A burgee is a distinguishing flag, regardless of its shape, of a recreational boating organization. In most cases, they have the shape of a pennant, or a triangle.

Yacht clubs and their members may fly their club's burgee while under way and at anchor, day or night. Sailing vessels may fly the burgee either from the main masthead or from a halyard under the lowermost starboard spreader. Most all powerboats (i.e., those lacking any mast or having a single mast) fly the burgee off a short staff at the bow; two-masted power vessels fly the burgee at the foremast.

Flying personal signals and burgees is something that has evolved over many centuries – along with the evolution of ships and pleasure craft. Along with the vessel’s national flag or ensign as well as any courtesy flag flown while visiting a foreign port these are some of the flags a ship’s captain might and in most instances should fly while aboard his or her vessel. Secondary to any national flags, these are both signals that show a captain’s affiliation or loyalty. They are thus important and should indeed be prominently displayed. Hence the traditional positioning of the burgee or personal signal at or above the mast top(s) using what is known as a pig stick.

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