On the Subject of Maritime Flags

When radio communication fails, signal flags may be the answer.

N NNE NE ENE E ESE SE SSE S SSW SW WSW W WNW NW NNW 11.25° 33.75° 56.25° 78.75° 101.25° 123.75° 146.25° 168.75° 348.75° 326.25° 303.75° 281.25° 258.75° 236.25° 213.75° 191.25°

Identify the flags on the module. Decode a 7-flag callsign followed by a bearing of up to three digits. These are two separate messages.

Look up the callsign on the next page to obtain another bearing. Add both bearings and, if necessary, subtract 360 to obtain a bearing in the range 0–359.

Turn the compass so the red needle points in the direction containing this bearing according to the diagram on the left.

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
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Repeat 1st flag of msg.
Repeat 2nd flag of msg.
Repeat 3rd flag of msg.
Repeat 4th flag of msg.

Callsign reference

1STMATE=355
2NDMATE=109
3RDMATE=250
ABANDON=308
ADMIRAL=260
ADVANCE=356
AGROUND=236
ALLIDES=28
ANCHORS=346
ATHWART=78
AZIMUTH=265
BAILERS=357
BALLAST=129
BARRACK=23
BEACHED=170
BEACONS=121
BEAMEND=259
BEAMSEA=316
BEARING=12
BEATING=105
BELAYED=297
BERMUDA=107
BOBSTAY=76
BOILERS=190
BOLLARD=258
BONNETS=332
BOOMKIN=29
BOUNDER=99
BOWLINE=73
BRAILED=165
BREADTH=293
BRIDGES=43
BRIGGED=191
BRINGTO=279
BULWARK=202
BUMBOAT=193
BUMPKIN=119
BURTHEN=294
CABOOSE=10
CAPSIZE=194
CAPSTAN=141
CAPTAIN=1
CARAVEL=295
CAREENS=217
CARRACK=241
CARRIER=94
CATBOAT=219
CATHEAD=177
CHAINED=162
CHANNEL=214
CHARLEY=123
CHARTER=228
CITADEL=246
CLEARED=306
CLEATED=290
CLINKER=163
CLIPPER=130
COAMING=198
COASTED=138
CONSORT=324
CONVOYS=301
CORINTH=225
COTCHEL=140
COUNTER=20
CRANZES=229
CREWING=27
CRINGLE=42
CROJACK=13
CRUISER=333
CUTTERS=147
DANDIES=309
DEADRUN=327
DEBUNKS=331
DERRICK=289
DIPPING=134
DISRATE=158
DOGVANE=231
DOLDRUM=238
DOLPHIN=139
DRAUGHT=351
DRIFTER=201
DROGUES=143
DRYDOCK=4
DUNNAGE=137
DUNSELS=287
EARINGS=60
ECHELON=350
EMBAYED=62
ENSIGNS=98
ESCORTS=11
FAIRWAY=86
FALKUSA=243
FANTAIL=178
FARDAGE=133
FATHOMS=49
FENDERS=337
FERRIES=358
FITTING=89
FLANKED=68
FLARING=172
FLATTOP=195
FLEMISH=323
FLOATED=187
FLOORED=262
FLOTSAM=67
FOLDING=15
FOLLOWS=148
FORCING=118
FORWARD=239
FOULIES=145
FOUNDER=330
FRAMING=156
FREIGHT=174
FRIGATE=227
FUNNELS=230
FURLING=204
GALLEON=300
GALLEYS=292
GALLIOT=9
GANGWAY=210
GARBLED=237
GENERAL=354
GEORGES=100
GHOSTED=30
GINPOLE=233
GIVEWAY=74
GONDOLA=85
GRAVING=253
GRIPIES=335
GROUNDS=153
GROWLER=281
GUINEAS=164
GUNDECK=82
GUNPORT=221
GUNWALE=36
HALYARD=325
HAMMOCK=261
HAMPERS=161
HANGARS=343
HARBORS=182
HARBOUR=154
HAULING=65
HAWSERS=51
HEADING=205
HEADSEA=52
HEAVING=298
HERRING=44
HOGGING=189
HOLIDAY=87
HUFFLER=282
INBOARD=53
INIRONS=111
INSHORE=91
INSTAYS=285
INWATER=103
INWAYOF=69
JACKIES=126
JACKTAR=110
JENNIES=61
JETTIES=71
JIGGERS=353
JOGGLES=215
JOLLIES=188
JURYRIG=166
KEELSON=66
KELLETS=41
KICKING=92
KILLICK=277
KITCHEN=235
LANYARD=155
LAYDAYS=122
LAZARET=283
LEEHELM=197
LEESIDE=116
LEEWARD=95
LIBERTY=81
LIGHTER=302
LIZARDS=276
LOADING=169
LOCKERS=180
LOFTING=186
LOLLING=34
LOOKOUT=171
LUBBERS=340
LUFFING=2
LUGGERS=106
LUGSAIL=284
MAEWEST=5
MANOWAR=348
MARCONI=244
MARINER=209
MATELOT=157
MIZZENS=47
MOORING=310
MOUSING=6
NARROWS=97
NIPPERS=179
OFFICER=252
OFFPIER=266
OILSKIN=31
OLDSALT=347
ONBOARD=249
OREBOAT=271
OUTHAUL=77
OUTWARD=125
PAINTER=75
PANTING=254
PARCELS=113
PARLEYS=38
PARRELS=334
PASSAGE=311
PELAGIC=159
PENDANT=274
PENNANT=135
PICKETS=339
PINNACE=149
PINTLES=317
PIRATES=37
PIVOTED=70
PURSERS=108
PURSUED=90
QUARTER=183
QUAYING=257
RABBETS=315
RATLINE=269
REDUCED=329
REEFERS=146
REPAIRS=35
RIGGING=14
RIPRAPS=167
ROMPERS=17
ROWLOCK=26
RUDDERS=286
RUFFLES=39
RUMMAGE=115
SAGGING=33
SAILORS=207
SALTIES=93
SALVORS=345
SAMPANS=79
SAMPSON=319
SCULLED=291
SCUPPER=206
SCUTTLE=58
SEACOCK=117
SEALING=22
SEEKERS=245
SERVING=220
SEXTANT=275
SHELTER=25
SHIPPED=299
SHIPRIG=247
SICKBAY=142
SKIPPER=45
SKYSAIL=84
SLINGED=196
SLIPWAY=83
SNAGGED=50
SNOTTER=199
SPLICED=268
SPLICES=181
SPONSON=19
SPONSOR=234
SPRINGS=273
SQUARES=263
STACKIE=132
STANDON=226
STARTER=59
STATION=359
STEAMER=57
STEERED=213
STEEVES=314
STEWARD=3
STOPPER=242
STOVEIN=185
STOWAGE=203
STRIKES=124
SUNFISH=342
SWIMMIE=307
SYSTEMS=255
TACKING=18
THWARTS=54
TINCLAD=63
TOMPION=270
TONNAGE=175
TOPMAST=305
TOPSAIL=338
TORPEDO=267
TOSSERS=114
TRADING=251
TRAFFIC=102
TRAMPER=150
TRANSOM=313
TRAWLER=127
TRENAIL=21
TRENNEL=173
TRIMMER=322
TROOPER=46
TRUNNEL=349
TUGBOAT=131
TURNTWO=303
UNSHIPS=318
UPBOUND=326
VESSELS=55
VOICING=321
VOYAGER=212
WEATHER=278
WHALERS=7
WHARVES=341
WHELKIE=223
WHISTLE=151
WINCHES=211
WINDAGE=222
WORKING=218
YARDARM=101