on CN\OtBphs sndol~ I'Teln:lrial!i to ~ ~i.N:; Iha IlyIlg aI ~anj bugees Il'orrl

U'l l i lclub hooSl'!S ·0 1yacht dubs is

~~1. il is desirable 10 give somegui~e 00 this pcli"'l,

Geoonllly. it can be .assumed!Itlalyachland SEIlllngclubs sf'raJld proceed exad.ty as



if !hey were regiStered Bnlish ships. In otherVI 'CI ' t ! s ,,a yad1t dub shc:uIdwaartba Ensign(lIthe club ort !he gaff of its fiagsl~ end ~stugee orlhe 'speciaI~ag of Ine 'Sef1ioro f f lOO f "of I!1B club P'~ in the 'P o rt -31the flagsl afj head.

TIle lli1meruleS lor c1roosllIg shipapply. Thoflags S~LJd be hoisted aJ . the time 01

making ooIo urs Inth e I1'laTing end lowereda tS J . J r " JSe1 .

With. Ihese exceptions.!he use of En5 IQ I " I SaShaa is 1 I " ICCI I "1 ' eC t_

IIa aI!lb'NiShesto ex te nd. aparticularCOIJl'tesy to ano ther-deb, wi1em , for,"~Ie, members are visitingfer tmpupDSe of a team fiJO). 1hE!nthe ~ . ofI~ w.ning ck . . io!"lUI',!be flo...., allhestarboard yald-a!lll. It Ihl's ciJ.Jbts anoverseruI dub, theft ns najlonal matllrmeEI'IS~n sroJd be !lawn at the slarboordY<!Id-armand lI'ie burge e 'nOM'! Irom thepori y81d-arm_

Positlons,frlom which tnwear EnsignsIfl getlI3ra',the g-uidingrule is that h

mos t ,important flag should be i 1 ' I IOS!prominently o l SD t a v e dend ilrlllle rr.ostimpcrlant position, the second mostimpDI't3n! nag irI lh e $e\::(} r) drrostlmpaIanl posijllOO. ,end so on, Datng !romI~ Ilene of salJongs l1ps. the a f I . e fpert 01ll"e stlrp Ms been COOSddemdihe n "O : I S t

mpor tan l part. as tile tIfflOerswereaocommodated aft and ihe slip cooned

ard v.orked from the poop < I 1 dquarter-dack.

The Ensign 01the co on l1'}' 10which theyoohl betm gs ~ lIlerrost impol"lanl 01 tIE!lags and 1 1shcuk:l be worn In the a f t e rpanof tI"E ~ip and mos t pron1inentiy cispIaved.usua1lyIran its 0WfI spe aal s taff on thelalfrail.

It is. i t 1C 'W e ' .! e f .b'npclssible lor some ships to

keep II'v;!EfISigl staff ~lpped when ~way o v. ; n g10 Inletff!ll't'lCBby !'>als o r ggaf'.WherlIi1js 000Js. the Ensig'1ShJuid beworn in ...position as near as ~ b!e inthat wh k : h it I I oOOk loccupy 'When fl)'irg~rocnit s staff

In ga If ·.r1ggedshiPS Ihis is IJI'iepe aK 01 Ules a ' l l00 fhe afte" mas! : [I.e. rn .a irrs a ll 0 1Sjngle-mas ted vessels. and sC '.l"iooners . andthe~ of three-masted vessels, yawls andketches),

Thi : i i .lOQSitlOnhas .beerI in use so Ior!g that "-CBn. be · t a I d .dowrIlhat a gall rigged yac~!when at sea rna)' Wear I'IerEnsign eIIher"a!

Ihe peak or at the Erwgn slaff. whIChever ispreferred.

~rmudan- ' lJgedyachts ~r adiffiClJlly;f'I !he past SCfOB have worn lher,Ensigns fnom C lposl1lr.:if1 appt"Q)Q.m<lIel)i'two·IN'ds uplM I I l il" IC tIat the alter s a J l .but thlspo$!lXln ~sunsatisfactory beoecse meEnsfgnmayMmeI im e s rurlf'IlO ihe lee 01lhe sa~and does nol It)IoUi.and, unless a

yod'!! has no othEr J lOS~njn fromwhld1 10'M!ar the Ensign. is no'I recommended,

Bernl.Jdan-ngged yadlts wnenal seashntKI wear lhe ~ es 1oI1ov.rs:

1 For atl t Y P e s :wl"l!!neverpo!lsllie fromthe Ensign steffon lht:l\i!fIra~

2. For slngJe-masted yachts, s c h O O ! lf !: l'5 ,Clships wil~mete lhan lVYOmasts In

whk:h 'the af ter-ma s' .~ asla u as, ort a n e rthan. Ihe D lhe r m a stsand theEnsign s 1 8 ff C 3 "lI1 O 'Ibe used. It " o r ime :is n oaIIennal.Mi r u t10 wear the Enstgn m aposifiQn two-thfrds up !he leech of thealter s a i l ,

S. For yav.rts,ketr.hBs am ~!S wltl'1!TOe thEll1tw omas t s where the aftermast is shorter fJ1anthe rnairlmast. fJ1en

the Ensign may be worna1 a staff a1 t o orn zzen rn asth e< Jd ,

Ir1 power--df'ivl:l!1yachts which hEllie an etter-mas t fitted WI!ha gaff.100 Ens ig n m ay bewcm al the peak 01 Iris gaff wilen alsea.The Red EnsignThts is L l " I epartbJ.Lar natJ.oo:~ !lag 01 L~

Bntish merchantman and as yachts <llt'lcasssd as merd'lall!rren, they are errtitledto ~ tile Ensign urx le rthe Ierm'Is of IhBlVIerd1ant Shipping Acts.

By the ~ Acts.a vessel ovm 50 tonsgross Is compelled to wear her coIO \ . .I" l' .wten entering or teavnga_Br i l i : = t Jport andal ~·Iun~ regisleral as listing



~I mllSl !WaJ U"er proper natianalCOWl'S whEY!ef'I1eingor leaYirg a 'I~PlI1.

A mgislrmd y,dliis I:lnlitled arU I'eQUIf!dto wear the R ed E n:s Ign , and1 : 0 1 'Ilfl

iJI"i~Slaed ~l ~ can be assumed tha1al:th(ugl1 not r!f10000. she can and shouldVI'eIJ" tile

R edEnsign or'! aD

oecascnswhen II is p-oper to show Il1e naticnalcolours.The FledEnsign sl"DLJd00 carr9d0l'1board f);en II rid \ IYOn1.

The special EnsignsCertatn yacht dubs (listed in the Navy Is)

are gr1lfl1ed the pnvllage 01 ~ng <I spoo1aIEnsign and rronbers aI SlJdI a C~D mayWe ar IhaI.EnSlgfl '1 :I 11 t"~ ry< lCh ts pn :7 io1dedlhey c :oJ '1 ' llry . ...tI1' ! :hern"IcillailS 01 a'Ml.rmlt ISSued belore ;AjJI119as Of !J'1eCOJ"ljitions, otapermt issL.OO. o lhem by!he Secretay cllhe cIiJb altar ff1al.data.The Iatt~ Cond~ions are sel oul in rullonpages 12 to 15.

The spflOai ~lQns am;

TheVViile E nsign 01H IJ"~'5 fJeeIlwhich IS used mcius~ by to oRoyal" r OCM1SQU3 d IO l ' l .

The 'SUe Ens ign (LrldAIac:ed)and Ihe BlL .f!or ~ EllElgn IMlh Ire ba:lge, mlblem (J"

CFesl 01 a 'partlCUa"yachI club #"I lhe fll'

The P'"lvilegecI wearing IhBSEl is go-antadby lhe Secreti'y 01Stale 'lor Delmce onbenaIf01 kM l'l'lBQooen. Anyyacl11cUbwantBd Ihts piWege 1$ I.JsuaIy 01 saneantiqUlyand rrn..s1.1:ut1~ 0100"ocmllKlnsi rw ;1ud i1 ' l gh ;;N il'{lln Itsmembers' Ol.!!nersrJpa ~ Ie IC '.i'Y 'IaQeat crui5ing s e a- -QO irw ;J ~ , Nowada.ys ltJe list of I iOCh~Ieged dubs m seldom expanded.

11is worlh mak~n1galew poiit'ls other thanIha no.!es by !he AVAcoolalMd in i J e E I

offidaJoondit iof&A ~d (MfJf!~ has 110 right to IIJIEa[ theya ch'l's E n sIg n ~ thBrl on boardIhal yacht.

A spocia! EnsIgn Should ~\Ie" be WOI1'1

wilhoul the bul'ijM 01 tr.e enl1l1ed dull or aF~ Offiwfs flagd lhal clt.b.

COnditlens governing theissue of yacht perMit,s ,tomembers of Bntitledyacht clubs Inthe Un,tedKingdom. and ChannelIs.landsIn Soctlon 73 0 '1lhe Merch<ImStwppi~

Ad 1894, it IS an C llfe nce tohoiSt on board

il1l't'stuI' 01" boat~lng 10 any BritIShs i.b jllc l c e rla iin cdloo r s ,nags and pendantsWlthou! a ~I Irom Her Ma;esty lheQooen or !rom 't 'Ie ~ 01 Sl'aI:efo rDetenoe.

The rna:o;~murnpe ! lI la tt y ~on;) thousandprunds lor each otfer-';€L AmooQthepmablled tlags are thI'lUnion Flag. ThsWhile Ensign. the Bw Enstgn (plan ordefaced) and !:he Red E ns ign INilh3fIl'defacement

T he pro i'1ibilion ~ 10 81y ship Or bo .1 l1bck:JflQlfIQto any Briiisll subject ~ i1 J

may be . and 00 ooends not on ly10 hdstwall"'f 'S bUIeq l :d<l l ly10 1M'!r:3, lakes andinland waleIs gen e:raI~ .

Yacllls m aynot w e a r -l1Ile soociaIEnsignsprohibilml a"llo¥e ex!:epl-

fa) l"'lIEI a WilrrMt issued 10 th e yattJt0VII1"Ilt bV the Secmtwy of Slale lorDe fE f ' l OOprior 10 1 .A pril 1985and in~rDe With th;l t ;OfJ£fItb"lsstaledthereon.

10] lJndI3fa PtNJ1li1issued 10 !he yacht00IInt:rb}I IIIyOCl"lldub ll'M "l 1ApriII1985 O fiwards and in acccrd ance wnl'1ttE Con !fllio rn s al: 001 be low.

RYA natek;. \ IYI l Ibe seBIl

underaced lIrIion Flag ~ M.Iff ' 1k: r rMibymen: :hanls~ s 0" ~hts.

1M rerm )'IiIchl I . . ISEIdaboVIlIrTGyof ClOI..ISe

inClude bolh sallingand motor yachts

Conditions1. permitThe yacht Il"lIAiI be iSlMld wilh a perml

by ayad11 el.ub p.Jrswl'i! to II"IilgrantingC iI

a W arren llo t l '<:ltClub by It-e Ser:retm y ofSlale lor 1JeIerc;e.



A'YA noteThe 1ri i l1k1i typeroo of tile permit is left to

the dlscretion of the iIrIOOidJal yachtcllb.:2'. Registration' alTd

rna.aSi..!rvment'tal Reg1straliorl The yad11 ITUSI:be a sn ip

registe:ed lIlder BjIlI0l":

11) Part 1 of !M eMerchar1!S~g AI;;t1894: {Pari I RagistralionJ

(2) TheMerdliiJlt Shipping Ae! 1983.ISma l ISt-ips Aeg,sterSSPi)

(b J 1\.\3esvnrnenl. The yacJ11 l l" lUsl~.fllrot ~essthan;

It) Two tons gross d registered ~la xI l ·abo>Je

(2) S eVen me t re sIn lariglh owmII ifregtst~ u11der- ( aK21ebo>.Ie.

RYA noteYactm; eI"lIitIed!Qbe n ; l9 I s te rO Oon !he

Small!Slips Reg Is te r a re~red byIerlgI h rather than by tonnage."1I" I ' !osebeIoIN .5e'.'H(1 met re s lergth b\ImlIlon IhalRsgisrer do no! ~Iify '0wear aspeciall::nsig13. Membership 01 designated

yBc.ht club .

I r! 01NfIfJ" fi 0\IVf18rB o r the yact"ltm.JS!n a v e'currenl I fliEm berBh~p 01o re01 theyacht dW s illitE Unite d K il"goorn ~Olannel Islands to w'Ilir:h a Wamlnl hasbeen issued end 'IoYhir;his ~rJed rn !heNlVjl List.

AVA :noteYaChlVilan'ants ;;reo ~ I tl is .ocl'leme.

issued to e a:;n em itte dyadll clJb andauthorise 1M ~ Offic:e ru;n:I Corrmitlee10 issue pe~11ii to ~s whose yachtsSIllisfy the QUalrf}orng ooncldJOnS.

4. NationalHyThe owner cr owners ! l 1 I . JS1be Sifis'h

subjects..5. Use of yacht

{a) The spe:::i3 [flSgrI rmy (Illy be wornona ' I O CH tused excl~ ro tPr l \ i a : ! , " ,andp&l5Cilal '~ 01 It10yachtsrrer1 10~ ll'E ps"m111S is5U3d

Ib JT h e :y.;chIrnu$ I rotbe I.!S8Q lor a rT J IprolessiO'"ial,business or oom~m

purpose. A yochl: whose nameIn carpo r3lS S a nam e , prod uct o rlrademarx used lor bus ione $S 01'

com rne raaI purpose s isnot eligiblelorapetTIlfL

Ie) A yathl which Is nlM!r used IO f CI1J~

leg a hoU54!booIlis mhglble klr a.

perrr1ll

,RVA noreCrlnilflg, 01 ~. i n c l J . J d ! 3 sa sea-gOlflg

rfldrlg yacht

6. Limited companies

A yacht wtndl is the property of a ImledCianpany mall be efrgible for e . .permitprll'llided tha pn:Msions of Corrlhoo 5 emCor1'lJ~ed wdth at'ld the ~I is a Srdast!subject and a .mel;"lb9" 01 1 '1designatedyachl dub.

RVA noteYBchl5 0 VW le dby limited ttlmpaJ'iBs In

r ' !OIeligible to be I'tl!isl:ereCl onthe SmaIlstJIPSRBgrSIB' I " I e n o esuch yachts must bereg is lBred ul"lde r theproc:edLXe lo rre gis tro!iOn ~ In Pail oIlhe

IlAerdwlf snipping Act ~894 (SeeOO r I d i OO r i2 J7. ,Presence or holder of

permitExcept ~ !he povislons of O;ni;trl 6.

a perrru!.does not OOfifa" arTyauthorilywhle lhe yacht IS OOI"'lJs;:iled by ~reolhef" Iran the 0WI"Ie" iii person.

lbJS a special E~gn may IltIL be WOO lu~ the Oi!!/ner orUS6f (see CoodibOl"l6 101 Ireyad:1t is ,Ci1 board. or ~n ellectl'<e.Ina::ntrol 01 hEll' wi1£!ll etle IS iI 'Iharbour or aJo ncllor n earrte shore. 6 fK Jthe cl1b's~ IS IIovm al tM main masthead, orother ooitabia position.

~ permL must <ilW<¥b!:i carriedonboa'd when a ~ EhslWlIS WQTl

RVA noteThe fIrSt senlenGe oIlhis Grndlticrl may

l e f id to coo I l J !Oe lBut the Con : : l i I tO r lreedas a whOif !makesil cInar!hat. prt1llidedlIIYl owner is (lf1 ooam . anyrr"errtM:lf 01 ~Crew may phys ically saDthe lIa.ct1twhi~the spocial Ensign is ooirg worn.



8. Separate ButhorisatIon from,each club

1 / '1l 'IBowner or USI> f beiongs to mDrB

than O'le of II"Ie OOSig!'!aledd u b s ,he rn..iSIhave 01'1 bJardl the pemit ~thaising !h9

P~! &1sign w i li c : :i 11 ! ;berg worn.

9,.Charter or loan of yacht for'Which a permit has been

ISsued.V \ 1 h e nII acht ftx whiCh !II permithas

boor! issued to a member of a dosignatedyadll clLb is DCQlOOlaIIyBI1d fa a Shariperiod 1e'I 'a,,1 on cM'ler ~ aclion WIllMt 00 heJd 10 ~in;:la Oc:Yldib'm 5 and \M aooliood 10 ~l ~ili.caton.~, the 'pamui must be v,.iihdm:w!'l bythe Seerntwy 01 the yaclll c l oo .

~tion may be madt:!for a freshpermil' on lermination 01 the perDd ofct\afl8l.

RVA noteA yochl W f1 iC '1 iis chartered out to a

pArson Who is ~ a m em oor 01 adeslgmled cillO is nor efllitklid to wear iI1aspecial Ensign of W1 trIbtled dub. Properly,.Sl.d1 8. yacht .1 chartered 10 a &itiShSIJ~ WOt.Jd ~ lhe Red EnsllJ1.

10' .Reksm of pef"J"nit\I\IhGna,yacht ts sold 01 " Iha;e is a

d'large 011owrersIllp 00 lila a.'m8r Ceasesto be 8 ~ at tte dub" ltill permJtmu51 at ct1CEl be sutre"1dered10 the

Secrelar)! 01 tile Cittl wile s h a l ltortI1wllhcancel it.U. Alterations to parmitsNlla !te ra oons amto be IT ' JOO<e10 permits

Illhe name 01 !he V!!d1t is chal" 'lQfld, orall'efatloro a re mac!ewhij(jh a f f e C ttheregister. Ille perrn~1is 10 be WltooraWIi byl/lie Secretary at the dub,

A new pem1!1may be ~ proVidedtheSe o o n c I L 11 o o sare o the rwise satiSfled_

'12.Permits lost orsfo'enIn Ih~ ENnl1: of a parm~ being lost Or

stolen, Ire nrIOOlbermust ItJrward 10 theSeaetary 01 !he club a roporton !tie

Ort:ulTlSlaflces 01 the loss and tile s tepslakm 10 I 1 3 CC :M 3 fit. The secretary may, attris discre!iCf"l,issue a frestI permit.

"3. Te.nde,!'sThe 5pf!OOlEnsign may be WOrnby any

boat which belO'1gs 10 the·yacht and canCOf'tI1enient~00 itisled o n i b t , : Ja rOt i e r>

14. FQ,reJgn'c;-n.Jlses

"V 'h \ e r1Cruloog in 100000nwate rs, ayachLlor ~'iihich a permt 10 'M:ar a S D OO I B I E n s l g nhas be en issued Slloold taKeC<l . re i ' oavod31'1'action wnicl'lr n i gM tmswll Ino ompk:aticn s wi1r;;I loreigll power.

To thiS e nd> m embe rs Inte nd.ing to\6si!lo re ig fl W 8le rs a ffec le idby war o r se rio ..J sdlsluIbarlCeSmust gIVe pa<tkU<lrn01 l tJervoyage 10 Ihe ~ 01 1M cllb, whoshoold ~rnedi<llelyinfonn ttle M'l'flstl)' ofDatence(Naval Law OMsionl.VllhitIit1al~,Lonion SVV1A 2HB.

IfS. Breach of conditionsA pemrt lor a yachllo wear 8 s , p I !C iHI

Ens ig n be come s in v< !lidif the ~ ofthe abcl\iI'l Cautti(;rls am no! 'mel.

16. Etiquetteperm~ l10fide rs m a~ ~ to ~ 'Nith

1 1 1 9 C U S l o m ,'When In i1f.ll:tx:u, o f hoisl_lng!tle. EnsI!1131 0800 (0900 be~

1Noven'ltxJ;r.and

'4 February) andIowaling lhe 6rrsrgnet sunset (or 2 TOOIocalI1rnilif ~ _RYA .noteTh_jsconcILbonis a gentle ~ to

QOserve !:he cusscms and tradil!cn";ofI"IooouriIljJthe Colour.;;and will no 00i:l1meet with rhe flP~ of < IIfhosa whohave gone 10 Iho lroublie 10 oo - r n& : l21pmn1t

10 WOOl a spooial Ensigl'!l,E qU Jlllly , II 'oV O O 1 dooappropriru{!In runind ~ I~I allfinsigns should be In a p resen lab1eCORdrtloo.The RVA ha;ll,heard 1'1 U16pastof yI'ldlts betng alfl'lSUildIt1 10II 'i igfI walersbecause courtesy Enslgls were11 anunsavouy c:Oi'ld!tiool

Foreign orcou,rtesyEnsigns

'1 1ts custQ!Tl3ry,bul not o:Jljjg'May, ""!hentying In a rOffiignport to ! Ivlf1e maritirrlElEIlSIgI1 of Ille cOUl'ltl)'ooi~ visited,as amark 01 caurb:lsy. The ClJUriBSy EnsiQ'1 ISusually IXlI"1SIIb"ab1y!lITlaIlerlhat1lhevessel's Ensign end ~would appea- 10bElCUSlom for it 10 be srruck at lhe sam E! lim e



as I t n e yacht's O 1N r IEnsigi, althooghCl(l'r1ionsdiffer I)f1 Ihis point

The EnSig n s I1o old,In \ J 1 ecase of a sm gli3--masted vessel. DB Ilown allhe startlo8rdtqx;atl yard, or upper CrOSslrees. In lhecase cl yac:I1ts wllh more IMn one m as t i l.may 1 0 e~tmn ~l1ef at [hIS positlon or atlhelare or mtuerf masthead. EIiJIi .w~ ~.is Ibwn, care shoUd be taIIentnat it is ro t tasted at a pasi1io n in lE rio r 10<lI lYother Hag e:o:ceplthe yac;h 'I 's ownrational EntiigntIDd c1L tl,burgee 01, in thecase cl 8 } IBCI ' 11clUb's flag offICer.ttEl !lago looa r's pe roonalflag.

The Britis h l11I9I1I~meEnsign (or usa as aowrles)i Ef1sgn is the Red 'Ensignand notthe Union Flag.

CLUB, BURGEES ANDFLAGS OF FLAGO:FFICERSClub bLugee,Each ~hiOf sailing club har;~s own

b~ ant in Great Britainlhis is 81Iri~larllag. Yachl ckJbs am froo10choos e U1e irown design c1 blggee so IC : r rgas it does m! conlrB\iBl1e rn.;MlIis1r)o~liIYI or can be c~fu&ed with anyolher flag,Ensign or bul '{JB! ' l .A new cllbs t o o \ J dmake every ijnvestfgaLloo10 seeIhat Ihe tlol'gOO ~ conformswilhU'11tregufaOOn:s an::! is no! ' too Sim~ar to analmady exigbng b o . J r g eBdBsign..

Rag Officer's flagsMo.'>!) I O C h 1clubs aull'JcJrOOa speO:a. flag

(0 be used by !:he n agoffice rs . o f!he ciLtl.CUstOlTl8r i l ' r[he design cI these !lags IS

g~ 100 sarno as lile club burgee, ACCYnmoduefijell a broad (01"swallow-I : a I lOO jpencIalL The VIce and RBat~lTlJIdoje's pendanlS am ·'O Is!!lO !J-! I :s t ledI'ra"n !he Oomrnoc:klfe'S pendant . t1yonear(I tw oIb<l~ rwpectively linlhilc a n t O l 1 Snex t 10 lhe IlojS!'. (See exam ple on InSidebockcowr}.

Specia1flag Of pastCommodore~Vice-Presicient y Admiral etc.A llhoogh lhe re : Is no naval cus tom '10

fOllow ~ ltis respect. 11is qute usual forpast CGrrrmodooEtsand others to IIy. at lherrmlhool:l, a mclangUa" n a g ,s imi lar to lhadub burgee ,ndesign and I::leaing t1 : Jeclub's badge. emblem Of ere:sl

Genera:1It goes ",,"!hoLdsaylng!hat the OWnEr' 01

a yacI1I should only n y the burgees 01ya:J11 clubs ( ; I Iwtill;h Iw'IEa I"J'1eI"IiJrlr.

A person who Ms char ' temdor Ileal 1a1! 8yad1t s l'1oUd useIhe burgees 01 yachldubs 0 1 'IIIINchhe is a m em be r,and rot

the t:ugees of yacht clubs or whichl~absent OW T1e t ISa ~-

TradlOOriaIJya yadl! norm ally ~ 0I1Iyone burgee.Ttne custom of flying one tuBes al lhetruck and Ina bu'goo 01 aro!her dub a'Itre S'lartlorud crosstrees is no:! strictlyco.rrect TIle etiquette as 11.1whICh bLW 'Q99

stooulrlbe IIowJ'\wtlen !he owner IS amembe" o rITVre ItIanore dub Isexplamed 1 . 11 00 -the heading IlAe tnber.: tlip01 m om !l:1an()(1e dub Cifl page 13-The yacht clLb burgee sMruJdl lbe f IoM1with the COrrectEnsi! l l '1 ,<!lldthe Enslgnf1" ' I3Ybe e ilhe l" thespooiaI Ensign01 theI : k . i bWhOOE bu~ IS being IIo¥in,Of anUI " I d e I a , c e dR O OEnsign_Thabu rg l ' l em'lY.howeve",100Ibwn

on~Is r:Nm in a m'lall

boat wtach \lYQL Jd1101 ronmlly \ilI'IB'" Ell

Ensign. Of iI 'I8 large.-yacht 31 sea whichmay s 1n "ke its ;E n sig nwtEI"f fNI i " i£ ' /from landor olt$ Ship&.

Many yacht CM'mFS. "W h e nin harbour atI'lIghl.'MIl strikeboth nSr 'Ens'Snand theirbu rg e e wl'll1st N nharrour, < . lOOfhese W illbelowered at SU 1 smor at 2100.""'h~ is

B a rM J r ,or wt1erl the 0'W Iiflrgoa:> ashom if itisoolQfB thiS l imo.

Some yach !s rnen n !1Wooays,Ilowev&r,strike only ihe EnSIgn aI1d leave the dtJ;!buryee frying dUing lhe I10txs of d:Dnessduring SUCh tJne aslhe 0MlBf is III !heliicllil)l' 01 the yacht and CM bel dascJi:edas being fn effective control or l:t Jeyachl.



The special I l aQof a Rag Officer of a yachlcl\.b rorresponds in p r i nC ; 1 p 1 ete I i l l ; !personal Of dis lJnguishing nag of a F lagOfll::DrIII Her M:3}eS t)i'sFIeeI..Iri the RI : . l y a lN8\I 'Y.this nag ~ ~ CQ lilir1urus1 'y by M yand' by night ¥ , r t , J ! s l :lI~eFlag Oflirer is ~n~ 01his com m and. Thus ti;e ~Rag01 a R ag omw-01 a yachl dub should

be ~own oon~nJOIJsty[b yday arKlby rlghl.wheI'le.rer lhe 0II!lflI0!" ~s n the vicinity 01 ItlIe) I E d 1 t; ; ndOOfJ be described as being inI 'Iffoc"Iive CQnrro/at m; yach1, E'Xcepl .... tmhe creoses 1.0 f ly < 'l'1llPng flag or ismquimd by lt1asailing iMlruc1ions so 10do. As with thB Ensign, whEilal sea, th;re

is no objection 10 haulmg tte !fag downdlllng Itle hO lJl' /J 01.darIQ1es,s Of wlul out01 ~t oj W"idOf otha s!l~ps.

P,QSition of bUf"gee curFJlag Officer's fla.gBolh lhesaflags s.hculd belbwn lrom a

sl~ at the m3rl masthead The sIarOOardcrosstree is cansidered 11 rwsonablBallemalWafor :raci:lg yachts wrlh norrnsthBild halyllrd. or wilh 100 manyinstnJrnen'ls at !he I '1 '\ 1 Is tW O O .A gaJi' r i g g oBC l

cutle r ca l1 )in g,fJ .btg Jo cky a« :llo p:s .a il m ayOytj-e. burgee (II' Flag Officer"5 speciIi!IflagIIom the end oIlh;).Icps:ill ~.

In ~als 'oI'It;ichhilva ro mast IIlGbJ.rgee r n < I l /I::m fbNn rroma lilaff 0I'l !hibow orOVl9ri I"19wI"l98IhaJse.

Membership of mor,ethan DnE!' ch,lb

Although IIwill l.ISIJ<I!),lbe ob""ooswhlchblXgOO01 ' F la g O fttC e l"'strag s tWd befiown t o oIo I Io . .. .. .rg rule s am suggested [o r'Iluidance~

1 If an 0IIII'Fla" is a A<IgOffk;.. 01 'a yEll;hl

dub he should gene rally ftyhis Flag~'5 n a gWid wear the appropriateEnsign '. np"@lerenoato e n vQlherblJrgee and Ens ign. whe re ve r he .m ay

be.2 fifan 0!0'II'r8 is not 8. Flag O lflcar bu'lis a

m:rnber ill a yachl club in the pact inWhim his ' , tCICl i tIS f!tIrg!hEI1!'Ie s I" 'IO IJdU!'iI3!he Ens ign and burge e of!hat club.

3, II an 0YiI'net" beIof,ogsto S8 \ I e f " a Idubs inone port, 'Ih an 100 Ensig na"\d burgee of

the se nior d i . J : JshoUfdnormally beused. except on I.ha (lOeaS1l;1"15~MOther club In lhe POrt f 'Shilving aregattil or some such '[Ul"ICtlO1.w~1M &1signBrl':l bLJgOO of IIW clubshoukloo used,

It is also traditioMl lhal' where a l / 3Ch iis Eflga~ i r l som e runr:;hon IX gW liOOd

try 000 of Ihe cM'f'"I(!It'S dubs, 'Ihen it isin (nillrlor the Ensigrl and bu~ee ofLh<'llClubto be use d- For~arnple. ltieR(H} En!.IgI and burgee VK .M J dbewcm bY yoc!1l.swtllCll are <JS'lBnbJJIl:)1m !he start 01 ame£! organised by thaiclJb. VlIhfYea dub Is m lMIed to aspeda:l En~, I"NI'l"Ib!ni should fly!heappropriate dub burgee or Flag

~'Srlag w i t f ltt"la l ~ E ns ign.4 _ In certain o I u 1 l S .S1Jd1 as Ihe Senoce

CIL JJs, RoyalCruisingClub, .Royalo c e a nRac;irg QuI:) and uW eShip Club(w!"i':h are national dubs end ha\le 00

I o c a Jaffiliations).it IS cutellt lo r <lrI

l;PMlIY·toUS£! j he E nsign and I::urgoo Ofany of these Clues el ""flidl he is iiimembH ~ hi's yadl! is in a

[jace ~ lhem is no yacht dub 01wtl(;h he is a me rT 'll:u -.

HOUSE, FLAGSEuro 'flagT're dark blue EJ. ,1"lJI ' le<IIlUnionl!ag lMih

~ g a le SrruIlm s ~:stars.s Jngl9 p cin l~pmnosl). This is not all Ens!gnand maynot 00 defeced will1lhe LIt1icnflag. II Jsa

house Hagand shruld be accaded thes ame p ro ce dure s6lld ~ooi~ as(litterhalilSe Hags .

IRVAflagA &JU3renag OOhstedIn hilJrtlaJr< Ifthe

cro ss tre e s (s ta rbo ard yad-<lm"l or rigging)by mEITlOOrsof !he Rayaj YamtingAssociation. 100Nslional Autit"lorrlyardgoverning bcX: typroleclfl1g tile lnIereG!S atyachlsmen." .15a white .square flag wilh a I: Jrood b).Jecross de!aCed if1the centrawJll1 adamond laid hoozootal rnred c o JOU f .repr:wen1irrg )fad1ts under "'arDJS points 0 1sai!ng



The 'DW"nerls, house flagor distinguishing flagAllship~ oorT lJWllE !s have apnv31E!

Rag whicl1,w ilen flow nImm aship,ce'lotes !he corlll3l'l)' to whict1 IDe vesse lbeIonqs. In the ~ W e rt ,aI1lndlv1dualowner0 1a yacht may use lis IJWfl

d ' 1 5 t f I l ]UE s i r i E l 1 gor h o ! J S I l tIag.The usa otIhs flag is CIj:l'!ionaI.and the OOoignis amatlff enfimIy b oo ClVmf!l'; tile onfystipulation being thal too deSgn m.lSt n:rtcoo!i'ct Will] an exis'lin~ ~<II'ion or <JnYolher a.,i5tlrg Enl'iign.flag ~ burgo o .. ItisrQ'WI 100 easy 10 e s1ab l l sMt l1 i :Lt!;his d e s a g ( 1does not cullIid WIth ether designs. AIpresent lIull IS no publication wruch~iC3tes all des1!)OS, even If the}! had albeen scrutinised.

TI'Ie ownEl"a a yaclli. ora peISOO woohas d11lt5red or been len! a yaml. ~lJSfj his pe rOOM house lIag tn h~ 0iIVIl

yacht c r iI no n e i r "E ,f i . a . s~~I OIl boonlent

HouSEl~ag:i11'1leYbe lIown with or wittloutail Ensign but are nB'IIE!'r Ilown in vooseIs

wearmg the ViJh~e Ellsigl1.II 3J l 1f;IM'f('S Wimes to use his own houseflog,ilsffiu!d be ihoistedand Iow'eIt!daIIi'll sama r1rre asfrc chJJ 1: lu ! 'Q8El0"' thBspedall1ag of a Rag Officer01 B ya:::htd ub. CUS llJmarily,the 0\NflEI" 5 tQJS.8 flagIS criy flown ....h.6i1me ~ Is acl!.lOilly onI : >m J r dtis yacht.

In s ln r;;o !e -mas led Vach~s,Ire .!'louse f larJ!houId be fiw,n Irom Ille S{artJo,Td ~arm or. i1 !1l I ' J i1Iis no yard-ami, from the~a~ UPPer erossnees or ~IarposffK}l"l.

In schourHS or Y'dchts!MIll mort!IManI'MJI'NlSIS, I~ should be ITownhnm the 'lorermslhead.

~nyaWlso r k e lc he s,it ~ be !krMl from1m mizz£l'l masthead or Iran the yartl·armor cruSSllees.of !he rnoUrmasL

IIlSperMaps 'Mlrll1 po!I"1llf1g 001(hat th efiyrng01 house I\ags from this posilbnW h i~ .s tat sea cootdbe CCflfusingsitces~rrals wakJ be IJownfrclrnthe sarreposition.

InmClYl tyears. m e ~ racing yad\!S

haw eEta:bbhed 01 r ll3W type of HouseRag, 1 'C l 1T ' l a l ~f iOWT.In ttle i'cn.'pari of lfflvesse l In marinas when regattas tw inprogroos. The~ag is exI~ large ardbear$ wl'lSl may be described asp e n ; o o a I P J !desfg\ed BI " f l " tDna tdesigns.

The tlJropeml Union flag is a house flagand S h o ..!Id ~ be Ibwn es such, The 12stars lo rmu lle ts ) s ho uld h avethe singlepoirtl upw!J'ds ald the ffag rna)!rQ:include :1 1Lln ia1 F lag.

CHARTERED V'ESSELSlBa\iTig Midi! Ih e Q~ian of the rght 1.0

~ a special' i&1slgnv,'C should. ~.discuss H'lGsit~a1 whem a yac;htsmandwt~ the ~t of EIf'Ottu

c : : : ;m , ry,t I 1 r lyact'll camoI cI'l:MlgenatKY 'ial~ ty. H ence , 1I8. Brilis h S .\,J bje c lctJart~ s a Geu1"Ianyachl lt SiIIotJldwearC ' i e r n 1 I a ncolours. In II"e case 01 a charte rby one 8irtlsh abject lrom aroIher BriliShwbieclthOOl IS l'1O prob1Q-n.The ,RedEnsign1M1Isuffice.

Oleatly, II;e ccutesy Eroign all !he OOUI'I!ry

OO In g -.is ito d mo uldbe wornat 1Mslalboord aoostrees.The burgee srnuId 00 of B chb to v.o hlchlt1e charlerer OObnga

The pn3ctloohas 8P11 . 8Og Iup 01 (hec : h a r t e o ' " e f~ndk:at.ng Irllsown nat'oenaJlty.if ~Iis ~ent Iran lhe yoctll's. by VIiBaring 8

small courtesy Ei"tSlgll Cf mamma flagal!he lporl crosstrees,

SPECIAL FLAGSThe Union FlagThe Urlon Rag, e xce p! as 5tatG dbelow,

is flown only I]y shfps of the Royal Navyand HM Ail' Force wsseIs, and l'"IB\IeI' bI , I

rnen:h<tnl stiips or yachts.

The Union A t J ; J ,g£flR'allydefacmlby a

badge inlhe Cenlre. is !he officialflag 01certain hgh offioo's 01 th e Government .sudl asgOVEI"flOlS 01 0000&. tl one 01these officers is E!fJ1barkB.di jn anofficialcepadry on a rrord"a"'il shtp Or 'l'SCht. Asflag is flc:Monfrom I J JerTIaInm?s!hMd. orr r om astall'00 I IW bo'W, i l the ship has 1'10

mast.



The Urion Flag is oftm reflJlfCd 10 as theUrioo Jac:k, but it is only correc'l 10 cal! IIthe Un10n Jack when /I 1 s 1 l y i n g i i J ! .ti:lejackslatl of on;:, 01 HM Mlps,

The Uruoo !'lag t; not. a ~sed fW gba yochl lolly, and. Sloul'd,00\If!r be Il'ownb o o 'a knI'Hll yadrtS l'T lan asiii courtesy f.ag.The corect ~ag IO f tnIs purpose is ! ' rEIR edEnsiglt'l..

The Pilot Jackl"hs Ibg cansis!sof the U1ion F i a 9with

a whte iUrround and 'mayQriIy be u500byBrlIishReg i s l e . -OOs l '! fpS .It 1 1 1vetY roratyused but il destred, il may be flown from B.

Jscksta:tl on 11111boW wheil ri ' lI " I c I i ' t J o u ror al.&11 : 1 " 0 ' ;i1 :SfIotjldorijI ba flown ~ . the

yacht is ~ her Ensign, and ~. stIottdbe tdsted and bwered allhe same Iifn9as coIwrs am l"oIjs!ed Md, lowered. ThePilot Jack IS On l Y 'fIuNn at sea CIi dresssnp days, i.9. wten l'm yacht is ::11seaW1ddresses \ !YiI t lm asl hood ~ on!y,

FI'ag QThis is spedatly ruled If] this part 01 tre

I:JOoj; be cakJS eB yach t 1 l ' l I . IS ! : .upoq'1ef11ering Uhled Kil1l;loomlemtorial wale'S.fly il 10 indicate to Cus10ms thai· !OOyachtis arrN i" lg i.rom fo reignand· raqlIOOcteamnce.

Irllhe case of cammatial s!1tp9 Rag Q (orZS under ftlE) 1 9 0 0 In t e rT l .': : ilio n a l,Code ofS igna js l moons'My vessel i 's healfl1yerd Irnqll!l5tfree pmliqLa;l '-

DlJv .~ to Indicrue slate Ilt health are10 be lound In the Irrtema1iof1alCode-clSignals 11 9 6 9 1The nJes a s to ftylng Flag a WfEtl e n \ ' OO r J ; iloreign leT~Dfi<!1 wal~ djffer /rom cOIillIl'y10 cxxntry and ltv:! mosl up-to- delleinb'rn3.1iIonW 1 U belound In cru~1 guidesor U 'Je AVAbooks C Iand C2 PIa/Ining <lForeigfI Cro!se

The Diving FlagFlag A !rom the InlematJooal' Cede of

S Ig nalS 1196 9) m i ca.te s 'If1ave a dNe rOO'NFI;keep IN I3 J JdeW ' at ' S Io \ ! I Ispood' andis the signal ~ g eoo ra11y us ed.Occa5lbn3Jy ytlIJ may lOW NATO RagNb 4

(a ..... le st. Ardrnw's cross wilh redI:lackgrou1d) or the USA 0ivI1g Rag (QI

badlgrot.md. single diagonW wht I i l Jin use.RuIEI27(IJl of itlH h'ltes-national R&9-rialionsfO fFW .rerr tingCollisionsat Sea lays downa spatia:!rule to r Si 'T ' I a ' I Icm t cin drYIng~[IOOS..

RACING FLAGSAs a general rUe, Sth~l lhere a~

exceptions. no Ensign is V>W'1when ayWll is racing'. H~, ~ mayoccasionallybe I lI 'lO eS S a IYre»:yadits-ertgaged. lor ~I'e, In an oIf!;hore race.to shWJ Itteil cablJrs whm in fl:rr!ignle rri·t oria l wate rs o rwhen E! l '1 ! l3 f lnga 1omi!)1port Onlhese occas iDM IIis permlssitllefo r an En s!Q f1labe worn a lU l:lLghthe1(aCht1S~.

As ha!;.iJe&1 said before in !hs t Jod I .o l e l .mLJd1of flag usage Is etJqlJel1e. rather ItiMlaw. and rood'! has gmW Tl upby CUs trF l1- Inmany yachhf'g m!'1hes,the \ oW . a I 'in gof anEnSgIls sufficJmt 10 roC<iJe that a yocntis out rating, The En~ n, relTlO .'ed1 1 11 ' i 'Der:nparatofy 1M mniiBJ Sig~1 then

ind~Bs thai file y,lirn·1is arnena~e 10 theRacing Rules_

II has !O rleng be.enthe ClJStom 1hat~ . not a'lgaged in ra!:inQ.g , e ' 1 e r : a 1y.as an act oIlXiU1!'tesy.ende;;r.tour-tokeepdear ot yaChts that are racng.

II mrn:J1 IlGW I loW f IV e r ,00 ar1licipatedli"lal:!hls WIll M the case. Il'I OfTj(RIIe'lt. t o oruleso1lJ'le rood requre specifJl; acton 00 !hepert '0 1 ~ rnee'!lI1Qand It Is oow

perhaps mt:Je. liMJy tl1aIi eve r t f Ta tvessels.....m stand on tfim lights ac:cordii'1glotlooseintenalklnalJY feoogFisedrules.

Retirement" 3!yachtgrves !JP 0.- retires1I00"Ia racr)

tile Ensign shJ\Ad be WOOl to 5 h a o Nthat!he yechl ts no ~ snei'1ab1!!10 the'Racing RUles.

ProtestA p.o!esl flag is defined Iil"Ithe

rnlEI 'MIlOMi Yadlt Racfng RUBS , and tsolhGr Flag B of Ire ~nteo-nBlk: iI rJ ;a lCode or 1 :1

spedalllag as ~riboo lb v1m nationalaull'Joily 01 tho coontr)lll'l whid1lhe cUborgMisjng the lracing .15,S~I"rueO_



REFERENCE GUIDE FO'R FILAG POSITIONING

Maw S i n g r eMast RacingC tu isillg YscI11 S iiifing C roising YachtYaWt

ENSIGN flel1l111e5s enblled Ml F l e d :I . I I i eSSentilled to Not!lVh~~w e a rIi!SI l f !dIdEnsIgn. Wlt5' a : s p e d a lE n s I g n .Wm1 t n : .wn.astan a I . Wo r nf r omII s IB I 1ill1!le stm1. Ite s t em .

COURTESY " 8IJJb .mastI'as Starboardcf1 l5S1l ' ee5ENSIGN crossIrees1hIm 00 wperllY mal

Slarboafd ~8lI. eJapt E n • •

CLUB BURGEE ~ fMSIfIeaIj. NotwI1 i lBra:irJg

lem staff) ~n8Q1Ire qu irE d Ir ,Id lJ l d Ie r1n llractng.

FLAG fiy in ~11!I1C81D , 1 \ 1I l " I < I 9 1 hB i I d NotW flIiB ~ .

OFFICER'S bUrQfJ8(j any otherSL4J I I I i IYID a:rJy ~ RectanguIatflag If

FlAG dub, with associated dOOb"l l t leWi I h r8!Jjired by dldl offeringEnsIgn. 8S. ' lCI I : i a ledEMiIJl. I " I ' I C i 1 I l -

o FLAG I SlU bITIlIIII .I 1a ! : 8sIow COL I 1 i s yEnsi 'Qrl1faassIrDIIs, o npat ~ (q f l agh I l lYa rd ,I Ia IoJ l ! r ! I I f1XlIJI1Rsy OItlel"lM!Se'on pert

E l l I I t J nIsbe l r 1 ! 1w o r n . 1 t a I y a n 1 .

HOUSE FLA G 011stlJ! !IIIIS'I NoIID be w o r nat lIta .IlIIBI'whBB b c u s e . If r.ool with 00lJI ' !e :s \ 'No ! .10be WDITl01 sea EnsIgns e&Q i l . s : t o t J I d

te ildndrt., LIth

UNION FLAG The WJON RAGs IlWdNE\(R IBEWORNASA MAAmME OO~ ORCOlllflERAG. IIis ured Gfficiar~III!certain highlimkil1g&:i!rel1imeotO f OOm ,WOO!from! : h e 'ITl<I i !11Tl<lSthead, (!fa s t ann n ' I tlflDow.it Is iIln ~ c a l~ : lfIe U MO f lJACI( W liJ e nlIown !I I tile j~ gJ OM !t IU I J IShips.



IREFEREN'CEGUID'E FOR FLAG POSITIONING

RacingDa r o o a t Chartered Vessel YaW lQf Ke t c h GaffRlg!Jt!il

U s l J i I I l~u n a b l e'Iill Maritimeflag W< r oa t ast:IrI81 :the ~k of the sall00welJ'CIle i I I ' I ¥wav ; (Ens ig n) ~CW1try to mlZZe l 1masthead If It dle af terJTl i . lStif u~etut n o twhilst racing. wtrch ~!Ilht bfIklngs, c am«be w o r nat 10weill" 81 :stem,

$kIm-

StIrboen:I SBboanl~ 5tiIrtxJwdctosslreesc r o s s t J e e s s u pB r i I l r10 a ll ~IDi!D~toaU e](QlplEmi I J I . 8llI:eptEIlsign,I l I n l P IEn!ig1

tell wtist racI1Q. lIIIgee fA ' Froma stall' 81 : FrDrnl,staI'I'a ll~ul8rl'liilljl ma r 1 e r e !NOT J (1<I inI I \ i J s t hF Iad main m aS1 he ad _reqLimdbydllb 0 'MYtR .o t f 6 i naracirQ.

N IXwIlIst r i E k i g . If t twtemris a &.gee IJ' Flag O If ik : e r 'sBo'gee or Flag War's~larllagir flag Of f i c e r I Ia I I In lma slafIlItmar. R a gfrom asI i I ffa tmEimreqtirBI br, rdub SIJIIImtuIeb ~. I I 1 i J S I h e ; I d ,

~roc~. r J x . o v e e .

S e eSitlIrIg S e eS a i I O g s e e5ailill!l~~t. CrnS l l lQYac :h t C n n S i n gYlICtL

1l1I I l JP1ro t II 'hI)us;allall.IIlIttOOrlBsyEnsign ofdIor\eror'snotiooalily fIl3j! b oWCi ' T 1al jlOrI ha!yad.

POsmON AND ~ 00 !JaI l I<IrdsiIfe r e . o d i oll1e l(lIIIow lngcmer;-IMPORTANCE 0 F stillbOOn'I [oo!er1(I'M ( c um ! ) ;, S t a r l l o a n l(lm!\er~Po r \ 'O roo r ) "HALYARDS



PRI~E FLAGSTheoustom of hOisting prize Ilagshas

vir!wllyceased bul If1 1 ;is desire d tof ly, pW9 m gs 1M folbNing genBrn l corrm en! .sI 'TI i i ) I00 of use:The prize nagis a re cla ngula rlla g s im ita l'10a radlllg IIag 00'1' sri"IaIer;

The~(lno

arldIhrd PrIZeS am

,cflS.!inguishooby th e flag ooll'll hoistedir1lferict10 the firS!pnze. A blue ' ' I a g ,m8I"kedWIth a while h gW 11 " 8:2 slgnifles second pile,1n:I a Jee! Ilag ITIai'kad.with a WI '1 :iU ! [o glM l 3signifies thlrd prize.

Th s ,p rize IIt9SaJ8 ~OWfl 'i71 complet iond'racirlg to indicata O IlY ~ ~ .Too rulescan be s u r nnnarise d, askJ i l l o 'NS :

1. AI the erld o! a d~ "5 i ' 3C1ng .!he pnmIla gls hO Is te d to in dica teany prizew o nIII the day's raGa.

2. AI ~"\B md of a day's r<ti1g, when it i5

the iast day of a regatta lastingS6VI: l fa 'da'jS, Ihe ~I l 'n!:!IyhOistone p,rim~,lor each prim won clurirlg Iml regalia.second i 'OtIlhlrd pr~ Indioatedby 2an:! :1 pendm ts , asalready dmcnOOd .

Allgmatively,I~the y.lCI1tis rem aining mthe port VlltW :f illi le regm iawas held,

She m ay shaw 8" he ' p"ilBS fur thatregal1a onthe d ay a lte rthe tegallaceases , B.g. on !he S; .mdayShe maya I .5 I JShow aU prites woo ill lIle l1 !g al1 a~ ~ ~I~rns 10 tm r Mrna port.flyil"lg Ithe 11a!)S o n a rfiva !l!rId !!he nex t .day.

3.O n

the119m

dayaJter ire iris!

IPDeofthe se ason a yocht can h ois l p rizeflags

sl"v,Mrig all prizes w o nd~ing theSElOlSCJ(1,and she can also do Ihls 00

rellJrll to her FiI:!l'fEpOrt at the end 01

the se ason; geMraJly.1 1 .Ismco rnmer(jo o that Ilieybe f I o w o nan lheday ane r arrival as\i\e ll. II!he person ind1arge IS confLdMlI t I a I .a p rize hasbeen woo, th e app rop rJa.te p rlz€ ! lagmay be hoisled1mm ocfla te ly a fte rtheerd o rthe r1iCB.

I I ~ .is des1red IQ fly from ~.Y"I:hta s e r e s0 1prize Rags io In cica l:a p rize swoo k"Iarllgatta o r ave r lhe season , !hf.:seslWdbe hoisted as soon as she anchor!! or

m oors alie r 'Ihe l< lS t race 01tre serles and,01 InaddflJon. It1ey Il'ld'i be M isted W itl1lineCobn In rhB morning"V \ I h e nonl)' a few pnret lO igS arebeing flO'Mlf I l f ! I Jshould bo IkMn from the t:lu'geehalya1ds. belOW 1hi9 burgee. o ri l"lEWmay b e lffOlo ' l l I llrorn the s lBl'OO eudu~ cro:s slre es .

\ I I J t I € na ~rge number ~ prize i16gS aret Iown~lor inSlaJ'lOl l 31the end 01 the:sea5!:l!"I.they sl1oo!dbe I 'I 6W n011 a d~tina from 'the Iflaln ~ m!he taffrailor boom m d, and if there 2Ili! mo re fitigs 10be !Iownltlan carl 00 aocommo dale c:!. the~e ShCIJId be frown on aline 'from lhe

masthead to 11l1;)tem ,

MOURNINGMC\lmingis irKlical:edby woo r i l " o gthe

En s ig n a nd ,ln s am e cas e s , tl'"ll<bu rg e e 'a tAA J fmasr. 1"hSruleSCC I ! 'IW I 1 in gthecbs eNBnce of rrtOUm ingby yachts are as'1dIows:

'National mour.1!'I1ngThis is ooserwd 00 ~ such as

the death of a mlllTtler 01 IheRoyei Family

CClloorso r I I y.

and not~. are hallmasted as SO(]'l 8SfToe'I 'IS Is rreei\led andl iEJ l ' ta t hall mastiJn rilS 'iln se t 01 Ihatday,or, ifU1enews is , r e O OVe dd urin g th e h oursof wINless.tlful the Colours areworn athaJf mas t fO f t o onex t day.Cdours an:!

agairt hair masloo during the IIITlElIhBlIhEIIuoerrllis in prog~ss .

lIhe Qe l ' a i t s\'131)! conslcJ.erablywllh !he~ce of Ills pe!00l'1 In respecl. ofwhorrl the Colours are be :1'l)worn at ""i3lfmasl.When any Ships of fhe Roya l Navywe P f f iGOO t ,ownet"s am advisE d toar.certeirl l Jt le pmoec:Iurnthey am LlSFng.

VV h e n!he lunernI o ra rnMlJoffICe!"01 ra~ngls .i[] p rogre s s ~n<I portwhere any at HMships are lying,EMgm.and Jack!; an halfmas t ec dJring Ure lifne the fune re l is~kinglpI.at:e.On theoooc:c:asions, yad11s ~S I lc : iI J t j IfollowL n eo otlo os o fHM shlps.

A numbtJrof !~n coun!riss havenatJooal days of mourning when EI'ISignsare wan at h a l fmast , II is a oo urtesy lorvisitingY< l C n l stoconfoo"nw i t h ~ O IC al:pradiw.



Private Irnour,ningIf I.t\e 0'M)9t' 01 a yachl dies, itu;! Colours

and burgee shoul.dbe halfmasted when tIlE!inlorrrabcn is r e c en .mancJ at s,JJ'\Sei I;aLlIEdclown fa 100 la st !lITE. 5houk:l tile news beI 't. 'G e iVa ddurmg I he ho~s 01 d~, theEnsign ard burgee ~Id 00 warn andfIcMrn,h8lJ'mast n I D r tday. andliflally l1aJlBd

down at SUf lS !3 ton !hal dilY.Shooldlhe de athof a FklgDff i c :Qf01 a yael'll.dub new!. lI"!em is M bjocIJ'on to vachls,whICh areM~ i- . ! hE ' l.h)rne port 01 lheyaml club 8I'ldwhose ~ are m emb ersor !he Club, by mutualarref lgerTlOOIwearingltleir Enslgis at hall mastu the sameperiods as arl3 Ob!iWledOIl Ihe occasion of1M dt'alfl 0'1 lhe O'JItIV 01 ayocht .

Hoisting and loweringEnsigns and burgees Dnoccasions 'whenthey arebeing worn at halifmastEflsigns and burgees shoI.kl i"iever be

hois teddired 10 or Irw.eredfrom !he halfm a s t p os lo on .Wt&1 being t > o i s t E i d .lheyshould fin;l be halllGiddOse up Bl1dthen,

altel! ' apause of a law se caoos , bweri€d 1.0U ' n edI ! ;1pElClpcshiQll. . Sirniratly,whl'll Co I c u r sor burgees are to be rawered, ll'1ey shouldfirS!be hauted Imm !tie dipped .positiOfl

Gloseup and, afi l '1!ra paus e 01 'a f fWII

seeerca Iow erOO .illisIS the correctceremonial p I ' OOOO I . I Te .

SALJUTli:'SIt Is C~OI'T'Iary lor yachts 10 selute lhe

rollalNlng:. 1 l l1RoyalYact,IS; all warshps,both Britis h Wid lore ign; R agOfficers of ayadll dub when the yochl makirg !hesruute is wearing lheburgea of that:dub.~~is CllstOl!T1Hl)'when In their QI\In ~teffi fRyach tll 10 S !'!IL Jte BFlaaOfficeronly once IIday.)

SaIilles are made by dlpPng 1M Ensi!TJ.l.e,lowering it sbwly to a posit1oo about one-Itlirdl from the I c :Mia rend of lilS heist I I h0Ensif11 snrukj not be i Q ' AOB f o c iso far that itcannot 1tjI) .TI1eship milkingthe salUte!me lDs1M Ensign (I! Il1e dip u~'11ilthe ShIpo oln g s alU l.o ostarts to m -ho i.'lt he rEMgI1.~ tbe s l'li p IT loakIngihe sal.ile re-l'loo!s1'Iers.

the oorgee and iha specialll'ag of a FlagOfficerof a yachl club sho i.lld l"IIlVe rbedJpped ' IIYhE!tIlsaluting.'(achls e nle nng or~ving Iii port, whe re1I"Ieyachl dub ~e br..Ji"g3e the yaOhIls O,..ng\s situale d, m a y salutethe dub by diPI:Jl1 ' Igthe Er'Isign. ThIS Ismoredesi,;tie i f the flagcl 01 RiIQ OfficerJ sflying at the time 1i'Ulil100 club 1IaQstaff.fire dw should ms;x:t1dtry dippirg ilsEnslgIl.

DRESSING SHIIPDressing overallThis cOflSists of s l.nnging : 1Mfiags01 th e

If!letnal~ Code from the starn head tothe rM SIhe OO . Iroml 'MS1head 10 ITIll .Sthead(~e lhe Shfj) has Il'VI'e IiWl one mast).and lha'1oo to lhe mltmfl.

II is important Ihal En:;;l'gns.Illdry or otherprM.Ile !lags ShoUld flo! be used on.thedressing r.T 'I~Q cl\l .the s trln g ·a f fla;g sgningoverall),VI!t1i1:: t lshould be coofined10 Psgs01100 '1 "!ll'lf'l"lo 'l}ioMi Code 01Si~ ~n<lmiI'lQ1ngthe flags 01 1 the dre ss ing hif'e s<lIi~lar llags and pendants shwkl, as I\3lr

as ~bkl. 00 planed betwemreclan~ar fugs (this cenoot be doneIhroug~ul, howe\iEr. as IhamaTe 001'600L1g~ pendents B f I dt~angu'~rr f tag$), sndacQacetl! n a g s .!iihC!ufd'be chooeI'1 10 ~Irveasmuch oonlmsl as passll:lIa, II' I.ha fullcomp l€!lT Je i)l 01nags i s U ' lavai lnb le .

AUvessels should. as~iiU as possib!le, bedressed 'aiiM. In g€ I1e ra l t he0If00. reading

from fhe bow,should be;E :.Q, DS, G , pll, Z .,p4. W , p6, P , pt. I,Code . T , Y, B ,X . 1s t. H ,3rd!, D ,F -,2rd, U ,A . 0, M , A , P2,J, po, N, p9, K. p7. V.pS,Le,S.rn a s ingle -m asted~SSelIhe r l !1f l!rom oow10 rMStI'Iead could linsM IMth 3rt!subs1illJle. and IIIe [me!rom maslhead 10stem carOOd01 1 frrJmD.The ril"lebetw een ~ irl two-mastediJesseIs stat1swfih Yand finisheswifuO .tn additnn to tO Os hip 's ColOurs0'"«Ensign) WI1fclhShOUld sHIJbe w omat Itsll~al plare, i.. . 1M Ensignstru! on thets flre il, ~ a gs -gEl"li9ranyEI Ils igns -!t1ooldclso be Q I J 'N1 ' 1from .00d1masll '1eadV\ ' I1ep ;



the sht ; : Jis dre£S ed. Il is if rljo rtan l U 'l8 tthere is a Ilag at ~ 1T I i l . S t hB a d .and !heI~ flown at !he JTmSI.Mead should be in

accordaro;;e\M t nU")elollowing:

1 . FOI 'Brilishna liOna lfeStivalsBritishEnS'[1IS a re flownal. slllrrlSlhBadsj atthe m ain m BStooadlifle E ns ignaoo1tJedub burgee am flt!wl!Side by side.

There is. ~€I". an exception to thisrU eV llhen Ihe QWrrEjr01 ~y.lChtcSaRag O fllce ' 01ill vocn .t club. In 1tl81case, h i s .pa-oonaIlIag IS llown ~ itsal<II .tile main ~ INitlloul anyEnsgn . It fo llow'S , th at ~ .s uch ayacil'rt isa s ingle-masled yacht, no f n ' i I S t h e a dE ns ign can be Gawn.

2. Ftt 'fo(~n r1ational raslivais lei:!het ~

Briltishwa te rs o r abro adl' an6nslgn ot~ country in .~ose nonour the ship isc .ms soois IIrMtnstirn masll'1oad_ Fors<:hJorcil3 'Sor yoollls wOO Il"II)re thantw o masts . the forei~ Ensigl is f lQ! , ' i !T1a l tln e fo re .fa'"vaw ls aro ke lchasat thAmUM, I3I ld lo r s ing le - rnas tadyachts itisllcw.n BI lhe rmln mastheadeIOr'{Jl!idetho d~b bLlI"gOO. BritishBrtsign9 are flown III Ill[! C(lyarma:s theads .

At; when oeIebratl~ Br i t i S hnationalllestivals. the personal flag 01 a FtagOIOCerde yacht dub:is always IIownby itoollat the main m asthe ad. ilihisprnduC€."S adilfruHy in lhe casa ofs I n g I e - 1 ' " I " \ a S I : e dyad1ls and. under lressdrcUmsl~ , the lomgn Ensign maybe flown either al Ihe slg~oord -yard-6I)TI Of else al tile cresstrees,

3. For local fes'tMals. such as mgatws. theclJb bu rgeB shoukll be RCl"Nn ,31thema in r n8S th etn :JwilJ1 rIO Ensign TheOWIW'S house t r a gImajl also be 6Dwn ~ nIts usual p!aoo or. a11e (na~ anEnsign may be flown. An EnsiI1'1shouldalso be IJoviinal all o lh er ma s th ead swhefe no otm lIag is flying

, 1 "1alIlhe sl::iave CMe.S. II \he OV'IIlef Isentitled to " ! € I l l ! 'lhe special En s : i g _1 ' lo re~ yact,l cloo. ne lTIIiy fly ather thisEnsignat tre· maslfleadOr a R ed E ns ign,t.Jl •.should he eleCt to wear a spedalEnsign. the s am e s pe cialEnsignmus l be

r fC I I iY J1, E l l . EMmaslhead. T O OSpecial Ensign01 QI''Ieyaehl c lubEIhOuIdn e v s rbe n o w nlrom thernaslhead allhe samelime as lhespecial Ern;I!J101 another yachJ club iswiYn from the 1E1 fm i I .

Dressingl with m.astheadflags\ I I I h env<$Sa ls a re unda"wayi"l the \'lc'hity

01 an ancho rage OJ are n.o\ 'J iHad \Mlhc:rresslnglitles, !h~ stJoutl h>ist Ensigns aIIhernasthead and Ensign staff and. wherea,pprop1iale, lhey ~ ,e/sohcisl the P ilo tJack allhe J1 l . cks ' tn ff .

Dates to.1"dressfl1!!) shipThe p rin cip al n alio rual le sti'll'aJs o f G rm t

Brltain wrrMily celebrated by dressingst1ip8I'tII:ACc!:lsslooDay; COron ation Oay:HM The Q.Joon'.s , s i I "1 . l " r lBy ;ComrrtonwsalthDay: !- 1MThe Quoon ·sOlnoo I:!irt~{usu1!llyth e rirs ! Sa tu rday In Junal~HRH TM [Juke oIE{ftnbur!IJ's I::*Ihday.

lIn Bddilio~ to t~ ~;(ed days. shfps aredr<essed0l"1 othe r occas ioos such as U nemarrlage 01a rJ'le«lber 01 t I - , eRoyal Farnily,the \!isit 0.1Royal ly In a port.e tc ..ThereShctJd be flO dilnculty f1 '1ascooalning !t'ese

dale s . IIi1d yact"its -a readIIised to ro l .1ow'heactioo 0 1Wllps ofthe Royal Navywhentytlg 'in a I 'lar1l:xx.Irwhere those s1hipswepresen tFaeign countOOs 009 their DWfl nalionatI{)Slhtars,,';"iella(e ce ld :lm tl'!d bydmr;:s!ng,s np . Vis liil'1g y ach ts s ho uld . a s a co urte s yro llOw U1e loca l cus tJjlTlS .

It is cumom~ to dress mip for .3 IocaJ18SlivB~.



A1tilo ug h m .dirJre le pho ny isgenemOydIscussed in lhis bctJkIet. the irrJrnerrseamoL/ l l ' 1 . t r01 n e c e s s a r y in la rm a fic rl re gBld ir'lQIlceflq and opmll.ing regUlations, thechOioo 01 equlpmmt and how 10 use IIinduding II'lelhsm11J1l901 urgency. sa le tyand distre ss traffic, form sthe su1:J!ect01o t f 1 e 1 : '00a\!;,s f r om I h e : RVA ,n partic tJ rw~ G22VHfR a O Oinc GMDSSandG2e VHFPJJdIo SOC Assessments.Thls . 1 : J cd i .c!E!I!IJsWI th Vis oBI'slgnattlngandsigMlIlJ"Ig by SOlJlyj when vessas ere l1 ' lclose proximty as le t e xam p le , in .msWcI . edv l s i . b~ ! t y.T h .e p r in cip a l re < 3S C if1 sfor w h " 1 C h! lJyachtsman needs to receive signals of oneIo;indor ano ther a re: .

1.. To obtatn ! / I I0 i l . t he : cloreca.9is WId gareIM 'Il'rin g s .

2. To obl3n time signals, more p3i1icufarly

...men BSt~-n::Mgatlon is used.3. To Cibtafn navlgaliol'lall Qnlorme .tionIn

\IfI'icvs farms (e..g. from local pat Signalstations, 1Jgh1h:luses. lighl-vessels,CwsIgJ6I1js,and· other ships oryochlsl .

4. To r~ enwrgarmy slgrJels h'orll(Co l 'cancemlng J o lJ"i«craft.

5, To establ15h lhe n:ature of anottlerv e s o o Ile.g. ciJrin g ~ Of in fog)and 10 de~em 'I Ii1e her mO\l'Em f.T1tre la tive10 ooa's ow nship.

6_ To e s tctllf;s hthe identity (e.g. name.club iftlIOJ IlaI:fonaIity)01 another yadllor ship.

7. To rBC€IVe ITIo."lSS.t'IQss101pttSOnBt orbus in e ss re as on s. o r rn !.lSSBge swhich

may BffocllOOyachl'S progI'tI'TllM.S. To be ilblf.llD (rllerprell>~ used in

GOfInectionw~)'<Idlt raclng (a.g.s ta rt ing , c :a rv ;:e lI at ions ,sf"OrtOOI"l9co urs e s, o llie .).

The re arepBlihaps f€'l\'e r re as oa s fO 'yachlS btJirigalDIe 10 s e nd s ig na ls ,001 lheyincII.!de:

1. Tre abiily to .:;;md distress si~aJs ir1as manyof 1M accepted formE; aspo 5Sble EU 1d topass OU "I€f re la ted;nfOfmalJoo IhI l ' l i c l lIs o1ha1p 1.0IMlllld·tlemscuers_

.2 . The a bffily to o on vnU1"!K :a leregardhg S(lI1'"'II1 Qtl"llar craft . ..distrws, tither V> i i t t Jher or \ IVUhenollU sliJp Of shore.

3. ro be 001910 pass tmpor18fI1

intormatlon( o.g . conce rrTig sa le tyOf nav iga~ nl toanoll'lJ:rcratl.'1 . To bB able to pass roulilllil 0(

~( 'OOf"1ru messag&!l as W ld ....t1enCorwefJimI (e ,g_ 10 M lil)! pe op leasharfJ of charges 10 ! t Je .yadlt'sprogramme).

In ordar to m e< ellhaS e rR jU irernefiIWV1":lri<llJsmethods of signsllj~, are avsiIabie10

vachlSma:l.Sacne of IhEtn are relalivelyslow, but are s imp leandCOfl~1 0'Vef

s ho rt d is \Ill'lO e S .an drn:JlIIn:!lil:lleeq_dpmentor oorlillg. Others are more ~ ooand expensive, re q ulrir~ I'I1€ )reknovIledgeande~.

The bBSis ofIT'IaI:Iy !OIIllS (l1 .1l'l<!J'inacotnlflU1k:atiOn Is the Im t ema liMaJ COdeofS igna ls . TheCode lakes anr-oltlfll01 lilewide and In cre as in g us aof plllfn languagecommwlcations and It provides for allsiruaflons ,mtlhg IQ safety 01 navfgariona nd o f p e rs on s, !.lS pe ciailywhenWrigua_geclIffioultiBs artss.

The InternationalCode 00fI be tmnsmit tedby any o! !he 1 0 1 l owm , g ,I'rIEfthod:s:

Ftlag5jg~J1I'1g. wirog!he Inlema!ionaJ

Code II:Jgs.ll1eYconsist 01 ~gs ofdi:lfIlfElilt cololIDland :>MapoowfIk:h e redisplayed 11 ' 1groups (O f s 1 n gty r o r!heITJIJfe Impcrt8tltslgulls), and whidh canbe In te rpre te d 'rom 1M cooe1Xid<,p!1Inted in nne languages- ThIS ~hoois rmherstow, and It can 0IlIy be used indaytigl1! aJiO~ngood '.'1oo11ty.



2. R ash lngIiglli.~g the Mrx oo Cod e_This C!XIt! di dolls aI'ld ~ '[5 widelyknown and cari be tranrorniUEd by .gI1ltday or righl) ove r cons ldm lb le~Milfl a. powerfu! light andgoc:.d vlsjb[lily.

3. So~ signall~. also usiI1g the!l/lo.rseCode. oW r n g10 Il'~eequiprnenl used(e.g. whistle. sirm or 109-hcm)lhl:srreth:xl IS s loW. n can also CEUSfJ

co nluS lo n Inpoc1" Vis!billly.wttefl ns usesnoud be reslricted 10 a .m l n 1 m C dm _

4. Itbfce o v e r aIwd halif!f.M~s > byloud haile r are nG!"!T lallyPassOO il~plainlanguage, bu't the In tem a!ioneJl Codel "T 'Jayb~ tJSQj [f tIiem. am liln!1JBgrtdi~f'bJlrf€s.

5. FIaOOt6~ny - roy\ci:eover ama riT1e radio. Me ss age s are n om - vall\lpassed to p Ia ir1language , but'lOOinlam81iQ'lai Code !T t .E . l<ybe used inoases or IMguage difficliItibes.Est<!blis~ procedlJras and l tlCOOsingregu<l.oons m l.lS!be fo!lowea. See AVAbookS G22 . e n : : IG25 wt'Idi exptalntftese It! great00IaiI_

In addition 10 !he above, SQI10rs n e ed 10be !arniar Wilh Qij1a- special C I' Iooarsi!Jlals winlich tI1B)1w~11ocoon1er. TheseIn dv.:ie s t£h io om s as cambin atio osofshapes sod ~~9 (o r Ug h t s ,by nigh'llwtIlc"c,ootml1he eu1!ry10 001M1 ports or indicatet idal hi ;i ights .togetherwfths!~Slg~$,d jg ,!re s s ~ n als . p ile n s ig nrus , pm tiQWmessa~etc.

INTERNAT10NAbCODE OF SIGNALS(1969)Se.val signal codes for ~s IM'lre

intror.:1Jced In the early 1'.900'8. perflaps thebeSt krcwn being Manym's (lSl7}\Alhichoon 00 lalrty described as lhe first

Inwroo\lonal Code. Trt> I1SI i !df1LrTJeri!lflagso -9, a 1 $ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 sIiag, a t~ flag,.a n~ petldanr, two mslinguishingpendanls as SllibsliMes, and the UniooFleg. Tbls code pi'ovIdOO 8 lnla' 019.(0]SignalS w tM . e I 1woo S CXY 1{ollfld to bein&JfrlCi€-1I1:,;3I'1din 1855 !tie .8rlUsh Boom

oi Trade set up a ,oomrrittee to look iI"Ilothe p roblsrn.

M a ~e&II!. a new International Cads wasifltrWl.lCW in 1857. based on !he us e 01'1B fiags .iM:1~ch ~ lhe CDIlSCYlants 01 thealphabet less X and z ..II . . . . .asissued in tw oparts" th e fimtpari c o n t a J : n r n gintamationals1gna~se nd the SOC1J fTdpart on lYBrilrstlones. 'tl was rubS'tanli::tily rtMsedln 19(JIand amoin in 1943, Cffl each occasionbec:orrnng I'II1OI'E)iI1te rn abOna l ill~l'EIICThe more recen t v l'tS ion('tM 1931IliternaliCifl<llCode) V\'13Spublished ir l tw ovoilllmS,one fo r visUalland S!lIJ'1dsignallfig <lJ ' Idens lOrradiOOOfl'lI'IljtlicaliClliS. II' ~. let severllall[JJage s -6 r 1 g 1 l s h ,Frenct1, It~,

Garman.Japanese. 5pa;1ish ardNorwegian. By I'TlC'lBrtS cI Il1!illnlernatiOOBlCo c : I a ,ships 01 these various mnlonaiitJescould pass r~ to reM otherwithOut an y knOWledge or fore i!J1langUages a'1'a Jl.t\part f rom descrivrlg theactW ll Hags .the meanings 01the V8OOT J 3

groups. e o othe pfOOedurefo rt11ei1'UW. IIalso oeoledl J i 1 eme t h o : x l s01

corTlT'lUrlllcatfngby morse , s~e Endsound signals.

In the 1950's am 196O's;8. (TOOt deal cIwork by in tem a \]cna l comm itte e s(lJooerwhat Is ! 'lOWtl1 e Inle rT la IiQ r'la I Marit[m eOrgan is atio n -IMOJIIl~dted in a lurlherrevision of tfle Code, whidI1was com~edir ' l1964 and cam(') into elfeci 00 1 April1993. R l.IS Sia rIend Greekwete added 10

the pMVious sevt:n lat~ and BIj tormso f m a in e co l1TT lli.llie a tiooC-OITlb lr l!!d in !Oas ingle \idume .As an exam ple . allSignals( lnc l Jd i . r 'o ;}all the important single-letl:ers ig nals ) maynow 00 made by any me thodof sig~lin:g. althoJgh there are restrict ionson SOIrld 9g I1< lUTngm conform to R ule s 34ill'Id 35 of tha AegUt:al : iOClSfor~11ingCotrlSioos II I Sea.

Each Signalhas a complete mearing.Signalscons Is t o f;1, Single. leiter sio;TlaIs, WhiCh are very

urgent. Important o r crmfOOl1,

2. ~wo-Ielte;S91!llsfor the GeleralSedion ..



3. 1Ilroo-leltel Sigoals beginOing witt"!M f(){the Medical SectJoo,

In som e ease s~ts aIEl used to5upp lBmOOItfle available !;1OUPs.CornpIemrnts mlpress:1. \Ja ria tjo ns Il1lJcler1"ieaIllng of the basic

Signal. e.g"GB '"' Il'E'qure Imrnediala

<lS81Stlll'lCe_

CB4 = 1 re quire imm e d i8teas sis tal'G e .1 amaground,

2 Ck.Jeslbns ccnCEl'ri~ the same basic&lJbject or basic sigrwl. e,g.

DZ '" ~ (or ajrcraftj irrlcata:lappears to 00 in dlslmss.

DZ1 = ls Vf35SeI(01 Hircraft)indicatEd! in dSlff!iSS?

3 . Answers to a questioo orrequeslmadeIJy the I:mic siglaf, e,g.

~B '" V\InatdB J 1 ' 1 8 . 9 BI1&VEyooreceNed?

183 = IMaw 001 received anydamage.

4. Supplerl'ltlntary, specific, or detailedmfcrrn al_ io n, e .g _

OL - Yoo stlO lJld[p asil'lm,

GL 1 Yoo ShOlddg:') slaw astanCof11)\ernentsWhich iPpeaf in the text1OOre· 'thoo once have teen grouped i r1tlyoo taI:les, Y ll'h ich am g ive n011 page 27.T h e s e I~ s h O iU ld bE ·used C l n I yas andv.hm specif\®d in the sign.'ll code.

In sore glQlJPS .• ~ appear in :~.These areeiti'w ~fives. or Inlarmatianwhfch m ay be IhdLJdedif " is a 'Vl. li lable , orroo:planatio[lS of the 100.

In the code itself. material is . arr~,under the follCllMngmai~ headings :Dist ress ,Emergency,Cooual1JeS,Damage .MeteolO logy, Ccrnm cnlcatlon$. prahqua

al"td 1 v IOO c a I .Cm 5s re le re t1Cl3s are given intire right-hand coI~, \ I ' \ ' I ' loo lspp!nplia1e, ' illorOO100ool~lal.eGOdi~.

General instructions'I. NumberS

Num bBrs . am s ignalle d aslallows:

( i l Rag sJgnaJ~jllg: by !he r l l J l 'I" I l ; l I 'a lpendl3fll;S aI the Code.

fiij F l a S h i n g ~ght or OO l J OOsignallir~rwuaJ~ by ~ In U10 Morser. . ooo .bul rM\I 00 spi.'ill ~ inmpoJ1aJ l l c a s e s(e.g. if! g iv ll'{l, 8DOS i l i o n l .

1110MarirlE Radio or ~OlJdFlBlief:by thephcIoEIl;c code WCIIW ofthe r&g.lresp!!lmngtable.

2•.Declmsl point·This 1$ ind lcate d as 1001ows :

O J Rag s ig na llirJQ:bYinserting tooAr-IsweringPlllldant:for U..,.,deomalpoint

~ ~ FIa9"llnglighl 01 ' sound s igna !1 rl1il:OOdm aJ Sl11ai AAA.

~I~IVoice; by use 01 Itle word decimBi~rC!liouocedCAY-SEE-MAL asIndcaled ill f!gum ~pBIJ~ table).

3.DeptbsSl'loold be signalled in foolor i1'Jelms:.

figures IC lIIowe d byf = fW I (00'fathorrls).

F1gums rDllowooby M " m e tre s .

4. Azimufh 01" besrJng

Sif]nalledby trree ligures, deroHIl9degrees from 00010 359. iiVhenneceSS6f'\l. to avoid conI\JSiof1.ire ligaooto be prefil(ed by A (fm mmulhl> Unless$ Ia1e d Inthe ~111!fY, ~s e rn a 1w 'a yssig{1a&mas Tr'!1C ..

5. Course/A sm r azim uth, exoop~ 1i'1a'1the IigLmes

Ell'e prallxed by C r kx -oourse).



e_ DatesDales are ~ by two. four Or SIX

~gtJras which are pre cOOe d by lhe le tl:e r D(let date).

fh::!firstrwa f igures '"day of !he month.(\N hm s ign alle d Bkln eltIey referto theJJf85ent month).

' 1 I " I1eI1E) ) l Itwo n~1'OO '"morrtI1of t h E !year(e~g. l2Q12 =. 20 D6I1::1'n1~.

The ftnal twa figllres .. ' wn e f 1s ix 8!11

s ig naIle d - year (e.g. 0201201 - 20DoclllT100r200~1.

7. LatitudeSignalS!:Iby rour figtxl'lS,pcooEldooby L

arC fuUowed by N 'or (North lat~udes) or S(Ie r S ou'lh latitooe s}. N or Smay beemitted ",,"em CibvioUs.The firsl twoligures il1 .d icatedegreoo ar1d~hEi secondtoo indicale rrlriul€s.

B. I..ongiWdeS i . gn a I l o i : : Iby fOU\ "(or f i l iA l%ltmS

j:lrocOOed by G Md 1 o l 1 o 'MC Iby E IterEast)o r W IrQ!:"Wes t } Ttie las t IW Of iguresIndicate ninute s andthe firs!tIMl (ct I:I'Jrre)indica te d egre e s .

9. DistanceSignaled by ligures~n na~iccl miles}

pr~byFl.

'0. Spf1Bd~ ~ r1 9M 'e sp"ecOOed by S (lor

knots} orby V (fo r id tlm e 1re s pe r hcJ!.jrl_

11. TimeSignallOOby lour lig~s -. the firsI lwo

d£OOO·tingbile hour (1IDm00 eo 2 31and lhe~ I!NO denoHngminllles. WrEn pr:ecooedby T the bm e Ind ira ll'!d . 15 local.lime. Whenprecedooby llhe time Indicated IsGreenv.ich Mean Time.12. Local signal codo.s{I/Iohooapplicable) am pr~ I : Iytill:!groupW 1 "The gtOllPS \M'IichIoIklw are

Morse codeAlphabet·

A .-B - ....

C -.-.

D ~ . .E ..f ..•-.G -- . 'H • ..

,_

".."J .---K - ,,-L .- " •M

N - ~0

P 9-- l!

Q ~~.-R .- . 'S .." "T

U ~ ..V • " '.-W .--X -. . '_y - .--Z -- " "

Numerals~ '.----:2 •• '---

3 ••• ~-4 •• '.,,-

5 i! i! '" Ii



Phonetic tablesLetter spelling table

£.mer coae I ! ' . b r1 : t ProfUlda!ioo

A A I ID 6LFAH

B Bravo ~VOH

C Charlie CHAf1LEE

0 D e l t aD_llETAH

E f:d1o' E& l : S .OH

F Foxl:rQl FOKSTROT

G Gdf GOLFH Hot£! HOHIaL

I ~d1a 1MDEE AI - I

J Jw;1fi! ..JE/iLEEEI IK Kilo KEYLOH

L lima l~MAHM Milill MIKE

N t-loverr/bet NO :IlfMBffi0 Oscar QS.SCAHF' Papa PAH~

Q ~ KEH.~R FIormo I3 .QWMEOH

S Sierra SEE l " JBRA J - l

T Ti'IIlgD T~GO

U Uniform Y Q U'NEE FORM

V VictC!' JllKTAH

W VVhIS l l : e ; ; ~KEY

X }(·my ~RAYy Yen:kre YANG KEY

Z ZIJI l J ;!WLOONoteirh e s yllable s tobe emphas i sed E ' o ' eU~~I~. .

Figure spelling tabfs'When I '! lIITlEJI 'Cils are IraO!imltlsdi :Jy

radiotelephorie. !he f~bWing rues for tlief'p ronuncia tio n s houldbe observed:

N!.rmef<I SI:lc:l<etlas, IM . IN:;> TOO:3 TFrEE

4 FOW-ER

5 AFF

6

7

8

9oDecimal PoInI

Full Slap

SIX

SEV-EN

ArT

NIN-ER

ZERODAY-SE E MAL

STOPN~rats shoY::! 00 tmnsmittod digi! bydlgil e ll.C epl 1Me.!m U t1p !e s 01 Ih lJl.JS andsmay be- spokm as such.

'Procedure ,signal.sNote

A bat (lIIe1 the lelUlrn or B signal meansIt1atll1e lette-sam jOinerl rogerher'an:!rrw1e as one syrrb:il.1. Signals: tor voice

transmissions ,RlTO,.loudhailer)

S l g l B /

I N T E F l ( ) C l

~ M9anirlg

~.1!ffi-CO lnternaliooalCode group(s)loIkM'[s).

CO RR ECrKJN KOO-AB<·Cancel m y last

SHUN INOldor group-The (:(lfTeCl

wool or g,oupfollows.

2. Signals to,. Morsetransmission by fight

M M A Aetc. Call lor unkOOMl stationor gooeml cen,

EE8:EE ( . ' 1 . ( " ; .

AAA

TITT £ ' Ie .

T

Er8Se9gI' .ll!.

FLJ i Istop I»' OOc1maipain\.

AnsweriigSignal.

Wo«j (J groop receNed.3. Slgna.1s foF' flags. radio-

telephony Bnd rsdio-telegraphy transmrssions

CO Gall fO r unk r I t : r. > . r nslaliools ) or ge ne ral.callto a ustatJons.

N:ote'Wher1Ihls signel is used in voiceIranSl1"lisOOn.![shOu~d be pronrur.oo:::l naccoo1ar'ice '.Mlh 1M leiter spelling tEIb1e~.e. CharlieQuebec),



4• .signalS: for use whe.rreappropriiJW In all Iol"JTis ortransmission

A A 'AI!aft~ , '(i.lsed afterlhe•Repea t 'signal (A PT) -see below-mea<l$ 'Repsal all after ,:'J,

AB 'All belOm • _ .'(used a.fter1M'Repeal' sl!:Jlal !RPT)- see bela;v-!'l'\eriIl$ 'Ri'!pMt al l o o ro rn ...1 -

AR ErdI19 &isml or coo of lrnnstfIissicn(if ~naL

/lS ~Iing signal Of psrJod.

BN 'A llootwesn, .aod .. ' ltisedHlterlhe 'RepE:al' sfglBl (RPT) •means "R l;Jlo ol allbet~ . !rid

... 1 -C Affim:w.livo -'YES' or 'The

5Ig1li~~ 01 lhe p re 'fio os ~should be re ad in !he affirm a tive ' .

CS 'What is the nam e orIdentity slg1aIo r )'OlIr vessel lo r slBLionj't

DE 'From . .'(wed ~Q precede \henar:ne Cif identity signal 01 tf1~ c<illingstationj.

K'I wish

to oomrnunl!:;alewith

you' or'invilll.(ionto transmit',

NO NegaIM:! - ~NO'Or 'l1iesigrniflC8J"Ce 01 the prelJ\iousgr(1JpsshoUld be read In the negati...e ' .ViJha'i I . I SE I din 'voice trCll1$mfssionlhe pl'Dl'llJ"ld8llon sl1ook:l .00 'No',

OK Acknov\l.b:Jg~ aooll"acl: repet itblor 'I I is carrne t',

RQ lmerr 'ogalwe,or 'The si!J'1ibcanceof100 pPE."liousgroup s~uIdmad as aque; :OOn'-

R '~' or'l h B 1 r oreocived yourtast s ignal' .

RPr Repeat signal "ttlpOOf (J( 'Repeat'W hat )'QUhave sent' or'Repee1iwhat \ IO . Jhaveraoeived'

WA 'Word or group afte r •.. '(usooE l11e r!he 'Repeal' !;igMl (RPn I '1"\W1S'Rep!o.alward or 91Ul1J lafter, . .').

WB 'W00j C}I groupMore ... ' (Usede:l:ter lhe 'Repeat' s lgnCll (RPT )means 'Repel!] word Of groupbe/CIte • .. '1 .

Notes

" The proo.edure SiQJ1 ' l t sC, NO ar(! ROcanool bit IIJ$'d 1 1 1Corlunc!!irn'Mthsingle-lefIe(s fg r 1a 1 s .

,2. OIhr8' s ignals re lating 10prooedll'l:! Bl@

grvooUI'1der [he !leadlng 01CI'lrnr"rMJrYa1ions In tM~ riIEmaIlonal

Code.3. W100 UI1e :oosigtl!ll~are used by voice

1rw'1su1sSlOn !hi!lle!1ers!ihould beprol"'lCU'1~ in ea :.ordarnce v.r ll h Ihl !1eI!1a ' -s :P1lI! ' i rP;Jlable. exccpllhal NO Isp r o OO U l'lC OO N O .

Single tetter signals11'e :;lnyle llJ! te rsIg~ F flay 00 Il'la.OO'byMy rneltiod of ~grlalljng. F-or those ~

., see nola 11) 00 nex\page.A 'IhaIIe a ~ down: ~ we ll Cisar at

' a k Jwspeed',

'B 'I am te.~ In ,or dischi:l!;glng,oraarl)'lng dangerousgrl(ldS •.

'C 'Y E -S ' ( 'Afi:l!TI1ative' or'The Sigrnical'lC!310 ' 1the pf'Ilviolois!Y 'X JP s houldbe ,ead in!he .e.mrrMlivtt).

'D 'Kaep cle ar or m e ;I am ~ng" " t t hcfrffiClJltv'.·IE 'Iam alteri l'l9Ill)! COl.im il 10siamosrc! ' .

F 'I am d'Isab!ed:oommuncatewllh me:G 'I reQuirE ! apilol'. (Wra. made by

flf>Hngva&S£JI l i !opmI1ing Incloseproximity 00 the lishtng grounds ii'm6li/lS 'I am hauling nels'-)

H 'i !haw apilot O!'I board' .'I am wtBrlng my ccuse 1 .0pOrr.

J °'1em onf.m and Mve dangerousra-ga01) boom; k .oop w!:l l1deal 01 me' .

K 'I v.1sh 10carrmUr*Jale WilhjiC Ai' •

l 'Yoo shO!Jldslop Y O U !\ I OO S e tin sta nlty ' -

M 'My vessel is stopped BIld ITlJDjng noway I twO lJgt111"e wale(_

N NO I'NegatNe' or ' 11 ' 1 eSIgI1I~lcenceoftile previlw groop should be re ad inlhe negal1\.rl). This slgool may be .gio.monly visually orby sowm :L Fe I' voice ~m r n oImrEm~ \ h I3signal stDiJld be

NO .

D 'Man o.. .oo:oard '.



,p In harbour.

'All pctsons m o oid report anboard ast~ vOO$elIs abOut to proceOO 10 sea ' .

At 500':

May 00 used by fIS hingvessets10 n:aan'My nets have corne last UpOfl Moootn.J r:;llOfl· ,

o 'tv 1 \! ~ is heaJlhy aoo I reques l: freepraliql{e'.

'S 'lam~a!lngas!em~',

"T ' K e € > pC I eO i r a fme~1am I'lrlgagooi1 palf

tra~irg'.

U 'You art:l rtlI1ningInto danger' .

II 'j reql.llre assiStance' .

W 'J reqtire rrodiaal asastsnee',X 'Stop carrying wt your irll:errLionsand

wald1 fQ fmy sign ars" .

y 'I am dragging f"Iyanc:hor'.

'Z "I reqta"r'e e tLg'. \MIen ma.de by fL'Shing~~ operalil'l9fn dose pro1dm iuyO~lhe ~Si1irtggl"Olffls il meanS 'I amsMooqnets".

No'esI, S lgM l.s 01 tetI.~rs l"fJa t"ked .,WI)er1made

by so un d, m aycn vbe mare incompliance Wllhthll"E4Ji1ern;)l11s of theInt e rna lio rn J Re g i.J atioos fo r P revooliog lCoillsionsat Sea (Rule s 34and 35),aca;p liF 'lg lhal SOU I1dSig f1als G and Zmay oonUrue 10 be used by f1shi~vessels fIShingin clos e prox ill1ity to

other nsh!ng ~ .2, S~ K and S have special mean~ngs

aslmimgs ig na ls ~o r sma ll bo atswithCf"e'M:ior persons 1r; dislmss..

The letter PI h as beer1omitted lrom ther '~sed Ilsl:01 single I r ! t i t l fmeanings and ameaning !"lasso flU!Jeen unallbcal'ed, bl l J tSee Aule 35(9) (lIthe CoI~SklnReg.i lat ions.

Single letter signals withco.mplements(May ba ~ by anymethod 01 signalling)

A with three numem!s... AZIMl JT"Ho r BEARING.

C wil~three~= COURSE.

D wlt~ tvro.four or ~ 11! . I !" l1! iJ"a1s: D A TE .

G will'1I!ll.i'or five numerals= LOOGIT tJOE lInelast tw a rIUI 'I"1f ' . f"mis

d en ote m t oo le s,and the I 1 i t S tdegrees) .K wilt! one rru roo ra l

- " wish !Q ~e wi1Il)'CIU by •(~liiis labia 1 ).

L with i oU ' "numerals'" LATff iJDE lihefirs!. two' Illll"ll;lfa!isde note de groos •.W ld thE lre s ! m lruJt e s l.

R withrn~ or momm .llT1em1s= DISTANDEIn nautical mires.

S w i lh o o e o rI"IlClfe ru . . i !T l8 l "a l s= SPEI3J in knots.

T with !bur rumeraLs., l..D(";tI1. TIME(2 0:1 .~ clock).

V with U1e Of rnoreruneml",",SPEED in kibne:lreS p8f , i " J J l ¥ ,

Z w llh r O U tOOmflraJS

= GMT (24 hOur dOCl<).

Tab'les of complementsTable J

~- Sernaphom.2. Moroo signaJJing by hand nags manns.

3. Loud h!lJ~ ror m egapoorl(.l) .

4 Moo;e s ig na llin g ~ .

5. Soord signals.

6. Interrohonal Code ~,7 . Radrrn eteg ra pt'ly,5OOkH i '

8 . R o okO letephOny,.218 2kHz.9. VHF Radiotell'lphony Chau,t1€! ~aTable IIO . Water.

1. PTc\.is101l.S,

2 .. Fuel.3. Ptrmpin.gIlqutpmmt.

II. FifEighUrig appIIBI"lCtJ.5. M€dc2Jassis1:ance.6. Tcwin;/.

1. Slsvival craft

a Vesse l 10stl.U1d·b)I.

9. k"~ bmeker.



T:ablu "'O . Diroctiorllri:nown lo r calm ),

I. N orth-eas'l.

2. Eam

3. SauUh-easL

4. SootI1,

5. SCulll-west.6. West

7. North-west.

fI, North.

9. All (lfrec!itl'1S ,(or a:mfusaJ IX vaMbIeJ

FLAG SIGNALLINGTit¥!!lagsLlSfldin the Intem::l t looalCode

(see inside 1l '0J i tCCNerj rem am as in lhei 931 ve rs ion of tI1eCode andoon sis i' o f:1. Twrnty 91.-: r ag s .• one for each letter 01

the alphabBt. lhese are all rectangularIn ma p £ ! ,except A and B IM1Idl ate1:IJrget' shaped.

2 E le ven pe rJdam s -CQI~s.mingof the 10IlUmetaJs0 " 9 , p lu sthe AASV I o ' e r i n gPen:l8n1 (or GoOO Fiagas rt iswi!M1!1"Il£!ScsII'ed).

3._ T hre e triangutar rlags - !he RIst,~ ar'!dThird Swst ltutes .Theseare used to aY Oidthe neoessily of asI1lphaving to carry moe than 000 5E . " t0 1 '!1m 26 flags and 11 pendants givenabove. They enable the s ame signalflag - e ithe r aIp",,"oolkJai ~ Qr I1lXrE rnJ

pertdm l -La be repeated one or m oreIroos.ill ~11E!same g~. U'!ejr usa isd€&;riMd more fuel! f ."!rl :fw.

IlefinitlionsGt'Oup,

cneDr mom ccn tinuousl~t<lfS and/ornUJl'leHliSiM1lchtogethef ro rT l)liSe asign:Jl,

Hoiti.f

O le or U ()regroops disp1ayed from esingle I 'lat liard.(Anotjl0' use 01the:wardhoist tsto ~ndlcatll the portiOn Of II ilagnearest 10 the l i nGof !he haHiarc::l-the flybeing Ihe othe r ood w'hich II1Itte rsi'1 theVI'iI"id.)

At the dip

A holst 01' I!ig~ is E ll tf1e dip v..tIm hoistedooly EIlJoulllalf·way up.elase tiPA sigr.al i5clOse up when j t ' i : ; ;fullylfl)r$'ted,Of when ~ is !W obIocks_

TackJlne

A lineusedto ~!e the groups in aholst,so lhal they are rBad separately.Stlperior

A flag orgoup hoisted above ano thE lrfi'agor groop. (Note - flags are alway.; read !rothe ta p d ownward s.)

lnft1riO,.

A rlag or gnup ho is led b£ llov,lMo lhe! "neg

o r gro up.ClassThe class of a ~ag re fe rs 10wI<etlu it is ana lp ha l:le tica l lIa gO r a r lli1ie i"Dl1p:~1.(500 ~ndar llie h€l,?ding&t:!sl:irutesj.

Equipment requiredm~r totJe ~a 10 signal usnglheIn le m ationE l Codethe foUolNingBJ'El

~:1. A comple te ,001 e t the 40 nags. It strudbe em phasise d that'flag s m J SIbe of anedeqJa!e s Jze ff they are 10 be iOO1tift9da 'I a worthwhile afista'lCl3.24in 'on thehoist by 30in 00 Ina Ily is none too!arge!of p racHcal P upDSe l3.Yacht ootft1s ·alEo fte n sm all€rlhan this and 01'001 rnudluse excepl IOfd~ ship_

2. R ags m us t t r a v ea pr'op'el' s towage . soIhal each < sreadlly ideritb'inble<lJ'I(j,canbe quickty eOOrnctoo.Larg e s hip s' h a v E~ag lookers, buI m asl yoch1s s low the irfiags jn a cm vaswalle! wI1icll can 00

r o DOO . ~8 f1d pul aw a y v .n e n1101r€4l tre<: l -

3. Bearing In n1nd !he ~ 01 f iagsrllqUired, it is ·e s senffalI0 have a halliiRJOr ha lli atds o rWfida'1! lang lh 10ii 'Il::ikeaheist. Whr~ 1m hcighl o! m astshourdneil pI''ESEflt any prob~ in EI sai~ngyacht, mosl 01 lhe Slubby effak's Htloo inmodErn rmlor ~ochts amusmss lors g,e I1in g "

4. A o o c : I ebook, with lhe rm,::mings of 1mvario os g ro up s.



5 .B in o c u la J s , W Iorde r to read signals I fC II il1o th er s hip s.

ProcedureThe basic p ro ce dure Jsthat the seooing

ship hoists Ihe Id en tity (s e e ul1!::ie r id en tIty'O fVesse ls) of tM ship shedesires (0

signal. rf Iho o lhe l' s hp '5 id fln tity s igm l1 sno! known she hoists the grwp \IF fY(1Jshould hois t your ioorltitysignal')or CS['What is 1tle nam e orIdentity signal 01yourve sse ' (s ta 'lion)" prale rE lb1yat tho s am etimeholslll1g her O ! J I I T " I!denlitys1gnal If thesendlng ship OOe9 no! Irtdlrnm the

re ceM ng sl"wpby 5Ignall~ le l"S, 1he f1thes ignal i!l a1dfessea 1'0all ~ withinr3flge.

The sending ship then hoiSM n c r s ig n a r .and whon lhis is sighted lhe ,~ shiphoiSts ,her Answer ing P€f\darII at tt"Ie clip.Wt100 she nas rood [he slgnai MrI isem-la in that she undemt.arnrls II s he hois tsthe AnsweringPerWll dose up.The soo lif lg &nipthen lowers her SV la J -al whioo the re ce iv ir1 g s npb f inQ " .3herAASlNerng

Pe:nde.rli10100 dipegain. If !he

sOO!ing ship has a.ll1r1hfl1'holst (J.I IltJis1s 10make , !he p1OCeC!UlI9is !epOOled. bu1 illhemessage has been ~Ieted 5he hoiststhe Ans~ Pcndan l. close up tosignifyEnd of Message:. Thereceiving ship hoistsher AASV1IeringPendantclose up toocknowleclgo,both toon lower theirAnswerrhg Pendants and the p~re Iscomplete.

Identity of v·esselsIt is O hM necessary lor shlps and !f.'IchtS

to exdIulge their identities. Tho mostobvklus idontilicatloo is £ i 5hip' 5 n a l iO ll " 'lB l ityby her E nsign. li naddition B II9111,[:15r,e

aDoeatooa le gis le re d rlliIInOOrwt\Icha ctua lly co ns is ts 01 lour alphabe tical nags .F or B rrtis hships the firsl is G or M.

ReglSleredyachts m ay ~p!y to r signalletters"

Signal ~ ttQrsMil 001 com pulSO l1! [ory ach ts . (!I!1lOi f (hay am m giSt.em d.Whoospeffi( ;ng 10 or caIlil"lga snp he r signalleiter.;; precede !he signal; w t n e nspealMgof or indk:atinga stiplhey loWowlt1esigrel.

Nowadays V>/hen sh ips f1"" ' e5 ton the highseas d1eyoften cornm unk:a teby RIT or byright; lhe old procedure fu spooking to aShip was to incrlCafe :

1. National flag.

2. Si~ letters.

3. Port from which sailed4. Desl,mrion.

5. Number 01 days out

6. la19rt :uoo.

SubstitutesIn ordo t' toIJfQJkj{] fe r thI:.Jrq:m tltion of

one 01 mom Irill1e rs wlthln a 'grcup, U "JeSUbs1llute fJags are used. ThOFlIst

S obs lItute re pe atsthe hrs i Hag 01thegroup in the dass wtJidh is immedta te lysuperior 10 l1 .SimlmIvltIa SecondStbstitute repeats the oocond flag in Ihegroop, e nd the Third SubstHutQ the llirdflag. It mus t be rem~ that classI$Ifl-TS 10Wtli1'Iheru is Ll I ' 1alPha]»licaI or anul1'16fBlflag ISM DB~rii:tions onpege 2a)t.

A SLJbs1itute canooly r6;)Bal a s ignalflag otthe same dBsS as trat lrl'medGtetjipreoeding ~ .if a s ubs fi1\.ito fo llOW 'S0iiG orm are alph3be tlcal flags .it re pe e ts one oftM o s o n a g s ;if I t IO I IO W S000 'o r m o ranumml pendants it represoots ona ofl1'1os a p end an ts . l'ln cAnswering Pendan .I .¥ t1er lused as a dedmaI pojnt shouldbecisr,egan:led when de.l'ermirung wlI1ld '1subsl!t~e 10 use . No 5I.Jbslllu1e can be

used I1"lOl'"9tt'lan anal> in th e s a-rmgroup.Tho IoIlov,ing 8Ill examp'oo of the USeofsubsl i tme5:

1. The signalBlU . -.m Uld be m adeby:

BILThird Subs titule.

2. The ,groupPPRP WOl;IIdbe rnade by:pF.-s1 SubslJll1leRSeccru Suh sU l , t J l n _



3. The si[ll'lai1"'330 would be made b;:

T13Second SubsU1UiIJo

Note

Here fIMl cla~es !;IfHags am W"SOO;anolh e Seoond Slbs !rll. .J ta re frusto the.1iClCC(ldnurnerelpendanl • nolto tl1eS{lC cn d fla gin ltle hois t

Answering: PendantThe 'UiSOof .Ihl! Answering Permnl at the

dip wtm a signal .is [rIStseen, Md cIosaup ",tim it has boon read 000 IJI'lcBstood,has already be en de scribe d ,urtdm

P l'O C I 'lO O r e o npage 2 9 , .also to 3gr1i'v 'End01Meswgl'l' and 10 ad(rnwtOOgll same.InOOdjtiooit i s !use d to s igrool adecimalpQi(1tbetween nUilla'aI~(Jallis.

It I 1 I 1B ) Ia lso lJ eusOOby 8 Royall'bvy sl:lpwhile she is a igna J~ng wIth a non -n ava lship or a shore 5iaticrL A 1toollgh lhe R oyalN~ IlO'!Nuses !nternatijcrll,1IC o O O"lidS(supple:rnenlad by other naval ru:neraI

flags and othe r spacial flagsandpi.lflWroIs), the Inlerrotional Code grwpsam nol used be!.WOOnn!)Vfli units, ThoUfJSY>OOngPIOr'(Janl1~1'ill irdcaloo ItJata wa r s h i pis LJS i r l g1M Inle<m1ioMl Code.

MORSE CODE BYFLASHING LIGHTIn order to PEISS !"reSSagE!S .s aIis fOC lo fliy il

is nocessary (0 haWl th e rig ht aQ lJlpm e nl;aUlhoUgh ove rvery s ho rt d sfS f1C :e s e tnigllt.afi1o!;l a J " !Ye ~ric tarO h W I~sufficeprtNided ft.is lfiltOO vfilh3 suitable S'Mtd1,but for Q~r,~ Of for da)lfiQhtsignallingspecial ist squiproonlis used,

B.y., an A ldis Iw-rp .An AldIs t amp iscSSQ'1\talydirectional and m us t 00 kepIIralMd onth e ro oe iving s latio o L 15ir1gLM

sfghts prov,ldedJ •pressure on 1M lriggcrdellocting the reflecljng ml fTO fand rommg!he oots Of dashEes. TIlls can MlurnllyCi'lUsG s ome lifficu~ in bad weattY;.'fWtwn. ~,t[! its stlorler rmgc. W1 mi·round ' jgm(at Iho roost he ad lor e xamp le )may be plBfemt:le.

SpacingMarse is a matter of timilg e rw : : Irhythm jf

'" dot is lake n as lho U! '1 I l tof l ime. therollO'Mngis the correct spacing, and thisJnjsl be am i e v l 1 dif itIo n'1!lsSa(Jl Is in bodsc;rly readebIe.

Dol 1 unitDash 3 unitsSpace bet'wesr. we'i' 001or dash '111'I . Ie I'lQr 1 unil.Sp;x:e belwOOf'l each leiteror !i}l'fT lbO l 3uniLSSpace between each wordo r g ro up 7 units

' !1JeGssa' l t ial points 10 mrmmbf!r are Ihal 'a d:;;tshis three t ime:;as long es a dot. lind

them mustbe G 1 >1 igh 1pausa botwGooeadllcllor otherwise EE wwkJ beCOmlil1, and f > . E _wau~d 00 mad.1lS R. loreKar~Ie , 11 ' 1 0p aus o be twe en VlQ (cJs~ smore pronounce:::!.bUI It'iisOCCI.Jrsalmostaulo rra lCe ily be ca .Js e (a s wJllllOeSQM

belav04tho ~ ship a stationacknov.rlEd!)eSead1 vvad by rmklng theletlerl.



Proeedu.1!'e signalsThe followm g proCedure s ignals are used \'It1enS&'I[j~g and f'f;'Q!Jving Morse C odeby IlashJng1ig"'1.~ a ·bar is ~~ed on top 01me s ign'\he let !.em am n.mlogether Without 'in! pausebe tv.e en ll'1e rn.

E E ' I C E E E Eetc • • • • • etc E r : J S C .

(Note..l 1 ' 1 elM l sgnal!! abcNll: are used only wre n re rlO inlg Mors eby 1Igh1.rne rem aIn ingprooedures~ne t s bekM'am bE ll.ISBdw~ll; oll'a r m euVJds , as we11 aswtmn uSing U!t11.)

Of - .. o o .. Fro.rnRepo ol sigrl< d.

A llaile-;

NI before.

Word tr group afler •VWlrdO i" group bCffDlo'

Word Of" g t "OLJPbB tW € lE 1 l 'l .

MCSSB ; J Oe r.d s .~1Jng sigr!:!Jor pc!fiod signal .

A ffnna1Ive Y ES.

R C lC lliv rJ d .

....... - l cannot read yo urlTKIOO s ig na~ r"lg

Iatrlfl·Am goll1g 10 com -I'IIJ"jcBlo bVIntemalJonaJ Code.

AA AA M etc. '. - .. - • • -(lIflW~r(!d) .. - • - elc

TTTTTTTetc.(Uf'llij call stops) ~--~-~-

TA A A ,,.- ," - .-

11PT • •AA .- .-AS • •• .WA .-- .-WB . -- -,iii, • •BN - . . . . -.AR .- .-.r-s • ..•C -.--.

R . .'fT4 -.-.-_YU -. -- itiill-

MorsE! procedu.reCflashing light!.The corre c t p ro cedum1m passtng

m~s by flaShifIQ ilght is gMln inChapter 'V Io Ilhe 1l'1te m allonai C od e.Boe fiy the Il8I"JS I'n iltin g s hips arecalled up.Aill!1arM i.Aoie . orwith lhe SJgnalletlws

of ,the ship BdtIressed, until emwered.When ready to receiVe. t~ (ll~er sNprnal-:es 1M Answcrirl lSignru. II~ssa;y!tie ships exchange Klentrtll,:;;,thefratl~ing ship makV'lg OF fdlOH edbyhsr s ignal fO :!le rs ,wIlidi tile ro ce ivin g sf1fpfOlpeatS bock ThSrGCGMng !ihjp lhen

AMwer7lg SI(lnat

I/iklrd H.. cEived

FI.iIIstoo Cr oedrnal ppinl

make s ocr Signal letters, whldh tha oHurepeals back.Thm 1()11l)W 'She tex t of themessage,e ith8r inp l :8 inlanguage or incoda fTO~(ooele gr'l)Upsb € 1 i n gpreroded by Ih o s ig nalVU I .Eact,WOrdOf group issigrwllodoopamlely ;:n:l m'lknO'llYlodgedby 1mrOOG ivin g I'tll p 'With

I I l1! !\e tle r T.\ I \ J1 I \m

prope r nam e s are 10be inse t ted · In codegoLlp m e ssage s and have be enspeIt oulin plflln language .lhe y sl'"!lcK JJdbe precededby 'V Z(the w o r o o..m iCh Io llow arer n p la inI~. Ai the end Q 1the lransmissiolllhe sending sn rp ~ A F tw I 1 i o hthereOOvinQIshlp 8cknow1oogssw ith H



Notes on Ip:rocedul"'esignals1. TOOGeneraJ cllll ¥1ll1or _EBnlClf

lII"i<!"I(lwn station) M AAM ere. Is usedto attractSIl stalions in Sight or a~ tllk l!n ~ name or h::lMtitysignal isnol known, II Ismade unlil tile~ ~ is rooelV ed.

2. The j.\nsweling SigMl is made unCilther ca I Iup ceases.

3 , The-Erase SignalEEEEEE indcates l:hatthe lag Vl / l J rdOf groupwas signalledinooIrncli) ' ./I ,Isenswemd by tho Erase!Signal . TI1e tJremfil~11g station ttTerrlWoors :1he message . Comn1mc«'!Q vAthlh e 'Ia£t !M]rs {]I' group l i" J a t V V B S

00 ' r eC l lY51Qf1B l1 ed .4. Tha Repeal SignallRPD [s usodtly hlran:.im iWng s ta tion 10 rOOtc illte<I

rep!l! ;~ion.II such re pe tition dO !1l!l no trollQW,1t1e siglllSlshould be interpretedas a rcQwst (or i1h!l lroce i llirg s ta tionto~oa t back t h E rsfgnal re ce rvE d. II m ayBI50 bo uS0C Iby l:he!'8CClvin,:jslatoo toreQleS1 e ffi 'lI Je t it ion01 ~_ ~~_

5, Tho'f!epelition Sl!:lnab;(AA. A S !ltc! amIl ' l f J iC 'k: lby the roccivings tation afle r R PTto rnql1QSl mpet i ! JOn01 the pari of Ih esigrel indicatoo.For example :

RPT AAEP"""R e pe at all alte r group E P",

RPT BNafroraft~e ".'R o pe at aD be lwE le nW 'CHT I s,aircraftand WlOO!<ag4:l ' .

tf a sIg,naJ is not understood the Repea tSi~liI::.I1ou1d not be ussd, In this case [negroup ZL ('Your s io Ilna llla sl:leerlreoo1wdblJ'tno t uoOal1l!ood1 V\'Ouidbe appropriate,

6_ Tho -SIgnalOK is LOOd 10 acknoWl~a correcnly ro~ repctiOOl1_1'hesetTle sigMI Is sbsD used 8S snaThrmauve 8I"JS 'ViIer10 a question, bOlf'IOITT1IaIiylhes!rlg're letlerC should beu ~ t o r n d ~ e 8 nB f f i ~

statem ent or an a'ffim l8tivo'reply to anintfMl"Qgativl1lsignaL

1 IRQ COi1\Ierts a s ig n< Jlln to aqlJastJOIl.For example :

G2 ~ 'AI persons saved',G Z RO -'Are 1111perrons ~?'

a . Rlr a negative reply to B question, or faa rlegatiVestalEl'l'lOOt, the sigfIaIN lsused in v is ua r s jg na llin gr andNO is l.5edfor vtMcC coonl~atiOnl.

9, The sigr'IBIs C , N {or NO!W'idRQ CBri'Iol.be used I:'l CCI!i1jUnctloowitl'lslfJllJe-letler~nars.

10 .,Wailing Signalt : .SIs used eifu betwoongroups i'!S necessary rc 5f)pru"ale Ih~(to avoir1confosionj or afterlhe end 01 asignal to n:licHtB' that too almrstillionsI"Iouldwail fo r EI iUl l100f Ir~n_

Transmitting morseThe ine ' iperinrccecisignalmar1 IIIitlomake sand rnctJive s m orse qu1!e$lwly wmlind ilbest 10em onItIIl s ida al m a ldngdots

rllitler shorlru IhIll1 tt1e prescribedPR ) , PO r l i o r t01 tfireedots \0 o[l!ldash. J1la!is to say ihe d if te re rw;:eMood be mademore a stinO l, o tlle rw~ seit is somefilTl€sdmicullio approc:iam tJilelr T1l~ive lengths.Oec6lJse the dots and ~ do not followcool"i o!he r vo ryQ!JickIy.

Learning the morse codeO\!et-tile yoors various m e thods of loom i'ng

!TIOrsehll'!; 'Qe volve d_ You canstan bymasTering ttw letters composed oofy of dols(E ,I, Sam !-I) and only of M I1!:1She s(T,MaM0); then IhOle amlhe cpposilEs, K L-J al'l:lA L-l,P(. ) and XC.-J.Two dO ts rlt"l!ll101F ( .._ .)and two do lB IaS1for L (._ ..1helpto dslirgJIsh between 'If1eSie tV I /O .No doubtffial"r)l signalm e n suboonsciously ~o L _ ,J by 'Here oolfnesthe Queen' lire

:shortword ' the" oOlre sp on c;lirg 10 thepos~joo of rn adot).It does oot r n r nweny di lTCI 'O"ICl9whether

the code Is IeMredCI{ proctlsedby work l fY: : jwllh a light (if wllh a buner. L.!$ng a lightyo o coo fmn ilfans e your~E lfwith the codeflO!;ltlngintoa m im x - a suite b'ehand tordlINiIIdo. I!you haw a tape J110Crcklr you canpn'lpareyoLIIf own buzzer ~ e sso noo tape.

Ano lh t'r Tnslruc tio nal aidis e SO lat allds oneach 01 ' \WilCh is e .kille r 01 the a 'p tlabeT onone s ioo,&rid 100 eqi.illalemmorse symbolon the otl:ier.

Wllh t\iIIOpoopkl \tle problem is sijmpilioo,s irroo i!fW canr1 I lQkerandom lOOers to e amother in oeoer 10mn tbe 0000, anderentuaUII pass co tn plm o tn e5S i3fjo s



bacJ.w,rards and IOlW2lrrn, USIng Ii1e COIrBOI

procedlreS.

ThrQughoul, ltis r r o o s timpormf"t10mainlain !he correctt'5p&Cing Qf dou;;,daShes and pauses , and a'so to 1ll~lateto ospeed 01 sending 50 IMla gradue!im.prQVtn1en! Is mamlainccj,

Morse, code by otihe:rmethodsAItho\Jgh morse eode by llasl'1lD'IQlightis1M m e tl10d most like lY !.Ob< IusEd 'by;'aCh~n, 1M fdlowing metl'locl:s l'ffl alsoavaJfable:1. R!ldK:llelagr~~. Fa yachtsmenIhis is

normally rBStricled, to it:kmt1l¥~ Ihlla lphabe t ical ca lliSigflS of any remalnfngmarioolOO ' i oo o a c o r n ,The tra nsm I s siOnof m orseby buzzef o ver !M ia(O f line)telegraphy \Jsed LO00 used ext~.Howeverit Is 00 klnger use d in ttliswail

2. Sound Sigms. MorseCoda een belfMooiltoo by SO I o I F " 1 6signal!> WRlg IrIIiIs h ip 's fogho rn ,whistleor s ire n. ~m e thOd is re s tricte d1:0urgernl,orcrn IlO iioot s igna ls a rdIs desc!ibedm nSound Signals below.

SOUND S!IGNALSSOtlll1d' ,signats .in restricted

vJ51bJlityThe reqlJireITll'!rtI lo r ships to maJ.:esoundsignals in log" misl, heavy faY1'O~other

condit ionsfes:lnct~ normal Visibility(whelher by day or nig~ll are in R ule 35o rfii1eIrt!ematiol1si RegolJlalioosfo r Pre"!lenlhgCoIlis lo ns al' S ea(19721 ThefUl t OX t .annotated for yachtl'mM, is cont8irnd inAVAboo ! ! o :02, and sI100Jd be s fud le dcat(l'fU1y,

By Rue 33, a VG!lsel of 12 metros Cf maein Terg th ~ ~ be ~ with awtiSlie

IY ld III be ll and a vSSllE llof 1 00 lTKl'il1JSormora in ~mgth : .nan .irHld(fitio~, bepr'OIIided with a gOO9.

A ve sse ll'e ss lhan 12metresis no tcbfiged10 cart'/ the s igna1ling a ,pptianOllSabovede scribe d butif she doe s not she m uSihave other rTlElBI1So( rnakiIlgan efficientsound sig~l.

Sound ~ In res t ri ctedviSibility&~ asIotIoVlS;

P ow er 've ss el m a ldn gway tflTOIIIQ'hwale ..A proloogi"Ji::Iblast at im avals o f00'1mortl lholl 2 mmui6s.

Power vessel under w~ but stopped' a . .e .not;)1 ~O'!")

Two pm l'o og e dI~ at ijn te rvats of001more Ihan 2 rninutes,

'lAlssa'I,atam;lilorRng IhaooU rapidly for abw! 6se conds . a tlnierwls o r n ot ITICJ.F(! tha'1 1l1Tlutc.

'Vessels (W.(l!" 10Cllm a t:anchorIn addition to f lOO\ iC.SOlIld gong ali:mMnilru intervals,

(~/1addItion, a vesse l 61 anc:hrJf maysound R on h e r Io gl'U1l10warn an8pproaChf'lgve s s e l l .

Vtlssal towed0,0 10IlJblaJ>lrcllov\looby Ih~o s'tIOft.awry two mlnUlos.

Vessel agroondAs lO r 'at anchor, plus I11reesq:J2I 'a1e

and dis~nct 'slro!\es 01 bell before !.lOdBft\3r.

Pilot vessell on ,dutyfOL i fS h O o 1blasts

VesSeilUOOS sail, or not under'OO IfII11a :rn d, o r cO fl.s tra in e dll:ly h erd ra ug ht" 'o r 's ng ag e dfls JIil'l9 o rtowing

Cna long Inlowed hy two short blasts.al leasl every t "NO,In mLnute:o.

Hen~ ~ f i ;Jg01 re s tn ctoo v is ib ility a s a lrill9vessel will.sot!M me long '(lilowed bylVllOs haH b la s ts !'It inteMlls of rot m ow thHn:2mlnu'los but ~ shll fro ! ar;s IhBI"I' 12 ro otn ;lsst"c st1all nat be obliged to giVe tho sbova-rMI'11ionedsignalr.. St10 rnus l. h rr.v I3 'J ff ,have olhD ' m oans 01fl"Iaking Sfl el"flClMls o u n d signal

The p lU"J iS lC1" lof m eff'ia iE l '1 tloghOO' lanasmal lya<:hl is SlJITlGIt1ngof a proekim. Thebest pr(lposi1:k:Jl is a hand-operaloo ~mpIn a s aimg ya cht. H clT 'lS b1owl"by m outh ora~!!l M;l i r l e f fB l : l l : i vaU O O E rmootCiondilions. Molo' yachts C8Il and ~~Idbe equ lpp ll( lwith a IJropI!f hom .



Vessels in sight of eachotherRuIB34 prnsaibe s s ignalsre tpower...cir1wn. . . a s s e l sIn sigllfof each QIf1e r as klilows:

Ol'le ,shortblastI em ! ; IHIlring COIJrli€l to st&-boud

1'l1'li0short b'lastsI <rn <: l l l e r lng

course top~ ,

111reeShon blastsI am o~rat[ng MtGm prnptis\on.

Vilhen either ollWO wssels 8P~roadlingMen ether fails 10 I.JllC'Jelstandthe act~cmo r in te ntio n of the ol.i"Er. ct is d aUb t f l . J 1that:sufficien:loct~or1is being takel110 avoid acdfiSion, she shallgive <f l .!oosll iVe ·shcrtand !lIPid b'asts

The WhistleSigna'tsabove rl"'l<!yMsupplm"rIMted by an all· round wlile Ughl ,wlthltle r1W 'tler01 f!.ashe s E lqU l\l& 'e nl to tt1.enumbe~ of blasts,

In a n ar,rt)w d lB I1l1'!tl. w he nt:AASrl~ngcanonly ClCC!Jf if 11'10ovartaken vassel 'laKOSaction to penm lLser13pBS~. e ve sse l~ntendlngto O \Ie n e ke s hallln :licm e Mrm t e n b o nhy th e I dI oW HX l'WM~ signals:

Two lo ngblasts, fallowed by ,one shortI intemd 10 O IJerlak eyou QJl ' f OU l "

r.1 a1boaJd sid® .

Two, Iiongelasts followed by two stlott

~intend'10 ( ' .) I IQ rb ' I ~'I'QiJ 00 your P o r tskle.

II in a g r '9E !: l1 'le l 'l. !the o v e rta ke n v e s s e lsounds oneIof"g;one st1ort. one longand't:t1CSIlort bI<ts~,and IBloolestb o necessaysteps. ,Ifin doubt she n : ; a y 'swnd r IVeorma re s ho rtand rap id b la s ts .

Sound s'9nalsfordlslress purposesUnder .Il.m~ IV the following coosIitute

distress $~IS" and shoUd noIbe used forMy o th e r PU 'Po ss :

1. A gL ' l 1o r oro orex,pk'Jslveslgnal 6red' alinte!W Js ~o o o o ta mt JiJle .

2. The con tin uoo .s o omc frn g o fMy fog'"s Ignal ling appar ll lus .

Urgent and impol"'tantsignal.sThe Inlflffi!!tooaI Code makes special

IJrovisiol11 0 1 "sound slgnalllrig, using [hes hip 's whis tle . S ire n o r!bgM00l.&ice !hem ~ of In~ e gg .- .a!s coot! caJ..lSOe rioucooMlion,the m e thod is no rm aI~ oonfm e d10 urgent anrli~1 si;J ro ls, The

5y&tmTli5 nec:e s swn ll slow. Soond !ligna1flOeill lo g sMoulrlbe r'ech.llX!d10 EIm~nmurn,Signals elm than the s lngle - le ttC r" s lgnE ilsbeklw should be U50d onlya neKlromtl~ncy (when no other lne:;ns ofcom rrunic:atlonI S aw~abffll,and ne' t ler1 11f ieQ .Jemed wate rS .The follow'nglett91'S. >M 1 E f lIil"a;jsby SOIJ1d,mli\l o nll{ e oused as In R ue s3 '1 ,and 35 of

~nli)CoII!S i1;)C'lR eg ulations.1: : ,I End S M anaeuvrnng and\!Varnirtg

S)g :nals -Rule 34.

IS,D.H Il T In roslric1oo visibility ~ule 35.

B fm a vessel beir\g tO INOO -Ru.a35le) .

D For a ~ not lIldllrcomm and. ors . a 111 n g ,f ishing or

10\IVfng -Rule 35(c).H For a pO ot~ ()! pikltage

dU ly -Rula 35(jlT For a pOwer Ii 'M:!n vessel

under way .~ 35(a).

Sou,nd s'gnals -procedureNo call 0 1 "Mswenflg sign IS. rnaM lo r lhc;i

slll;Jle-letfe{ sgna!s mentcioned pr(MOu:;,~y.e nd lde otitie s arenot exdlengect .No~prooedl,fi!S am given lo r01~s o und s ig n als .lr'ar1smittOOby s hip 's s rre n .wlislre, fCigOOm.e tc The s 4 i ] " lB l sshovvnW IC laus e 4of ProcedUrE! &gnslSfTlaybe IJSW

as appropriala . It sllould be r ' £ J r r 1 ! l " 11be r l 3dIhal s ingle Ictt!lf ~ Is mar'kOO byalllerlsksmay only be made b.. 's ound in

OO I'Opi ianc;e wil11lhelntemationaJRegulations lor IPreventing ConlSlons at Seain g e ne ral tileSflrIdJ~ shlp sln1JfymakeshE)( m essage , ~ Mil / 111 .th e receivV'lgship ",en m~es her message. ending withAR .!he roc!Jvijng ~ the n m a kil'l(l R tosignifyt~20is 1t1ehas mooi\l9d lhe s lgnal'Sigrals sholJild b9 m adeslowly an d c1e erf;,



itlcy m s y00 mpea100 ,if n e ce s s ary, bu tatSlJ . f f i c l l l n1 lylong in te rva l:;; toensure lhalronfusIM dOE Is.net arlse.The raooMl"Igship can make In s :R t !pea_1Sign (RPT) il'shem isses a won:l.

WU.nrling ,si,gnu.lInd~ Rule34 Ie),8 pc.II''Ia-dmoo ~ Is

rE qli!re d 10 sound O f'lE !p ro lo ng e d btas jas awsming 'W t l e ! '1a,pD~ing a bend in 8

rMU or c:hanoo wl"ier6 a ve sse } CX lITIinginthe other direction carool be seen-

DIS:"rRESSSIGNALS ..!GENERALOf all the signals v.hldl a yac-h ts rnar l rilaJj

~ IQ sand or rood In a h lJry, p os sibly

w fto oul ro fw 'a1ce to an y 000k!:lUCll as lh is ,(ji5tn~s~ signals are th e I'T 'K )s llmpor\iilflLUndet oonditlons when ayed111s in re aJd arn gE lfL lie re Jll n o lim e ~o cons uJl tIlesk,lna!book. In Ihl'!.sarne way, dlslresssignals should Ix! rec:og1isOOinstan1ly.

EveryOW' . no rsoo skippe r shoold m alqjSUl'Q

thai his boat cMies adeqtJalQ dislresseqlJ!PIIlPll and s ig nE ils . d ep endin g on'hersize I;iIld tvpa.Md 0Il1tti;l wailll'S in whld'lshe :sails. 1115im portantthat all 00 boomshould kfo.,v wflere distress ande rre rge ncy e quipm e ot Iss 1 0 \ 1Ve dam how1I:JiJ.seft.

Me- rhods o I'lnd ic a! ,~ di5!m5:srelCilJdo:

.• The dis t resswarrlng sI!Jlalon GMDSSradio followed,by a pJarnvoice MAYDAYm assage . Fo r m e te rrfcnnalion se e AVAtxlol<sG22 and G26

• For nonGNlD SS radios thospoki:Inword tJl.AVDAY on rT '!al1ne radlofnllWlt'ldby a pif !Jn v tWreMA 'T 'DAYrne:s:s3ge.

• S ig f:1aJsI raM:rd ttooDtEARBs and SARTs

• Red p arach ute fWre sfll'ooone O Il<I t imeat s oorl I nle rvals o rred plnpa l1 i: handh e ld lla re s .

• O range sm oke s ignals .f l ; J ruse indaylig ht. T ho so co ns ~::;lj 01 a buO )6 "l!cOf '\IBi I" llr. Vlih id1 afte rigl1ll:oo .IS thrownInto L lie s eaand gQrtefatesSII'lOke ro r..boll! 2-3 minutes .

Hand fla re s a re.S8lsadory fo r sma lle rboots and am mtidEllt aI rang~ e lf up to 5

rTire s .. Mos t1)1.8kes .a vailBbto 10yed1tsroonDU 'n lor alm o st. a m inu.~ ewdl'1 a~ 0 '115,Q !X ), P a'S thute IlE I'asme Ule bes! opl~Ofl lor dsusss signalling alnigh!.Sf1CE!th e y op e ra leItT almost arrirluiaat a height 01 ave . - '300m. lkloorgood coMltions they can · tJeseen lo r 2!lniles or more by night. and 5 milesbv day.

While thay ar lOach"nilladly oonsrdereblymo l 1 3 e~nsivE lhan hand f iW -0 3S , i1 lQ yBfI'l

rnL Jdl m o re e ffo clive . M os t o ftl-esepyrrnochnrcs haveII Im itoo tifo e ndIherelore n .eed tc be- renewed periodicallyin ao oC fC lan ce w llhlho ~I"srn stl'UC lkJns -oorm a ily about eve rythreeyears.R am s shOUld!De stored inwatert ightcontainers.

• The le lta-s SOSill mor s e , by tightorMy o tl'lo !r s ignBmngroothod.

• The In tem aliooal Cooo R agslgrmJ NC .• The IJQIl1inLuUS ootrJding of Wly fog

sigN>lElr1gapparalus (e.g. foghorn, sirenor wt1iS!le ). In orde r 10 avo idanyP05S~tie 600l:U as Itl the lnilentlon of the.s ignals , tho oon linoous s cundill:l

S ilo old 00m ade inIhelo rrn of esuccession 01 leltSl'S50S.

• A gun o r o1l1e r w :p !oSlvosignal,OOU ! ' 1 d f l d<11inlo ,rwfs o faboot a mi1I.1 IQ .(This s igMllsn.onnaIly001 JruJlahleforsm ;;dlcr.;rllb!J1yachlsrren shouklbeaware 01 'its. signiflc:anoeJ.

.. A s quare flag (o r s om e t hin g ras embh"lg8 flag).witha fOtJM oqSCI oithllrabovG

or I:xllow it.• Flam es, lrom .blJi"l1lng ragssoaked:In

p araffin ar 011(no t aparticUlarlyeflectveS l g nm ,an d ratheralas! rescrl).

• R aisJrg and 100000000ingbG OIJts lfElcJ-OOa rms s lowly.

Il.muslbe sIToogly a'1lPhasised l1at the.usa of .<IIflyol the atxml sigll1Is, ~I for

d is ba ss p urp o se s ,is forbidden.[\ollO tl"Eo!:tilly sho~ on!)i I:xl n 1 ' I I 1 IOOwith thB

aulhor1ty 01 11"10kippe r, and only in case so t se rio us eJld· imrrl[]enl. dM ger nloQw i.rgurgent ~stan.L"-e, or onbehalf 01 anoloorship in suchdalger which, for sennereasoo canno titsell' rrak e ad~tre&lsignal.



Replies to distresssignal'sThe l o I IC !w l l " ' 9slgrJ<!lSImrn.ashore indicatethat a ship" s dislrM.Ssigmts have beenrecdVed ·and thai assbotllncewill be gl..en3S5QOO a s p os SIble :

SydBy

An ~9fJ smoke sfgn~,or combinedlighl Md s ouo o s ig nal lhtlm singleslgl'll'llsFtrEd('l1inl:!lrv2Js 01 'al:lout 1min..Jle.

By rrightA whHa s tair rocke l. cons is tingof t r m e;,gIe signals f i fE lcJf1l ,1nlervaisof abo~t" rn in L Jte .

Landing signal,s fOI" boatswith rescued personsMeani.ng - 'This is !he ,best place to Il!!'ld~,

By dlJfI J ' e r t i c a rrno~ ion ot the arm s or01 'a whlt.e!lag.

~n star s1gMl.

Illt lli 'l1ational CaJesignsJ Kby fight orooLild'sigrel.

By nightVe rtic al ro olio o 01 w l ...te~g l ' 1 i tor flare.

Green !Olar s lQnal.

In rem a tlon al D a de s ign al Kby ~ghI.orsoortd5igra-

Meaning - 'L,anding hem . Ishighlydangerous. '

By myHorizon1al m otion 01 a while!lag, Of

arm s exrnooooi'lOOm roa!y.RQ d s ts r s ignal.

InternationalC o O Osgrnl S by6ghl Dr

SCUld Sigrel.

By nightHQ!izo(I ta[ rm otlonof wt!ito Ighl or fla re_

Red srar signal.Intm ;1alionai Code s ig l1<llSby ~ght orwood s il;;iil;ill

VIi1'lere1 . a r id i I 1Q _ts s ignalled a sdargerou:s. amo ra favourable landmgpIaOe may De~ndlcated as (onews :

1 By pllIDrl'lgor carrying MoltwM wttlte

!lag,or ~ght. o r fla re In ltis d ire ctio nttlbe indiCated

2. 8',1firing O JrOO 11MvCfticany W1d 8 whites'l5r in th e drection lowart15 mob< l i ! ( I I "landing,p1ace.

3. B'I using tile 0000 letter S . T dIcM I€ !dbyR if the landing Is 10 1m right or l if ~ is

10 the Jell oflhs ~ tine.Signals used by ,atrorafton :search and rescueoperationsThe ! o I lO \ 1 i 1 i n gs !g nais m a ybe used by

a irr"C fa tl 10 d i re c lsl'Ilps towards arIOtheirslip. o r a rcra ft, In d is tre s s:

1. In se que nce . the e "e rail'first circles the

s~ip alla[;sl, OI"!OB_lIlJrlencrosses low.close shood 01 the 5IiP.opening PO ddo!;tng tho thro ttle, IXcl12.ngIng!hepropellerpitch. FnaJIy.it neaes Inthed ire e l:ion ~nwhich 100s lllp IS 1.0I:ied iffiG lo o. The s ig na lITI3ji be rnp(l8.ted,

ThB ain::rafl is riiroolilg Ihe slip lowaclsthe sI'1~ or airaalt in ,distr 'OSS.

2. T1'ea lrc ra ll pa sse scK ls e a ste rn01 i.I'"IQ~ , at low attitude.openio;;]anddosil 'lg ihethrul:lle, (JI" chdl'lgirlgthePf'PPllllerptlch.Indjcatcs l~t Ih;: assi!;fru1!;;e f)f !he, :>hip!s no longe rr e q ' L I I l ' eC ' ! .

MISCELLANEOUSS!IGNIALS1't)e(!e are a varie ty01 signals m ma Whlnl'1

are apricabIe to ~I sitlll'llims. Someof Ihese sudl as Prnllque~(orQuaranlim Signals) .am of dimctintemsl toyocf1ts-mreo.O!iler.:3 are IS nlike ly 10be lisedin . Q~ may nol be illpplicable to. smallprivateWSSf.lts: rn:JVtrtheless tho ysdhfs kip pe r s ho lJld atIoflSl be awam of !he ireXllS!encear'Id know ~Ei 1 0 lin d the

de!SI~ II requroo_Pratique m.essagesA llyachts, WhitherC lin 'jln g d ulle bTe

s tore s or not, arrM rg in theUnitedK ingdom !rom oolS lde!he £U - JrldudingIhe C li;;m o o l Is land s - mW 'lfly R ag QDeiai'is a re ghlanIn CUStOlllsNOtice No.8,'Ntnlol1can be dbta in e d fromany Cus toms



HOli'"..ao r fromHM Ol:rStQ IT'JS and &!C isewebs ite : V lww_hm oe .g cv.u k

Pilot. signalThe following s ignaJ;; re late10 pilotage

and it Is an afte nce . ullde rIhe Pnolage A ct1~913). to use fhem incorroc tly, orlotexample 10 fan 10 show tho cor-met signa'in W<'ite!13, \lYh3fe 1J11o~~a iscornpVlsory.

MeaT1ing- "ffiQUire a pnol ' 1 v h 11 c hcan 00lllgnalr~ by any method)

By!lzy 01' Nigh!Il'Ilei'I'Ialjonal COde SfgnaJ G

Under In!ernaoonal RegOOlionslorPrewnting Cc l I ls ' 1 'Q 1 lSat Sea Ii972), Rule35, :J power-driven pilot vessel when

fj(IfJlJgW 00 pifotlJg6 dulYmay, in additkJrl(0 Ihe signals (Y8SCfibed in subsections (a),( b . I01" (9), so un d Bn id oo lItys/gfli1Jcoosisring o rfour sIlolt blasts.

Fishery protection shipsand fishing vesselsA oode 01 slGml~1"lld5' ls .and Is

"'tem a !i.l:> naJ~ 8IJre e d, Irn camm ur!fca tio oberween ~s~ vesselS and FishelyProtecOOnStil?S"The woomake s use ofF.JlSIgnsand coloured !fags, bU ' lIs no! ofdiro cl im cro sl 10 y act1!srn on .

POM signals8Ii1iShPorts, L..ocal si9ll8s Cl)~ ffitJy to(and dep<irlum fn;)m) cwtai1'1 ports IlI"ldhasbour:s a ro lJ l"JC .iU1e eees t sD rth e ,B riU st1Isles. 'Ttlesa s ig rwJs ar~ r:IO tsUe din Ihe

appropnal<lAdmirally PJlot, to \!\'hId!refereflOOs'lliOlJdbe rna .oo .In addllion , lilaMin i 5 l r y(if Def~nt.:Xlmight ,in certafn dn;:umslsnoEls, cCfl1rollhe entryto special ports and instllu!e anExamlnallon SeMce lo r 'IOSSelswhichepproaoh lhem . InsucIl case s, WOOf{! e ntryis -proMibJted . thJs Js im: lfca tooby tJvoo IredbE lls d l$ l'lOOedlJe rticaJtr "" day and three

a1~-l'tlundrcdftashing lights od~VfiII'Iiaallyby nigt1t,

International port t.rafflesignals,This s ys ie m iE s l imIh an fnlrodoctory

st.. ge, Ilut its use is b!:u1d 10 spread.

The rules !ortlis system are ;

The main n"IO\Iemml messagecomprisos throo lighls dtSiPosedverlicaHy and no addf I iDt : " l / a llio;lhlrnlrfD eIlddocllQ this oolurnn, Hence t rUl3C

ver'li~ I lg ll !!> iMlcate a lre:lfiCsignEII,and notlights 01 MV lgat ionaJs.ignIl1Ca'loo.

2. ROO Ii~Jrltsmean'Do I'd poooeoo:a G r 'OO l'l[ig nIs . me an ' ' P t 1 : J COOd ,:subject

10 i r eoondJt iC lml s .lJptUa1ad.'

It sl1ou1dbe noted that to ' avak.lcordwion. red and green "gilts aref1miGF shown logolhllr.

4. A single yellow ~gI1t, stown 10 the left01 !he CQIam carrying ma In me s sage s

Nos '2 or 5. at the , r e v e l01 the UP;pa"light, r l)E:aIIS ' Vessals which can safetynavigate ootside the mainchanrene ed noJ comply' I 'oi1t!,the ~Jn~ '. ThI~ ~olMousJy s fgnrt iC8{l110 yachtsmen.

5. Signals whfch area.u<i~ to Il1a m ainI l "K ' l 5 S i " 1 gE lmi'l}i be adopted 'by k:icaliI.uthGriti€lS.SUchs ig fl< ll! i s l)ouklUSll

only wlite al"lldlor yeIlaw f~ls, !iind bedisplayed 10 Ihe fight of the oolLmflcmrymg the main message.

II.can be ~ that lhe bas ic s ignalsa-efairly easy 10 mamor i se .Pol1s ....ithcom pkJ)I entJance s and m uch !rafflenoodwrJOusewlol i l rarysignals.which need tobedclci.if1'!01'1I00.Sm~ hoIrbo! .J r : sneed oolyjwo 01 Ihroo 01 1ho basic :;Ignals.

S om e s lgn alsl1'I<i.ybe 'xnn[ ,dlrect ionel-sIlownlo all V9~9IS slmljl~sly,ClItws mus t De directional - shOwn 10vessels c ii l'l 8 r I3nl er ii '\ jo r ~ a vin g.bvI_ ro tboth.SignalnlJI'1'\be!" fiIIe as sure s tI'1al s om eOlhermea ns o f comm ooicatio nsuch asVHF radio,sfgna Isrnp. loud hail.... oraulillfary s jg -n al isused, 10 ·,..form lhe ve sse l

1ha15h::l may proceed.Number one signal, ior a seriousErnefge!'lC'i.mus ! b(! Gashin g I~h ts - A llolher signals m tJS1be ml1erb:m::lo r slo wocculting ~ghls (tne latler bein g'usefulWOO1bacl< ;g rnur1d lig hts are apro~IM1lI, Am~Klureof f ixedand o cculting lig hts m u stnotbe~.



llde signalsAt ca100 1X I r ts, s1grUs am disPayed(norrnall)lby 1 :1com bination ofvariousshapI3s by (fay. and (II ~gh15 by nigh~ 10iruicale the heigtli of Ulil lide, or 11 '10ooplhof wa!er al lho mlrWlce, or 01,10lhe bar.

Refo:n\i1cesIlouJd be made 1 0 local seffirJgdlr(lcUoos01 the approprisle MmlrattyP iIo l S Ince ,partlo...'JarlllIII l ilaUnitedKli"ig I!lcm , a va rie ty o f d iffe re nt5ig11l81se rern us e,

International port traffic signals - examples

No Main .me!lsage'Ugli1b

Ifl

R

fI

A

R

R

GG

G

G

G

W

G

W

G

y R

RR

y GW

G

1 SeriousflmergEflC'{ - allWS5ds 10stoP or divert acooldB'1g tomstruo1ioF'lS.

2

3

5

0>,E(l~

~o Vesselsmay proceed.] Twoway tra ff ic .u..

Vesscls mayproceed.On;. WIly tra ffiC .

A ~ may p!O['.(ledonywhen siftshas rocelved speci'flcorda!sl.o do so.

2:0 Vess@ls sh ll.ll notproCood. exoop~thai.~ W hiCh n a'.lig:ile0trtsIde themm char'll'lO lne ed nol com p lyWlrh!he ma in lm e ss age .

A wssei mc!)f procred only wOO"shet o e sre coivOO .s J'Sci1ic orde rs todo $0,

except !hat vessel:; whldl MVlgru6

outside U il(! ~ ch.Ylneineed 001com"ty \ lVi :1hthe m ain m e ssage .



International COCIB- aelected tp'OUP8

AC Iam abandonlrg m y ~ .

N:. I rrust a I::landcnmy wssa.JlF I do nol intel'd 10 abandon m yv e s s a ,AN I need a doc'orca I require lmrredlale assi'itanoB.

CB < I I reqUIreImmedal'e asSlstafl::le, I am ag~ound.

as 5 I rEIClUlrefmm e diale ass Is tanoo . I am drifting.OS 6 I require lmmedlate asststimoe. I am on lit';e,

C8 1 I rsq !.lll'9 im rm dia te a s s is tance .I have sprung a leak.CJ Do you~ulre assIsmnce?CK A ssistance is not(O f is no longer> req ikedby m e (or ~ lndi(;a te d) •

CJ I m unable togive BSSlStaooe.DX, Iam sil1kir)J,

ED YOUI'dis tre sssignals <lil:l understood.Ef SOOIMAYDAVhas been caJ1CflI!ed.

FA WiDyou g i v l om e m y p:lSroon

IL r can MIy pr oc9E ld a t$lOW speGd,

~M I request 10 be escorted I J r J t i IfurthernotIce.IT I am an fire .

lZ Ffr<e 'as been ex'I lnguished.JG I em agro li'ld ,I am in adang9'O\JS situation,

JH I am agroUl\d I am nd! In danger,

. . II Are you agourd?J L You l I f E !runolflgttla risk oi' gor~1aglClJrxtJO Iam aflooL

JoN I h e l v e&JjfUI1g a look

.IX Leakis gairJlngrapidy.KM I oon take you in tow.KN I catinol t~e yau In tow.KQ Preparato be taken in tow.KR Allis re ady fo r to \MI1g .

LG You shooliJprepal'B to cast ofttawing hawsers.La Iam not fnmy CCf11!Ct IJOSitlon.{Tobe used by III 1lgt1!vesssn.

MG Vou shoold s te e rCClUrne ••.

NC I M1 In rM s l TBS ' Sand requi!ll immediate assistance,

NO Vou areIII ti l d ange tn Js p os itio n.



NH You arEdear of all d~.

PO YO l6n avig atio n i!;tIt(s )is [aflOlJI10t visible.

PH You s ho uld s te e r e s in cicale d.P I )"by sho!Jd m a~l'lt airlyourpr£!Smt ooorse .pp KeepWE l lClear o rma

00 You shouJd net come alongside.Of' I wiDcome alongslde.

Q R IcanootC O O 1 eeJongsloo.

QT Yvu sI"loUd notardwr. You are gOing10 Woulmy arohof.

RA M y a .n c ;~ m rIs folll.

RI:! ! am dragglllg ITl)' BI1d1Of.

RN M yengines ~ 001 OfEIC tiOr'I,

SC I am 1¥l00rWB.y,

SO I am notready to get underwffi.SO : You shoYIdstop or I"Ioea\i(l to.

UM The her 'OOlRor port is Closedto traffic.UN

UO

UW

V J

VK'V1"

You m ay enter Jwbour immediately,

Youm.Ja1.not enter harbo ur.I wis" you ill pleasant voyage.

Gate ~e x pe cte d !'rom dlro otJo nIndicated.

S IO i T ' r 1is r ; : p o : p e c t e dfromdirOOicrilindiae.ted

I cal10cl read yaJr ... CompiernMllable- 1.

}ComplementsTabla 111.

YU I am going 10comm<KlWE wi1h ytJUT slatian by Interrwtiol'laJ 0000.

W ThA g'Otps whJdl !bIklw !Ire !rM'I" 'IeInternatIOnal Code oJ Signals ..

ZK I cannot di1>tinguish your signal.ZL YOU I'5igMI has been iO OOOOObU l rot I.JnO O -Slood.

ZJ\I1 You SmU ild se nd( 0 ' "s pe a~ mo re s lOVll1\l.

ZD::1 Aes.sereport me 10 UCII 'd 's London .



This ifll!l,stfa~ion depitts the various types. of Ens.ign, tht!, ,older in wh'tch pri~e nags· areflown: and ttne broad pendants and burgee of a typical yachtc'IUb. .



. .

Flag .e 'inueHp."v·s liIal -1- --a ts_ . '-0,,--"", g; _ I . s _ u n _

Modem technology has a nbut replaced our general knowledge of flags,Qn.;;e ,e: ::csen tiwf QH "e tf-edlve comm unicaticm on thewaler.But ln som ecueumstarces, the older methods ma y stillprove useful.

MeanwhHe. g ; O O dman! '1enlremalngood manners. C~cl flag etiquetted'em<lnstra.tas COT'lSideratlon,care !'lind respect tor m arit im e ' 1 rqd iti<m sand

culture . \lV lMy showyour Ignorance - or. 'Wo rs e s tili, caus e ·offe nce - whe nthis handy gui.de can help you avoid the plttaHs?

flag Etii;iuette &.\lisua l S igna lsis a s irn g!e 9lJid 'e to s ig nallin g.afloat l!1Iour,ever mOIlecroWded waterways, particularly aibroad, it's w~se not to set sail

without it.

The RYA

The RVA is ttJe UK governin.g body representing sailing. windsurfing.

motor boaHng, poweriboat racing and persenal watercraft, at: sea and on

inland waters. It works for' the gO'od dall who enjoy theseactiviti.es,

campaigning 1€Jftheir interests at IDeal . re9~ol"lal, natlol1at Euro pean ar.d'W or ld leve l .

More than 120,OOOj;looJJle annually take an AVA tr~ininB course orGualiflcatJon,While RYAcoachlng pfO\1fdes forevelY competitive level from

be ginn er to O lym p ic cham p io n,

This bodk:Is one of over 60 PLJbl~slledby the RYA. $ome relate 10 specific

tr.a in in g cours e s a!1d a re8 Jvaluable s rud y and le arnin gaid. O th ers p ro vid e 'tecl"1nicaJ. legal or general lboating advice, Ali are expertly written,informative, a~oritafive - and affordable,

IFQ1"nformation on other RVAbo oks , vid eo sandi ITu.llt lm edia , t i tle . s ,to f indan RYA-~pproved training course !"mar you, or to .support our w~der work

and! gain. valuable benefits by becoming a p ers on al m em be r;pl'ease vislieurwebslte at wINW.l1'aorg.uk.

rya flag etiquette & visual signals

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