FLAG POSITION & ETIQUETTE

ASHORE

SINGLE FLAGPOLE	FLAGPOLE WITH GAFF	FLAGPOLE WITH YARD	FLAGPOLE WITH YARD AND GAFF

1 - National Ensign (example: Canada)
2 - Club Burgee (example: Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Canada)
3 - Club Officer Flag (example: Commodore of the Royal Canadian Y.C., Canada)
4 - Visiting Club Burgee (example: Buffalo Yacht Club, U.S.A.)
5 - Signal Flags (example: N, all races are abandoned), always below 4, or replacing 4.
X - Foreign National Ensign (example: U.S.A.). In this case, flags 3, 4 and 5, from gaff, but flying lower than ensigns

AFLOAT on National Waters

ONE MAST SAILBOAT WITH PIGSTICK & STERN STAFF	ONE MAST SAILBOAT WITHOUT PIGSTICK & STERN STAFF	MOTORBOAT WITH STERN, MAIN & BOW STAFFS	TWO-PLUS MASTS SAILBOAT WITH PIGSTICKS & STERN STAFF	TWO-PLUS MASTS SAILBOAT WITHOUT PIGSTICKS & STERN STAFF

AFLOAT on Foreign Waters

ONE MAST SAILBOAT WITH PIGSTICK & STERN STAFF	ONE MAST SAILBOAT WITHOUT PIGSTICK & STERN STAFF	MOTORBOAT WITH STERN, MAIN & BOW STAFFS	TWO-PLUS MASTS SAILBOAT WITH PIGSTICKS & STERN STAFF	TWO-PLUS MASTS SAILBOAT WITHOUT PIGSTICKS & STERN STAFF

1 - National Ensign (example: Canada). Always hoisted Aft. Sailboats without stern staff, should fly the Ensign from the leech of the aftermost sail (about 2/3 up), but, in former days, most sailors would use the backstay instead, and fly it lower.
2 - Club Burgee (example: Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Canada). On sailboats, on top of the foremost mast. In former days, from a lanyard under the lowest starboard spreader of the foremost mast. Sometimes, a second halyard is placed on the same spreader, in single-masted vessels. It's specially useful on foreign waters, leaving outer halyard for the courtesy and signal flags (position of honor decreases toward the mast). On motorboats, at the foremost staff. On foreign waters, at main staff, when no signal flag is needed.
3 - Officer Flag, Private Signal (example: Commodore of the Royal Canadian Y.C., Canada).
4 - Signal Flags (example Q : My vessel is healthy and I request free practique). Always below or replacing 2 and 3.
X - Foreign National Ensign (example: United Kingdom). When abroad. Also called Courtesy Flag. The Civil Ensign of the country's waters you are on.

FLAG DEFINITIONS

1.-BURGEE: The distinguishing flag, regardless of its shape, of a recreational boating organization.
2.-JACK: National flag flown at the bow of a naval vessel when in port from sunrise to sunset.
3.-ENSIGN: The main flag used to indicate the nationality of a vessel. Flown aft when in port from sunrise to sunset.
There are several types of Ensigns:
A.-CIVIL ENSIGN: The national flag flown by private citizens of the country it represents. Also known as merchant flag.
B.-STATE ENSIGN: The national flag flown by the ships of the government of the country.
C.-NAVAL ENSIGN: The national flag flown by the vessels of the country's Navy. Also called War Ensign.
D.-SPECIAL ENSIGN: Any other national ensign to be flown in those cases approved by the appropriate authority. Most usual cases are recreational boats, revenue service, post office, and coast guard vessels.
4.-RANK FLAG: A flag that indicates the rank of a flag officer.
5.-PRIVATE SIGNAL: A flag distinctive of a private citizen.

FLAG ETIQUETTE - USA

SUMMARY OF THE US FLAG CODE
Never allow the flag to touch the ground.
Salute the flag as it is hoisted or lowered, during the playing of the National Anthem, and while saying of the Pledge of Allegiance. Stand at attention with your hand over your heart and your hat removed.
Display the flag  between sunrise to sunset unless it is illuminated.
When displaying indoors, always position to the right of a speaker or staging area.
To place a flag at half-staff, hoist to the peak position before lowering it halfway. 
Display Flag on these days -- Election Day (Nov 5), Veterans Day (Nov 11), Pearl Harbor Day (Dec 7), VE Day (May 8), Armed Forces Day (May 17), Memorial Day (May 26), Flag Day (Jun 14), Independence Day (Jul 4).
General Display
It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.
No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea . . . for personnel of the Navy . . . when the church pennant may be flown above the flag.
No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof; Provided, that nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice here fore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.
When flags of states, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak.
When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right.
The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of states or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

Churches, Auditoriums
When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the cergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or the right of the audience.

Half-Staff
The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the governor of a state, territory or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidental instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.
In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any state, territory or possession of the United States, the governor of that state, territory or possession of the United States, the governor of that state, territory or possession may proclaim that the National flag may be flown at half-staff.

Interesting Information not mentioned in The Flag Code:
Flag Precedence
Ever wonder which flags take the position of honor over others? There is this from Air Force Personnel Center
Here is the accepted order of precedence for displaying flags during both official and unofficial military and civilian ceremonies. AFR 900-3 standardizes their display. As you sit in an audience and face the flags, they're arranged as follows, left to right:

THE UNITED STATES FLAG

FOREIGN COUNTRY FLAGS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

STATE FLAGS (By admission to the union)

SERVICE FLAGS (By order of Service (DOD Dir 1005.8)
ARMY FLAG
MARINE FLAG
NAVY FLAG
AIR FORCE FLAG
COAST GUARD FLAG
NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE FLAG
UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND FLAG

MAJCOM COMMAND FLAGS (in alphabetical order-all on the same level)
Air Combat Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Special Operations Command
Air Mobility Command
Pacific Air Forces
United States Air Forces in Europe

FIELD OPERATING AGENCIES
AIR NATIONAL GUARD
AIR FORCE RESERVE
DIRECT REPORTING UNITS

PERSONAL OR GENERAL OFFICER FLAGS (4-, 3-, 2-, and 1 -star; one flag per service regardless of how many general officers of that grade are in attendance. If two Air Force brigadier generals are present, display only one 1-star flag. If an Army and an Air Force brigadier general are present, display both an Army and Air Force 1-star flag with date of rank of the generals determining whose flag takes precedence.

DISPLAY OF STATE FLAGS
State flags are normally displayed in the order of admittance to the State of the Union. However, they may be displayed in alphabetical order. The following is the date each state was admitted to the Union:

The following territorial flags are normally displayed when all of the state flags are displayed: District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. Other areas such as Baker Islands, Howland Islands, Jarvis Island, Palmyra Atoll, Johnson Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Navassa Island, and Wake Atoll are either uninhabited or use the United States Flag.