Burgeoning Burgees! We’ve Got Burgees

What better place to wave colors than in a good wind hitting the sails? A colorful burgee announces the joy of being on the water, and of being part of a sail-loving community.

Burgees, made especially for sailing, often identify yacht club membership. They represent a member’s dedication to boating and its community. A yacht club burgee is an extension of sailing pride and pleasure.

Burgees usually fly from the starboard spreader of a sailboat or the bow staff of a powerboat. Many are triangular, shaped like a pennant. Some are swallow-tailed, ending with two points.

Following burgee rituals and traditions can be a courtesy. Yacht clubs often publish their flag etiquette, including, for example, when and how to hoist and strike a burgee. Some vessels only fly the burgee. In most clubs, up to three flags can be displayed, in order of honor, the national flag or ensign, club affiliation burgee, and private signal.

A Private Signal is a personal or house flag. It declares the presence of a specific individual or family on board. Its logo can be a family crest or some other symbol. Some clubs have officer flags which are also flown only when the officer is on board.

Word Note: The word burgee may be related to two archaic 18^th Century words. The French word bourgeois, for middle class, is from an era when leisure hobbies were new. The English word burgess means owner or master, in this case, of a ship.

Burgees are a symbol your crew can stand behind. They convey the good memories and experiences tied to them. Waving burgees show yacht club pride.