Block on spreader

[slode]

There is a small block on my starboard spreader.  What is this for?  Only thing I can think of would be a halyard for hoisting burgees.

[Vipersdad]

Yes.

[Vipersdad]

"Here are some sections of a Burgee Etiquette pamphlet I created for the Sailing Club at UW-Madison.  We have them out at the counter where the burgees are sold.

What are Burgees?

Almost every Yacht Club has a unique Burgee (flag) that identifies their member's boats.  There's a lot written about etiquette on how to fly your Burgee depending on vessel type.  Modern sailing vessels fly the Burgee from a lanyard under the starboard spreader on the mast, while many older sailing vessels fly the burgee from the main masthead.  Power boats fly the Burgee off a short staff on the bow.

Hoofer Sailing Club Burgee




The red  W  represents the University of Wisconsin, the four blue sections represent lakes:  Mendota, Monona, Wingra, and Waubesa.  The white STAR represents the location of the Sailing Club on Lake Mendota.

Ensign:  The most senior position for a flag on a vessel is reserved for the Ensign - this is as close to the stern of the vessel as possible.
The U.S. yacht ensign [definition] features a blue canton (the rectangle at the upper corner nearest the staff) having 13 white stars and a fouled anchor. Originally devised as a signal to identify documented yachts to relieve them of certain customs formalities, it is now flown on recreational boats of all types and sizes instead of the national ensign in domestic waters.  As the Ensign takes the senior position on a vessel, the order of precedence for positions for flying other flags is: 2) masthead, 3) starboard spreader, 4) port spreader. This assumes a simple plan of one halyard per spreader.  Marconi-rigged sailboats may fly the ensign from the leech of the aftermost sail (or from the back stay), approximately 2/3 the distance up its length. This puts it in about the same position it would occupy if the boat were gaff-rigged.

Burgees:  Traditionally, the burgee is flown at the main masthead. A burgee must match a special Ensign if one is worn and it should always be higher than the Ensign. Flag etiquette states that only one burgee is flown at a time, but it is not uncommon nowadays to see yachts flying more than one burgee.

Starboard Spreader:  The starboard spreaders are used for signaling. This is where both a courtesy flag and the Q flag, as signals, should be flown. These days it is becoming increasingly common for yachts to fly a burgee from the starboard spreaders because of instrumentation sited at the main masthead. Again, legally there is nothing wrong with doing so but this practice presents a number of problems for those who wish to adhere to the traditions of flag etiquette.

Port Spreader:  The port spreaders are used for house flags. A house flag is normally but not always a small rectangular version of a burgee. It may indicate membership of an association or society or may be to indicate membership of another club should that club have a house flag.  More than one house flag may be flown on the port halyard, but with caution as too many might appear vulgar to some.

Sizing Your Flags:  The sizes and condition of flags are important. They should not be tatty and should not hang in the water, but should still be large enough to be seen.  The best advice is "what looks right" but a rough guide is:

Ensign:  The general guideline for the size of Ensign used to be an inch per foot of yacht, but on many modern yachts this is found to be a little on the small side for the vessel to look "well dressed". Roughly speaking a 3/4 yard Ensign should look right on a boat of 21-26 ft, 1 yard for 27- 34 ft, 1 1/4 yard for 35 - 42 ft, 1 1/2 yard for 43 - 50 ft and 1 3/4 yard for 51 - 60 ft, but some discretion may need to be applied.

Burgee:  A burgee of 15" in the fly (the horizontal measurement) should look appropriate on vessels up to 34 ft. This increases to 18" for up to 42 ft, 24" for up to 50 ft and 30" up to 60 ft.