Race Committee Flags

Flag/Shape Name Sounds Meaning
Postponement Signals
AP 2 when raised
1 when lowered		 Races not started are postponed. The warning signal will be made 1 minute after removal unless at that time the race is postponed again or abandoned.

AP over H 2 when raised
1 when lowered		 Races not started are postponed. Further signals ashore.

AP over A 2 when raised
1 when lowered		 Races not started are postponed. No more racing today.

AP over Numeral Pennant 1 2 when raised
1 when lowered		 Postponement of 1 hour from the scheduled starting time.
Other numeral pennants may also be used. - AP over a numeral pennant 1-6. Postponement of 1-6 hours from the scheduled starting time. See above for images of these numeral pennants.
Abandonment Signals
N 3 when raised
1 when lowered		 All races that have started are abandoned. Return to the starting area. The warning signal will be made 1 minute after removal unless at that time the race is abandoned again or postponed.

N over H 3 when raised All races are abandoned. Further signals ashore.

N over A 3 when raised All races are abandoned. No more racing today.
Starting & Preparatory Signals
Class Flag Raised Warning 1 5 minutes to start

Black

 Preparatory (or I or Z or Black Flag) Raised

I - Rule 30.1 is in effect.


Z - Rule 30.2 is in effect.


Black flag - Rule 30.3 is in effect.

 1 4 minutes to start
Preparatory (or I or Z or Black Flag) Lowered 1 1 minute to start
Class Flag Lowered Start 1 Start
Recall Signals
X X 1 when raised Individual Recall
First Substitute 2 when raised
1 when lowered		 General Recall. The warning signal will be made 1 minute after removal.
Changing the Next Leg
C Repetitive The position of the next mark has been changed:
with green triangle   to starboard
with red square   to port
- with minus symbol   to decrease the length of the leg
+ with plus symbol   to increase the length of the leg
Other Signals
S 2 when raised The course has been shortened. Rule 32.2 is in effect.
L 1 when raised Ashore: A notice to competitors has been posted.

Afloat: Come within hail or follow this boat.
M Repetitive The object displaying this signal replaces a missing mark.
Y 1 when raised Wear a personal flotation device.
Blue flag or shape. No sound This race committee boat is in position at the finishing line.

Yacht Club Race Committee		  
Yacht Club Race Committee Auxiliary Vessel

Yacht Club Officer Flags


Commodore
Vice Commodore
Past Commodore
Rear Commodore

Fleet Captain
Secretary
Treasurer
Commodore Emeritus

Miscellaneous Flags

warn.gif (1042 bytes)
Small Craft Warning
Up to 38 mph winds		 warn.gif (1042 bytes)
warn.gif (1042 bytes)
Gale Warning
39-54 mph winds		 storm.gif (1091 bytes)
Storm Warning
55-73 mph winds		 storm.gif (1091 bytes)
storm.gif (1091 bytes)
Hurricane Warning
74+ mph winds

USCG Auxiliary Ensign


USCG Auxiliary Patrol Boat Ensign

 
United States Coast Guard


Union Jack (worn most often by government vessels)

 



U.S. Power Squadron
Canadian Power Squadron
 
Scuba Diving Flag (Diver down) - Common in the U.S.
Scuba Diving Flag (Diver down) - International
 

International Code Flags

Flag Name &
Phonetic Pronunciation		 Meaning
Alfa

AL-fah

 I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.
Bravo

BRAH-voh

 I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous cargo.
Charlie

CHAR-lee

 "Yes" or "affirmative".

Change of Course (Sailing Regatta)
Delta

DELL-tah

 I am maneuvering with difficulty; keep clear.
Echo

ECK-oh

 I am altering  my course to starboard.
Foxtrot

FOKS-trot

 I am disabled; communicate with me.
On aircraft carriers: Flight Operations underway
Golf

GOLF

 I require a pilot. When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on the fishing grounds it means: "I
am hauling nets"
Hotel

hoh-TELL

 I have a pilot on board.
India

IN-dee-ah

 I am altering  my course to port. (International)

Coming alongside. (Navy)

Round the Ends Starting Rule (Sailing Regatta)
Juliet

JEW-lee-ett

 I am on fire and have dangerous cargo; keep well clear of me, or I am leaking dangerous cargo.
Kilo

KEY-loh

 I wish to communicate with you.
Lima

LEE-mah

 You should stop your vessel immediately.

Come Within Hail or Follow Me (Sailing Regatta)
Mike

MIKE

 My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water..

Mark Missing (Sailing Regatta)
November

no-VEM-bur

 No or negative.

Abandonment and Re-sail (Sailing Regatta)
Oscar

OSS-kur

 Man overboard.
Papa

pah-PAH

 In port: All personnel return to ship; the vessel is about to procede to sea.

At sea: It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: "My nets have come fast upon an obstruction".
Quebec

kay-BECK

 Ship meets health regulations; request clearance into port. (International)

Boat recall; all boats return to ship. (Navy)
Romeo

ROH-me-oh

 None. (International)

Preparing to replenish (At sea). Ready duty ship (In port). (Navy)
Sierra

see-AIR-ah

 Moving astern. (International)

Conducting flag hoist drill. (Navy)

Shorten Course (Sailing Regatta)
Tango

TANG-go

 Keep clear; engaged in trawling. (International)

Do not pass ahead of me. (Navy)
Uniform

YOU-nee-form

 You are running into danger.
Victor

VIK-tah

 I require assistance.
Whiskey

WISS-kee

 I require medical assistance.
Xray

ECKS-ray

 Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.

Individual Recall (Sailing Regatta)
Yankee

YANG-kee

 I am dragging anchor. (International)

Ship has visual communications duty. (Navy)

Wear Life Jackets (Sailing Regatta)
Zulu

ZOO-loo

 I require a tug.

20% Scoring Penalty (Sailing Regatta)
Code/Answer

Code or Answer

 Message is understood. Also, numeric decimal point. (International)

Flag that follows is from the International Code of Signals. (Navy)

Postponement (Sailing Regatta)
First substitute
(First Repeater)

First sub

 Substitute for the first flag in this hoist. (International)
Also "repeats" the first flag or series of flags in this hoist

Absence of flag officer or unit commander (In port). (Navy)

General Recall (Sailing Regatta)
Second substitute

Second sub

 Substitute for the second flag in this hoist. (International)

Absence of chief of staff (In port). (Navy)
Third substitute

Third sub

 Substitute for the third flag in this hoist. (International)

Absence of commanding officer (In port). (Navy)
Fourth substitute

Fourth Sub

 None. (International)

Absence of civil or military official whose flag is flying on this ship. (Navy)
One

WUN

 None. (International)

Numeral one. (Navy)
Two

TOO

 None. (International)

Numeral two. (Navy)
Three

TREE

 None. (International)

Numeral three. (Navy)
Four

FOW-er

 None. (International)

Numeral four. (Navy)
Five

FIFE

 None. (International)

Numeral five. (Navy)
Six

SICKS

 None. (International)

Numeral six. (Navy)
Seven

SEV-en

 None. (International)

Numeral seven. (Navy)
Eight

ATE

 None. (International)

Numeral eight. (Navy)
Nine

NIN-er

 None. (International)

Numeral nine. (Navy)
Zero

ZEE-roh

 None. (International)

Numeral zero. (Navy)
Pennant one

PEN-ant WUN

 Numeral one. (International)

Pennant one. (Navy)
Pennant two

PEN-ant TOO

 Numeral two. (International)

Pennant two. (Navy)
Pennant three

PEN-ant TREE

 Numeral three. (International)

Pennant three. (Navy)
Pennant four

PEN-ant FOW-er

 Numeral four. (International)

Pennant four. (Navy)

Postponement (Sailing Regatta)
Pennant five

PEN-ant FIFE

 Numeral five. (International)

Pennant five. (Navy)
Pennant six

PEN-ant SICKS

 Numeral six. (International)

Pennant six. (Navy)
Pennant seven

PEN-ant SEV-en

 Numeral seven. (International)

Pennant seven. (Navy)
Pennant eight

PEN-ant ATE

 Numeral eight (International)

Pennant eight. (Navy)
Pennant Nine

PEN-ant NIN-er

 Numeral nine (International)

Pennant nine. (Navy)
Pennant zero

PEN-ant ZEE-roh

 Numeral zero (International)

Pennant zero. (Navy)
Special NATO Naval Flags
FL: Flotilla or Group Unit Indicator Flag - Used to either address or identify specific units when other flags are added to them. A Flotilla/Group may consist of two or more Squadrons.
SQ: Squadron Unit Indicator Flag - Used to either address or identify specific units when other flags are added to them. A Squadron may consist of two or more Divisions.
DI: Division Unit Indicator Flag - Used to either address or identify specific units when other flags are added to them. A Division may consist of two or more SubDivisions.
SU: Subdivision Unit Indicator Flag - Used to either address or identify specific units when other flags are added to them.
PR: Preparative Governing Pennant - Preparative
IN: Interrogative Governing Pennant - Interrogative
NE: Negative Governing Pennant - Negative
SC: Screen Maneuvering Flag - Ships are to form a protective screen.
FO: Formation Maneuvering Flag - Ships are to form in specified formation.
CO: Corpen Maneuvering Flag - Course Pennant, used to signal a course or alter the course of a group of ships.
TU: Turn Maneuvering Flag - Used in conjunction with Port or Starboard for ships to turn together.
SB: Starboard Maneuvering Flag - Port and Starboard may be used with Turn, Corpen, Formation and Station to indicate direction.
PO: Port Maneuvering Flag - Port and Starboard may be used with Turn, Corpen, Formation and Station to indicate direction.
SP: Speed Maneuvering Flag - Proceed at a specified speed
ST: Station Maneuvering Flag -  Ship(s) indicated are to take a specific station(s) or position.
EM: Emergency Action or information that requires immediate attention.
Designation The following is in plain language or is to be read in its literal sense.