Flagofficers The officers of a yacht club may fly various burgees appropriate to their rank: for example, thecommodoremay fly a swallow-tailed version of the club burgee (and the vice- and rear-commodoresthe same, but distinguished by the addition of one or two balls respectively at the canton).
Acommodore, commander, civic association president, or corresponding official of a similar organization may order his organization'sflagflown at half-staff to honor a member who has died. A club burgee on a sail or signal mast is a half-staff when ti is even with the man spreader or yardarm.
FLASHBACK: The True Yachtsman Guide ToFlagEtiquette for Opening Day I wrote this story in 2007: According to naval regulations, aflagofficer is anyone who holds the rank of rear admiral and higher. Applying that reasoning to yacht clubs, only thecommodore, vicecommodoreand the rearcommodorehave a clear claim to the title offlagofficer.
DISPLAY OFFLAGSAND PENNANTS 1258. Authorized display offlagsand pennants. When the national ensign is displayed on occasions other than those prescribed in these regulations, the manner of display shall be as prescribed in Navy Department publications. Noflagsor pennants, other than as prescribed by these regulations or as may be directed by the Secretary of the Navy, shall be displayed ...
To put theflagsand burgees in the right order, remember "place higher in order of rank" and "higher in order of most to least represented". For example, club officeflagsof any rank are flown above the PastCommodoreFlagbecause PastCommodoreis a personalflagvs. the many represented by a club officeflag.
