flags on boats

[hikingchrs]

Hi what do all the flags mean on sailboats? not the one that designate country but the ones from the mast, for exaple page 86 WB# 179 Sweet lines (Pomelion)
Thanks
Chris

[John E Hardiman]

She's just "dressed". Commonly, a ship is dressed for a celebration, launching, 4th of July, etc. Some people think that it is important that the hoist not mean anything, so there are several patterns out there that are commony used. Dressing ship web page (http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/dressing.htm)

[Concordia..41]

Indeed. As in the illustratration on the web page, a properly dressed ship's flags extend from the water at the bow up the ship's lines and back to the water (weighted at either end by a bottle of the captain's favorite beverage). Although I think I've seen just bow end in the water in one of the nautical customs books.