US Yacht Ensign Flag

The US Yacht Ensign is a special flag, a national flag created in 1848 as a signal flag to be used by U.S. yachts. The Yacht flag was a signal flag flown by a yacht to declare itself exempt from customs duties. The Yacth flag was still the only ensign allowable in international or foreign waters. The existence of the Yacht Ensign in United States law (46 U.S.C. section 109) was repealed by the Vessel Documentation Act of 1980 (Public Law 96–594). This leaves the national flag as the only allowable ensign for United States yachts (and other vessels). Nevertheless, the old yacht ensign is still widely used by boaters continuing a tradition which dates back to the nineteenth century. This is a legal option for undocumented vessels in United States waters, which are not required to wear an ensign.