Quest for the perfect flag standard

[DaveC426913]

I'm a lazy sonuvagun. I don't like to leave the cockpit to go forward. And I don't like to go below for equipment unless it's essential*.
*and there's nothing that's essential except the battery switch.

I'm a lazy, impatient sonuvagun. I am trying to get my dock-prep time down below ten minutes.

Which is why, despite several implementations of flag halyards on my spreaders, I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually raised my flags**.
**two: Canadian flag and club burgee

And I won't leave my flags out, ready to raise; they'll fade and get crummy with bugs.

So, I'm looking for the perfect cockpit-deployable flag standard, that protects my flags while taking less than 15 seconds to deploy and douse.

I want them to fly above the bimini, which means they'll be out of normal reach, and I want them covered in a weather-proof sock when ...er... ployed***.
***What's the opposite of deployed?

I'm thinking of a telescoping stainless steel bar - maybe from 3 to 6 feet - that I can lift up and tighten in-place.
And a sock on a lanyard that I can just whip off and whip back on.

Do you have an interesting flag standard, or a good idea for one?

[NiceAft]

For a lazy sonuvagun, you just spent a helluva lot of time explaining how lazy you are

Ray

[Tomfoolery]

Since the most proper place for the national ensign is two-thirds of the way up the leach of the main sail, why not add attachments to the sail, and leave it with the main, under the sail cover when it's dowsed.

Similarly, you could put it on the backstay and hoist it with a line from the cockpit (with a tailing line, so you can get it back down), or to the topping lift (if you have one), configured in a loop. Something like that.

I just use a pole-mounted navigation light at the stern that the PO installed for an anchor light as my flagstaff for the national or yacht ensign. I just plug it in when I'm on the boat, with the ensign already mounted. Takes seconds, and I keep it handy with the other stuff that comes up to the cockpit every time I prep the boat for use.

Length of the fly, by the way, is 24". Close enough to the length of the boat (in ft), and the next size up (30", typically) is too big and will hit me in the back of the head with a tail wind. Next size down is too puny on a boat that size.

[DaveC426913]

Since the most proper place for the national ensign is two-thirds of the way up the leach of the main sail, why not add attachments to the sail, and leave it with the main, under the sail cover when it's dowsed.

An expedient, if ludditical, solution.

Similarly, you could put it on the backstay and hoist it with a line from the cockpit (with a tailing line, so you can get it back down), or to the topping lift (if you have one), configured in a loop. Something like that.

Yep. Been there, done that. Flag lines got horribly tangled in topping lift.

True, the backstay is an existing attachment point, but it's pretty closely "involved" in the bimini. Might be tricky.

I just use a pole-mounted navigation light at the stern that the PO installed for an anchor light as my flagstaff for the national or yacht ensign. I just plug it in when I'm on the boat, with the ensign already mounted. Takes seconds, and I keep it handy with the other stuff that comes up to the cockpit every time I prep the boat for use.

Nothing would annoy me more than something I forget and couldn't correct without going below again. Esp. at the end of the sail. I forget to stow at least one thing. Every. Single. Time.

Length of the fly, by the way, is 24". Close enough to the length of the boat (in ft), and the next size up (30", typically) is too big and will hit me in the back of the head with a tail wind. Next size down is too puny on a boat that size.

Geez, my flags are barely 20".

[sailboatmike]

A bit of nautical protocol please gentlemen.

THe correct place for the national flag is from the poop deck (The rear of the boat), this is the position of highest importance, should that position not be available it should be flown from the Starboard spreader as the highest flag or the mast head, the next position of highest importance is the Port Spreader

https://www.sailonline.com/seamanship/g ... -etiquette

For your reference

[Tomfoolery]

A bit of nautical protocol please gentlemen.

THe correct place for the national flag is from the poop deck (The rear of the boat), this is the position of highest importance, should that position not be available it should be flown from the Starboard spreader as the highest flag or the mast head, the next position of highest importance is the Port Spreader

https://www.sailonline.com/seamanship/g ... -etiquette

For your reference

Chapman's states it a little differently, but the location of the captain or master (at the stern) is the reason the yacht or national ensign flies at the stern in some form. Old wooden ships usually had a gaff rig at the stern (and other places), which is where the gaff comes from on some land-based flagpoles, especially those of yacht clubs (where the mast, spreaders, and gaff represent the mast of a yacht). But a stern staff, or leach of the main sail (or backstay) are considered equally good, as far as I can tell, at least under sail (on a staff at the stern at anchor). Either way, the national ensign is at or over the stern. Private signals can be at the mast head, which is higher of course, or off a spreader, but it's further forward than the national ensign. Courtesy flags are always on the starboard spreader (I left my Canadian courtesy flag home when I went to the MMOR recently - talk about a breach of protocol ).

[RobertB]

I fly a few flags from the spreaders but this does add to the pain of rigging the boat. I also have a fishing pole holder on to of the mast support and it is very easy to insert a 3 0r 4 foot long dowel with a flag attached.

[Herschel]

I'll just post pics of my two locations for the national ensign. One for motoring that is easily mounted in a fitting on the stern and taken in when tied up in the marina in the slip:


And another position when sailing on the leech of the sail where it stays attached at all times, folded into the sail when furled:


I had Doyle Sails install two reinforced grommets in the leech to handle the size ensign I wanted to fly. Both positions are relatively hassle free. The ensign on the leech requires checking occasionally for wear on the bindings that tie it to the grommets, but that is all.

[AndyVS]

I added a small block at masthead where backstay attaches. Run 1/4" line through block down to shackle which attaches to backstay attachment. I have very short loops of line with spring clips on flag which attach to loops in flag halyard. Raise and lower like flagpole. I keep mine up all the time now that I'm in a slip but it's easy to raise when I'm trailer sailing. It occasionally gets wrapped around backstay but easy to shake backstay to fix.

Andy

[DaveC426913]

And another position when sailing on the leech of the sail where it stays attached at all times, folded into the sail when furled:


I had Doyle Sails install two reinforced grommets in the leech to handle the size ensign I wanted to fly. Both positions are relatively hassle free. The ensign on the leech requires checking occasionally for wear on the bindings that tie it to the grommets, but that is all.

I think maybe I'll go with this option.
I'll wait and attach grommets for two burgees over the dry season.

[Herschel]

And another position when sailing on the leech of the sail where it stays attached at all times, folded into the sail when furled:


I had Doyle Sails install two reinforced grommets in the leech to handle the size ensign I wanted to fly. Both positions are relatively hassle free. The ensign on the leech requires checking occasionally for wear on the bindings that tie it to the grommets, but that is all.

I think maybe I'll go with this option.
I'll wait and attach grommets for two burgees over the dry season.

One added benefit to this use of the flag is that it becomes a very nice tell tale. If that main isn't drawing well going to windward, your flag will let you know!

[Seapup]

I ran flags from the sidestay on my Spinnaker halyard to hoist, stainless caribbeaners to clip them on. Roughly 12' of light retrieval line with bottom caribbeaner stayed attached to the chainplate. Fairly quick and easy, clip 3 caribeaners for 2 flags and pull.

[Tomfoolery]

This is my standard display, though the courtesy flag (Canada) only flies while in Canadian waters, of course. Sometimes I also fly a TrailerSailor burgee from the port spreader, or the starboard if no courtesy flag is needed. I usually fly the yacht ensign in US waters, but the national ensign is supposed to be flown in foreign waters.

[sailboatmike]

I dont care what anyone else says the under full sail looks awesome

Who in their right mind wouldnt want one

[Tomfoolery]

I dont care what anyone else says the under full sail looks awesome

Who in their right mind wouldnt want one