Reeds Maritime Flag Handbook

Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical

Publication Date: 2006

Based on Reeds Maritime Flags by Sir Peter Johnson this is a very handy little pocket book.  Though of smaller overall dimensions than the Visual Guide it is an altogether bigger book in the sense that it contains more pages and a lot more information.   It comes from the pen of an experienced sailor.  Miranda Delmar-Morgan, who has sailed for most of her life, professionally for ten years, and aboard her own boat, has put together this pocket-sized guide, comprehensive in  scope, dealing with types of flag, what they mean and the customs and traditions which govern their usage.  Among the many sections are those on ensigns, jacks, burgees, the International Code of Signals, a full treatment of flag etiquette (including such things as flags and the law, what flag goes where and dressing ship), international yacht club burgees and ensigns (among which our CA burgee and ensign are the first listed) and national maritime flags. Material from American, Canadian and Caribbean practice is included.  There are a few misprints (such as Colombia / Columbia and Guatemala / Guatamala).  There is a glossary, a list of yacht clubs using a special ensign and a list of selected two-code flag signals.  It is packed with delightfully esoteric flag facts, e.g. who, apart from ships with Admirals on duty, is entitled to fly the St George’s flag?  (Answer: members of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships.)  The author has given us a clearly written guide to the subject and it is unlikely that even the most vexillologically adept among us will not learn something from it.  - C C