Nautical Flags and Their Meanings

Signal flags are used to communicate messages, at times because radio silence is required. Here are
their names and meanings, both International and/or specific to the Navy, as well as meanings when used
in a Sailing Regatta. There is also a signaling system called Semaphore which uses the position of the
flags relative to a person to denote the letter.
International Code Flags
Semaphore
Name, Morse Code &
Flag
Flag Phonetic Meaning
Signaling
Pronunciation
System

Alfa
. __ I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.
AL-fah

Bravo
__ . . . I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous
cargo.
BRAH-voh

Charlie
"Yes" or "affirmative".
__ . __ . Change of Course (Sailing Regatta)
CHAR-lee

Delta
__ . . I am maneuvering with difficulty; keep clear.
DELL-tah

Echo
. I am directing my course to starboard.
ECK-oh

Foxtrot
. . __ . I am disabled; communicate with me.
On aircraft carriers: Flight Operations underway
FOKS-trot
 Golf
__ __ . I require a pilot.
GOLF

Hotel
. . . . I have a pilot on board.
hoh-TELL

India I am directing my course to port. (International)

. . Coming alongside. (Navy)

IN-dee-ah Round the Ends Starting Rule (Sailing Regatta)

Juliet
. __ __ __ I am on fire and have dangerous cargo; keep
clear.
JEW-lee-ett

Kilo
__ . __ I wish to communicate with you.
KEY-loh

Lima
You should stop your vessel immediately.
. __ . . Come Within Hail or Follow Me (Sailing Regatta)
LEE-mah

Mike
My vessel is stopped; making no way.
__ __ Mark Missing (Sailing Regatta)
MIKE

November
No or negative.
__ . Abandonment and Re-sail (Sailing Regatta)
no-VEM-bur
 Oscar
__ __ __ Man overboard.
OSS-kur

Papa
. __ __ . All personnel return to ship; proceeding to sea
(Inport).
pah-PAH

Quebec Ship meets health regs; request clearance into

__ __ . __ port. (International)
Boat recall; all boats return to ship. (Navy)
kay-BECK

Romeo None. (International)

__ . __ Preparing to replenish (At sea). Ready duty ship
(In port). (Navy)
ROH-me-oh

Sierra Moving astern. (International)

. . . Conducting flag hoist drill. (Navy)

see-AIR-ah Shorten Course (Sailing Regatta)

Tango
Keep clear; engaged in trawling. (International)
__ Do not pass ahead of me. (Navy)
TANG-go

Uniform
. . __ You are running into danger.
YOU-nee-form

Victor
. . . __ I require assistance.
VIK-tah
 Whiskey
. __ __ I require medical assistance.
WISS-kee

Xray Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my

__ . . __ signals.
Individual Recall (Sailing Regatta)
ECKS-ray

Yankee I am dragging anchor. (International)

__ . __ __ Ship has visual communications duty. (Navy)

YANG-kee Wear Life Jackets (Sailing Regatta)

Zulu
I require a tug.
__ __ . . 20% Scoring Penalty (Sailing Regatta)
ZOO-loo

Message is understood. Also, numeric decimal

point. (International)
Code/Answer
Flag that follows is from the International Code of
Code or Answer Signals. (Navy)
Postponement (Sailing Regatta)

Substitute for the first flag in this hoist.

(International)
First substitute Also "repeats" the first flag or series of flags in this
(First Repeater) hoist
First sub Absence of flag officer or unit commander (In
port). (Navy)
General Recall (Sailing Regatta)

Substitute for the second flag in this hoist.

Second substitute
(International)
Second sub
Absence of chief of staff (In port). (Navy)

Substitute for the third flag in this hoist.

Third substitute
(International)
Third sub
Absence of commanding officer (In port). (Navy)
 One
. __ __ __ None. (International)
__ Numeral one. (Navy)
WUN

Two
None. (International)
. . __ __ __
Numeral two. (Navy)
TOO

Three
None. (International)
. . . __ __
Numeral three. (Navy)
TREE

Four
None. (International)
. . . . __
Numeral four. (Navy)
FOW-er

Five
None. (International)
. . . . .
Numeral five. (Navy)
FIFE

Six
None. (International)
__ . . . .
Numeral six. (Navy)
SICKS

Seven
None. (International)
__ __ . . .
Numeral seven. (Navy)
SEV-en

Eight
None. (International)
__ __ __ . .
Numeral eight. (Navy)
ATE
 Nine
__ __ __ __ None. (International)
. Numeral nine. (Navy)
NIN-er

Zero
__ __ __ __ None. (International)
__ Numeral zero. (Navy)
ZEE-roh

Pennant one Numeral one. (International)

PEN-ant WUN Pennant one. (Navy)

Pennant two Numeral two. (International)

PEN-ant TOO Pennant two. (Navy)

Pennant three Numeral three. (International)

PEN-ant TREE Pennant three. (Navy)

Numeral four. (International)

Pennant four
Pennant four. (Navy)
PEN-ant FOW-er
Postponement (Sailing Regatta)

Pennant five Numeral five. (International)

PEN-ant FIFE Pennant five. (Navy)

Pennant six Numeral six. (International)

PEN-ant SICKS Pennant six. (Navy)

Pennant seven Numeral seven. (International)

PEN-ant SEV-en Pennant seven. (Navy)

Pennant eight Numeral eight (International)

PEN-ant ATE Pennant eight. (Navy)

Pennant Nine Numeral nine (International)

PEN-ant NIN-er Pennant nine. (Navy)

Pennant zero Numeral zero (International)

PEN-ant ZEE-roh Pennant zero. (Navy)

Race Committee Flags

Flag/Shape Name Sounds Meaning

X 1 when raised Individual Recall

2 when raised
First Substitute General Recall
1 when lowered

2 when raised
AP Postponement
1 when lowered

None when raised Round the Ends

I
1 when lowered Starting Rule

C Repetitive Change of Course

Come Within Hail

L 1 when raised
or Follow Me

M Repetitive Mark Missing

3 when raised Abandonment

N
1 when lowered and Resail
 S 2 when raised Shorten Course

Y 1 when raised Wear Life Jacket

Abandonment
N over H 3 when raised
Return to Shore

Z 1 when lowered 20% Scoring Penalty

Hard Start:
Black 1 when lowered
Disqualification

Class Flag Raised Warning 1 5 minutes to start

Preparatory (or I or Z or 1 4 minutes to start

Black Flag) Raised
 Preparatory (or I or Z or 1 1 minute to start
Black Flag) Lowered

Class Flag Lowered Start 1 Start

Miscellaneous Flags

Small Craft Warning Storm Warning

Up to 38 mph winds 55-73 mph winds
Gale Warning Hurricane Warning
39-54 mph winds 74+ mph winds

Semaphore Flag
USCG Auxilary US Power Squadron Race Committee Signalling System
C.I.A. - Flags of the
World Flag Database Flags of All Countries Nautical Flag Translator
World

Semaphore Flag Signaling System

A B C D E F

G H I J K L

M N O P Q R

S T U V W X

Y Z

Maritime Signal Flags