What do nautical flags mean?

Nautical flags are an international code system used for two ships to signal to each other or for a ship to signal to shore. They are also called signaling nautical flags. Three-flag signals are for points of the compass, relative bearings, standard times, verbs, punctuation and also general code and decode signals.Click to see full answer. Likewise, what does a yellow flag on a boat mean?The plain yellow flag (“Quebec” or Q in international maritime signal flags), perhaps derives its letter symbol for its initial use in quarantine, but this flag in modern times indicates the opposite—a ship that declares itself free of quarantinable disease, and requests boarding and inspection by Port State Control toAdditionally, what are flags on boats called? The U.S. national ensign, sometimes called “50-star” or “Old Glory,” is the proper and preferred flag for all U.S. vessels. Your boat should wear it from 0800 until sunset, and when you enter or leave port during daylight or at night, weather and rig permitting. Also question is, what does a black flag on a boat mean? DEFINITION OF BLACK FLAG RULE (RRS 30.3) If a boat breaks this rule and is identified, she shall be disqualified without a hearing, even if the race is restarted or re-sailed, but not if it is postponed or abandoned before the starting signal.How do you substitute a flag?The first substitute always repeats the uppermost signal flag of that class of flags which immediately precedes the substitute. The second substitute always repeats the second and the third substitute repeats the third signal flag, counting from the top of that class of flags which immediately precedes them.