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Nautical Flags and Their Meanings

The purpose of the International Code of Signals is to provide ways and means of communication in situations related essentially to safety of navigation and persons, especially when language difficulties arise, or because radio silence is required. Here are their names and meanings, both International and/or specific to the Navy, as well as meanings when used in a Sailing Regatta. There is also a signaling system called Semaphore which uses the position of the flags relative to a person to denote the letter. See Flag Etiquette for guidelines on proper display of flags.

Also try our Flag Translator and our Flag Test

International Code Flags (also see Multiple Flags Signal Codes)

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.

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
	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	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

Small Craft Warning Up to 38 mph winds	Gale Warning 39-54 mph winds	Storm Warning 55-73 mph winds	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 USPS Officer Flags	Canadian Power Squadron	Scuba Diving Flag (Diver down) - Common in the U.S.	Scuba Diving Flag (Diver down) - International
World Flag Database Flags of All Countries	C.I.A. - Flags of the World Yacht Club Burgees	Nautical Flag Translator Flag Test	Semaphore Flag Signalling System

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