Hoisting, answering and flags you still see today
1The lesson in plain words
Hoist one signal at a time where it blows clear. The receiver answers with the answering pennant: at the dip when seen, close up when understood.
Making a hoist
Show only one hoist at a time and keep it flying until it is answered. A halyard is the rope used to raise flags. Separate groups on one halyard with a tackline, about 2 m of rope. Hoist where the receiving station can see it most easily, with flags blowing clear of smoke. To address one station, hoist its identity signal (call sign) with the signal. With no identity signal, the signal is for all stations within visual range.
Answering
A hoist is at the dip when hoisted about half way and close up when hoisted fully. The receiver hoists the answering pennant at the dip as soon as she sees each hoist. She hoists it close up when she understands, and lowers it to the dip when the sender hauls the hoist down. To finish, the sender hoists the answering pennant alone; the receiver answers it the same way.
When it goes wrong
If the receiver cannot read the hoist clearly, she keeps the answering pennant at the dip. If she can read it but not understand it, she hoists ZQ (‘appears incorrectly coded’) or ZL (‘received but not understood’). If you do not know the other ship’s identity, hoist CS (‘What is the name or identity signal of your vessel?’) together with your own identity signal.
Flags you still see
G requests a pilot; H means the pilot is aboard. Q requests free pratique (public-health clearance). Many ports require B during dangerous-goods operations. A means a diver is down: keep well clear at slow speed. If a diving vessel cannot display all Rule 27(d) lights and shapes because of her size, Rule 27(e) requires a rigid A replica at least 1 m high, visible all round. A courtesy ensign, the host country’s flag, flies at the starboard yardarm or spreader.
Other meanings
The same flags mean other things elsewhere. In racing, the first substitute means general recall and P is the preparatory signal. Ports may have local signals; the group YV 1 warns that local code groups follow. Warships hoist the answering pennant, then called the Code pennant, to show they are using the International Code. Always check the context before you act on a flag.
2Step by step
Exchanging a flag signal
- 1
Look up the group and lay out the flags top to bottom, with substitutes and tacklines.
A hoist read in the wrong order sends another message.
- 2
Hoist it with the addressee’s identity signal where it blows clear.
The receiver must see and know it is meant for her.
- 3
Watch for the answering pennant at the dip, then close up.
Close up means she has understood that hoist.
- 4
Haul down, and wait for the pennant to return to the dip before the next hoist.
Each hoist is acknowledged separately.
- 5
End with the answering pennant hoisted alone.
It tells the receiver the signal is complete.
3Key data
- At the dip
- Hoisted about half way: seen, not yet understood
- Close up
- Hoisted fully: understood
- Tackline
- About 2 m of halyard separating groups
- End of signal
- Answering pennant hoisted alone by the sender
- No identity signal
- Signal is for all stations in sight
- Rule 27(e), where applicable
- Rigid A replica at least 1 m high, visible all round
4Key points
- 1
One hoist at a time, kept flying until answered, with tacklines between groups.
- 2
Answering pennant: at the dip when seen, close up when understood.
- 3
Not readable: keep it at the dip. Not understood: ZQ or ZL.
- 4
Racing and local signals reuse the flags with other meanings.
5Frequent mistakes
Wrong: Hoist the answering pennant close up as soon as you see a hoist.
Right: Hoist it at the dip when you see the hoist, and close up only when you understand it.
Wrong: Show several hoists at once to save time.
Right: Show one hoist at a time and wait for each to be answered.
Wrong: Assume a flag means its Code meaning everywhere.
Right: Racing committees and some ports use the same flags for other signals. Check the context.
6Practice case & exam keys
You plan to send two hoists in turn to a nearby ship. After the first, her answering pennant goes to the dip and stays there. What does that tell you, and what do you do?
Show the answer
Kept at the dip, it means she has seen the hoist but cannot clearly distinguish it. Check that the flags blow clear of smoke and rigging, move the hoist if needed and keep it flying. If she sends ZL, clarify the message; if ZQ, check the coding and repeat the whole signal. Once her pennant goes close up, haul down. Wait for it to return to the dip before making the next hoist.
Exam keys
- One hoist at a time; tackline between groups; identity signal of addressee.
- Answering pennant: dip on seeing, close up on understanding, dip when hoist hauled down.
- Signal completed: answering pennant hoisted singly; receiver answers it.
- Cannot distinguish: keep at dip; not understood: ZQ or ZL.
Finish this unit
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