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Protocol

The Indian Harbor Yacht Club seeks to ensure an amiable and dignified atmosphere and the preservation of the Club’s heritage and traditions. The Indian Harbor Yacht Club has established protocols that members, guests, and visitors observe to maintain the safety and enjoyment of the Club and to ensure an environment that is consistent with the spirit and purpose of the Club.

If you have any questions, please contact the Protocol Officer or Fleet Captain at [email protected].


Protocol Quick Reference Guide

  • Floats and Hoists
      • Members must use VHF Channel 68 when contacting the Marine Staff for instructions and assistance with lines when docking.
      • Children under 13 years of age must wear PFDs on the Club docks and floats and while in Club launches or other Club boats.
      • The furthest south section of the west docks is limited to use by the Club launches.
      • Use dock space considerately, leaving the maximum open space possible by sliding your yacht to one end of the dock or the other.
      • Remember to vacate the 15 Minute Dock within 15 minutes and to vacate the remaining
        • docks within 2 hours.
      • Leave the dock in a condition as good as or better than you found it.
      • Ask the Marine Staff for help as needed.
  • Launch Service
      • Club launches may be operated only by members of the Marine Staff.
      • Launch service is available to IHYC commissioned and permitted moorings in authorized IHYC mooring areas.
      • Launches may be hailed in person at the launch desk, hailed by radio via VHF 68, or by sounding three blasts on a foghorn or whistle. Off hour services are available with prior arrangement.
      • Sit or stand in the launch when underway. Do not ride the rail or allow your guests to do so.
      • Children under age 13 must wear life jackets.
      • Be ready to board your yacht or the launch. Locate your bags and gear, and be ready to transfer them onboard. Move quickly to transfer passengers and gear once the launch is alongside.
  • Flags and Signals

    • Ensigns
             The US yacht ensign is displayed between morning and evening colors:

      • When at anchor, at the stern staff. Sailing yachts with overhanging booms locate the stern staff on the starboard side of the boom.
      • When underway in inland waters and when meeting or passing other vessels on the high seas, weather and rig permitting:
        • By power yachts with gaff, at the gaff.
        • By power yachts without gaff, at the stern staff.
        • By gaff-rigged sailing yachts, at the after peak.
        • By Marconi-rigged sailing yachts, at the leach of the aftermost sail, approximately two thirds the length of the leach above the clew, or at the stern staff.
        • No sailing yacht shall display the ensign while racing.
      • The ensign shall never be made up and broken out.


      Burgee
      The burgee is displayed whenever the ensign is hoisted, but may also be displayed separately, between morning and evenings colors, at anchor or under way, by:

      • Mastless yachts or single-masted yachts with bow staff, at the bow staff.
      • Single-masted yachts without bow staff, at the truck.
      • Yachts with two or more masts, at foremost truck.
      • Member yachts may fly the Yacht Club burgee except when the boat is under charter to a non-member.
  • Colors & Dressing Ship

    • Colors
      Yachts and shore stations shall make colors at 0800 and at sunset. Time shall be taken from the senior officer present. On shore, all who are able are required to stand and silently face the flagpole as the colors are struck in the evening.

      Dressing Ship
      On the Fourth of July, and when ordered on other occasions, a yacht in commission shall, when at anchor and the weather permits, dress ship from morning to evening colors. 

      Rectangular flags should alternate with pennants. Ensigns, burgees, private signal, and Flag Officers’ flags shall not be included among the code flags and pennants hoisted in dressing ship.

      The Indian Harbor Yacht Club squadron typically dress ship for Commissioning, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July.